LGBTQ tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in international travel. Many countries, eager to tap into this lucrative market, are eliminating archaic homophobic laws to create safer and more welcoming environments for gay travelers. The trend is also producing a new generation of LGBTQ travel specialists to address the needs and special concerns of their clients. Among the leaders is Quiiky LGBTQ Italia Travel, the first Italian-based LGBTQ tour specialist whose growing program of “Untold History” guided Italian tours reveal the rich and fascinating legacy of gay art, history and culture that has always been “hiding in plain sight” in Italy.
“Statistics show that LGBTQ travelers are more affluent than their straight counterparts, and they spend more when they travel,” said Alessio Virgili, CEO of Sonders&Beach, the parent company of Quiiky LGBTQ Italia Travel. “We’re completely focused on celebrating Italy’s rich gay history while providing our clients with a safe and friendly environment, and helping them to connect with the incredibly diverse and supportive gay community of the country.”
New York Times Travel Show
To introduce American travelers to their new program, Quiiky will be participating at the New York Times Travel Show, January 24 – 26, 2020, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York, in the LGBTQ Travel Pavilion. They will also be on stage at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 25, during the Facebook Live Event featuring Pavilion participants.
Meanwhile, Sonders&Beach also announced the addition of Robert Peaslee to its Advisory Board. Peaslee has vast international business and diplomacy experience, having served as the Commercial Counselor at seven different American Embassies and Consulates over a 22 year diplomatic career. Peaslee’s last international assignment was at the American Consulate in Milan, where he served as the Principal Commercial Officer for four years from 2014 – 2018.
New LGBTQ Tours for 2020
At the Times Travel Show, Quiiky will be debuting their 2020 program of new and updated guided tours in Italy that include “Vatican Museum In a Gay and Lesbian Light.” The tour looks at the numerous artworks referencing male homosexuality, as well as the little-known tomb of Queen Christina of Sweden, a declared lesbian, who is buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, and the ancient Greek female poet, Sappho, who is considered the first lesbian poet. Other tours include, “The Legend of Alfa Romeo and the Gay Iconic ‘Giulietta’”, and “Leonardo da Vinci’s Genius Under a Gay Light”. For more information, visit https://untoldhistorytour.com.
Celebrity Cruise Shore Excursions
In addition to their “Untold History” tours, Quiiky will also be showcasing a number of guided shore excursions for the Celebrity Constellation Cruise in the Mediterranean, August 8 – 17, 2020. The cruise departs Rome and stops at Pompeii, Naples, Amalfi, Catania in Sicily, and Venice. Among the tours are, “Vatican Museum in a Gay Light,” “Homosexuality in Ancient Rome,” “Pompeii and Naples,” and “Amalfi Coast: Leisure, Sun and Good Food”. All guests will be escorted from port pick-up to port drop-off.
Annual IGLTA Global Convention
Quiiky has also announced that Sonders&Beach is heading Milan’s 2020 Local Committee of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), the world’s leading LGBTQ+ organization composed of friendly accommodations, destinations, and travel service providers. The IGLTA is partnering with the city of Milan, the Italian Tourism Board, and the U.S. General Consulate of Milan to bring the 37th Annual IGLTA Global Convention on LGBTQ Tourism to Milan from May 6 – 9, 2020. As part of their program, Quiiky is organizing pre- and post-fam tours out of Milan to help travel advisors become better acquainted with the gay offers in Italy that include Florence and Rome.
“Florence and Rome are the top Italian destinations for the American market,” noted Virgili, “yet few tour operators understand how to meet the important needs of the gay clients. We are the first Italian tour operator to specialize in gay and lesbian tourism and have established an extensive network of dedicated partners throughout country that help our clients always feel welcome and part of our large and friendly family from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.”
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