Gay Travelers Opt For “Private” Resorts

An article from Passport Magazine reports on an interesting trend in the gay travel industry – many GLBT travelers are foregoing cookie-cutter gay-friendly resorts and opting instead to rent private homes with large groups of friends in exotic locales.

From the article:  ”Once upon a time, the only avenues for LGBT travelers to experience a sense of complete freedom on holiday centered around gay-specific cruises, resorts, hotels, or circuit parties, but nowadays that paradigm is shifting as a result of the burgeoning vacation rental market, which now offers a viable alternative for travelers who crave more intimate, bespoke escapes tailored to their specific interests and needs. Many are finally making the connection that renting a private home, villa, or apartment can be a more satisfying way to experience a destination while living like a local.”

Renting a private residence also allows GLBT travelers to avoid nightmare experiences at “gay-friendly” resorts like this.

Out NYC Resort Set To Open, G Worldwide Secures Land

Ian Simpson Reisner of Parkview Developers has announced plans to open a $30 million, 90,000-square-foot hotel-bar-wedding venue on the west end of 42nd Street in New York City aimed at gay patrons.  The complex, called Out NYC Urban Resort, will have restaurants, bars, a spa, a reception hall, retail stores and a huge seven-nights-a-week dance club, along with a 127-room hotel.

The hotel will be a part of the Axel boutique hotel chain, which caters specifically to gay travelers.  A night’s stay at the Axel Hotel Barcelona was all the impetus Reisner needed to look into opening a branch in New York City.

“I called them up and said, ‘We have to bring this to New York,’ ” Reisner, a managing partner of Parkview Developers said of the Axel’s owners. “They said, ‘Find a location and we’ll talk.’ ”  Reisner found the location, and the complex is now set to open in stages starting in early 2011.

The Out NYC announcement follows one earlier this year by G Worldwide, the “first ever luxury resort brand catering to the LGBT community and their friends, families, and supporters.”   The company revealed plans to open 4 resorts across the U.S., with an $80 million, 700,000-square-foot complex in Wilton Manor’s, Florida set to be the first to break ground.  After running into issues with the first site G Worldwide targeted, the company has secured 4 acres at the site of the First Church of Religious Science.

G Worldwide Launches Website

A few weeks ago I posted about G Worldwide, the “first ever luxury resort brand catering to the LGBT community and their friends, families, and supporters” and its mysterious teaser marketing campaign.  On June 2nd, G Worldwide unveiled its new website, revealing a little more about the resort chain and its growth plans.

So far, four resorts are planned in New York, NY, Wilton Manors, FL, Las Vegas, NV, and Palm Springs, CA.  Although the company has yet to reveal a construction schedule, the website showcases architectural renderings of its Wilton Manors location, so I’m guessing that will be the first to break ground.  G Worldwide is complementing the launch with a number of promotional events, though they all appear to be limited to locations in the Northeast (what no Texas love?).

G Worldwide Set To Launch 5 GLBT Targeted Hotels

G Worldwide, the “first ever luxury resort brand catering to the LGBT community and their friends, families, and supporters” is set to launch promotional activities June 1^st.  The company’s website claims it has assembled “some of the most innovative, creative people in design, food and beverage, nightlife, events, and hospitality to create this pioneering resort lifestyle concept.”

The first hotels will be built in New York, Florida, California, and Las Vegas; although when they will open is unclear.  The company’s website is little more than a landing page at the moment, and there is little other information available about the hotel chain.

Teaser marketing tactics like this often irritate me, but I have to admit, I’m extremely curious.  An entire chain of hotels targeted to the gay community is intriguing.  Keep an eye out for their promotional efforts at Pride events across the country this Summer.