"Victory for gay tourism dollars.(THIS JUST IN)

Publication: The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)
Title Annotation: THIS JUST IN

Last year, Philadelphia moved to the forefront of gay travel marketing with the first-ever gay TV ad by a U.S. tourism board, adding to their already successful gay print campaign. But did the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. become a political target in the process? in June, Republican Daryl D. Metcalfe, a member of the state's house of representatives, in an attempt to defund the gay tourism promotional program, sent a letter to all Pennsylvania's house members announcing that state tax dollars were being spent to "promote immoral behavior" He went on to state that "We should not ask constitutes to fund behavior that is against their religious and moral beliefs." Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr., a Democrat from Philadelphia, blasted back a letter asserting that Metcalfe's accusations were factually wrong, since the gay and lesbian tourism budget comes from Philadelphia's hotel room tax, not from state taxes. In the end, no money was cut when the new budget was announced on July 5. Says Jeff Guaracino, an official of the gay tourism program: "I can see why some places don't want to do gay marketing programs because they would have to have the wherewithal to put up with this kind of insanity."

Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus’ reception for Peggy Trott, general manager of Hotel Palomar :: July 29, 2009

Gay Sensitivity Training

Professionals in the tourism industry strive daily to reach new customers, retain those that are loyal, and create work environments that are safe and productive.

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, in partnership with Temple University, developed a unique Gay Sensitivity Training Module for the tourism industry professional. Using actors, the Gay Sensitivity Training invites trainee’s to engage in day-to-day experiences such as:

• Front desk check-in at hotels
  

• In-room situation at a hotel
  

• Event attractions
  

• Consumers in a retail setting
  

• Restaurant anniversary party
  

• Enjoying the local nightlife

Over the course of one hour, trainees take part in two skits, with each scene presenting both sides of the equation, both gay and straight. As each skit reaches a heightened point, the moderator will freeze the on-stage action and encourage the audience to ask questions or make comments directly to the actors who stay in character the entire time. The opportunity for trainees to engage in real-time discussions with the characters allows for a unique hands-on experience that captures the emotions of both the homosexual and heterosexual communities.

The Gay Sensitivity Training aims to:

• Examine the emotions of real-life situations that LGBT people face each and everyday.

• See firsthand how service industry professionals can act in ways that are damaging and hurtful not only to human beings, but to the businesses in which they serve.
  

• Identify and build the necessary skills to actively manage diversity of all types in the service industry.
  

• Teach techniques that will enable participants to gain a better understanding of how hurtful biases negatively impact the LGBT consumer.

Upon completion of the gay-sensitivity training, all participants will receive a certificate from the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus and Temple University stating they had participated in the diversity training series.

To setup your Gay Sensitivity Training, contact Michael Sheridan at 215-599-1797, or e-mail him at Michael@gptmc.com

PGTC Principles

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus has three simple principles:

1. Anyone and everyone, gay or straight, is invited to participate in the effort
2. You must bring resources to the effort, whether it be human or financial
3. You must collaborate

Membership News

If you want to…

Tap into the $65 billion gay and lesbian tourism market
Ensure your business is gay-friendly
Show your support for Philadelphia’s gay and lesbian community
Network with other tourism and hospitality professionals
Stay informed about opp
Ensure your business is gay-friendly
Show your support for Philadelphia’s gay and lesbian community
Network with other tourism and hospitality professionals
Stay informed about opportunities and developments
Generate more business
…you want to become a member of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus.

Founded in 2002, the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus (PGTC) is an inclusive, regional organization that works with all the communities collaboratively to promote gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region and capture a share of the $65 billion gay travel market. The PGTC works to improve Philadelphia’s position as a gay-friendly destination and is your link to the gay and lesbian travel industry.

The PGTC has been the driving force behind the creation of Philadelphia’s gay tourism marketing campaign (“Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay”), gay and lesbian travel guide, Philadelphia Freedom hotel package, gay-friendly merchant program, Gay Sensitivity Training efforts and so much more. Through the collaborative work of PGTC’s member organizations, Philadelphia has positioned itself as one of the hottest new gay and lesbian travel destinations in the world.

Membership is open to any organization or professional gay or straight interested in bringing business to Philadelphia through leisure, meetings, conventions and sporting competitions.

Annual Dues Amount

Gay-owned or gay-friendly business/organization/association
Fewer than 10 employees $100
10 to 49 employees $150
50 or more employees $200

Hotels & Lodging
Fewer than 20 guest rooms $100
21 to 49 guest rooms $150
50 or more guest rooms $300

Individuals $50

Students FREE

Gay-friendly corporations $500

TO BECOME A MEMBER, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.... www.philadelphiagaytourism.com

About PGTC!

Founded in November 2002, the Caucus filed in 2005 with the State of Pennsylvania to become an organized non-profit corporation. Bylaws were adopted November 17, 2005. The Caucus has submitted all appropriate paperwork for 501(c3) tax exemption status under the laws of The United States Government. Bylaws were ratified in November 2005, and elections were held for the first official Board of Directors. The Caucus became a membership-based organization to support the overall operating budget. In 2007, the Caucus has more than 75 business professionals who are members.

The initial group was motivated by a desire to position Philadelphia and The Countryside into a top destination by gay and lesbian leisure travelers. Open to anyone, both gay and straight, the primary purpose of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus is to bring together a group of people who were willing to share resources to collaborate on promoting Philadelphia as a gay-friendly destination. The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus meets monthly in executive meetings and every other month conducts a public meeting. We value inclusiveness and diversity.

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus has three simple principles:
1. anyone and everyone, gay or straight, is invited to participate in the effort
2. you must bring resources to the effort, whether it be human or financial
3. you must be willing to collaborate and partner with each other

The Caucus has achieved many successes over the last five years:

The Caucus created sub-committees to move its initiatives more efficiently: Membership, Research/Marketing, Public Relations, Hotel Packaging, Merchant Referral Program, Events, Liquor Initiative, Gay-sensitivity training and funding.

The Caucus has partnered with the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), a private, non-profit tourism organization that has invested $1.3 million in tourism marketing towards the gay and lesbian traveler. GPTMC’s ground-breaking, award-winning campaign, “Philadelphia, Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®” has demonstrated the economic impact of the gay traveler through three research studies, Gay Tourism 2003, Gay Tourism 2005 and a pioneering travel study by The Travel Industry of America in 2006.

The Caucus has partnered with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, a non-profit, membership-based organization, in the further development of an official GLBT Visitor Guide to Philadelphia & Its Countryside (This guide originally 14 pages has since become the 52-page Navigaytour, an advertising supported full-color brochure produced by the Altus Group).

Created the Philadelphia Freedom hotel package sold via www.gophila.com/gay. There are currently 15 hotels in the region offering the package to GLBT visitors to the region.

Through a strategic partnership with the Center City District (CCD) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the Caucus has produced two Merchant Referral Program guides (2005 and 2007) to direct visitors to gay-owned or gay-friendly businesses.

In 2005, the Caucus began working with the City of Philadelphia on a “Gay-borhood Street Signage Program” to help visitors identify the concentration of Philadelphia gay life. The Gay-borhood signage will debut in March 2007.

In early 2006, the Caucus embarked on a Liquor Initiative to explore possible funding from liquor distributors. There are currently over a dozen bar owners/operators reporting monthly liquor purchases to determine the Caucus’ negotiating power with the liquor branding companies to create a possible funding stream.

In April 2006, the Caucus held a preliminary strategic planning session with PLACES (consulting arm of ww.travelplace.com) to determine key processes and forward direction of the organization (Staffing, Funding, Sales and Marketing, Event Development).

In Spring 2006, the Caucus partnered with WHERE Magazine, Sofitel, Philadelphia Trolley Works, and Tavern on Camac conducting a tour of Gay Philadelphia for local hotel Concierges and Front Office employees.

In Spring 2007, the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus debuted another first, a gay-sensitivity training program for hotels, businesses and local organizations.