Planes, Trains and the GLBT Traveler
BY: REBECCA PERLOW
Ron Skinner of Patrick Travel is optimistic about the summer traveling season. More than optimistic, actually.
“The phone hasn't stopped ringing,” Skinner said. “And I really don't want it to stop ringing!”
Patrick Travel, founded in 1989, serves an eclectic clientèle including several members of
“For the most part even with the economy, travel slowed down in the beginning, especially in the first quarter of this year. But last year, we already had so many things booked into 2009, it seemed like it was going to be the biggest year we had in more than six years.”
In a nationwide survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., six out of ten GLBT respondents said they had “no plans” to change their amount of leisure travel this year. Skinner confirms this fact with respect to much of his clientèle.
“They haven't really stopped traveling. I don't know if they feel they should spend it all before they run out of money, but the economy hasn't seemed to affect them that much.”
Last April, the Chicago Tribune reported that while overall international air travel and luxury vacations have suffered in the face of the ailing global economy, leisure travel for the "gay, gainfully employed with no kids and a lifelong wanderlust" has continued unabated. The same article heralded
This follows a trend that began in June 2002 when Orbitz, a leading online travel site, launched a microsite devoted to gay travel, featuring gay-friendly destinations, calendar events and special deals tailored to the gay community. Today, tourism and hospitality sites for major cities all over the country highlight gay and lesbian points of interest in their advertising.
“It wasn't in fashion years ago [for large travel agencies] to dedicate their business to niche travel industries, like gay and lesbian travel. And there weren't many companies catering to that group specifically,” Skinner said. “Now all of a sudden, we seem to be in fashion, because we'll spend a lot of disposable income on taking trips every year.”
“For people like that it is strictly a business decision motivation. It's not 'oh we really care about you.' It's 'oh you've got money, send it here.'”
Because of its niche status, the gay travel industry has been able to adapt and thrive in a volatile market that has seen several shifts as many consumers cut back on spending.
“The places where you are seeing things slow down is the great big guys--because when things slow down, it's harder to re-invent yourself,” Skinner said. “The system, with huge numbers of employees, is very cumbersome and it's very difficult for them to adapt to what is the condition up to that time, on a day to day basis. The little agencies don't do that much, so it's much easier for us.”
Some popular vacation destinations for LGBT St. Louisans this year have been Tahiti and the
“There is less travel to
The secret to the smaller travel agencies success, according to Skinner, is having someone making good recommendations for the customer. In an economy that has already seen several European cruise lines go out of business, consumers rely on someone else's ability to recommend good businesses and operators.
“There's a reason that so many people have stuck with us all this time. Because we do care what happens to you. We're there when things go wrong and we're there to make sure nothing does go wrong.”
You can e-mail Rebecca at ladyjane52983@hotmail.com
