Travel Agents Get On Board New LGBT Confex Latin America Events

Mexico’s most important association of travel agents has joined forces with the leading LGBT conference and exhibitions company in Latin America to reach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers across Latin America.

WEBWIRE – Friday, March 15, 2013

GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO -- (OUT NOW) -- March 15, 2013 - The most important trade association for travel agents in Mexico has announced their support for the International LGBT Business Expo’s Travel Show taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico in September this year.

 The Asociación Mexicana de Agencia de Viajes, A.C. (AMAV) presided over by Jorge Hernández Delgado, has joined forces with LGBT Confex - http://www.LGBTconfex.com - the leading organizer of conferences and exhibitions focused on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) market segment.

 The LGBT market is made up of more than 20 million consumers across Latin America who spend each year more than USD$36 billion on travel. In Mexico alone LGBT travelers will account for more than USD$9 billion travel spending in 2013. (Data source: Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study - 2013 Report.)  http://www.OutNowConsulting.com

AMAV was founded in 1945 and accounts for more than 2,000 travel agent members selling to customers right across Mexico.  

In announcing the support of this industry-leading representative association, the CEO of LGBT Confex, Ruben Sandoval, said his organization was pleased to enjoy the support of this industry leading organization.

 “LGBT Confex works very hard to ensure that we deliver world-class quality business events which connect our delegates and exhibitors with education, networks and other resources to allow them to better understand and meet the needs of the LGBT consumer market,” Sandoval said. “To gain the support of this leading association - who are leaders in the Mexico travel industry - is much appreciated by us and we will be working hard to help their members benefit from this connection with our events”. 

The latest LGBT2020 market research from Out Now http://www.outnowconsulting.com suggests that the decision to support the LGBT Confex travel show is a strategic one.Latest figures from the LGBT2020 study show that in many markets around the world, around one in every four travel sales for hotels among gay and lesbian travelers is purchased through a travel agent - either online or at a retail store. In Mexico this figure is 23%. 

According to Jorge Hernández Delgado, President of AMAV, the partnership with LGBT Confex and its events is a smart one for the association’s members.

“AMAV is committed to delivering the best for our members - and the continuing growth trend in global LGBT tourism markets is one that we know to be a very important one,” Mr. Hernandez Delgado said. “With around 6% of all our members’ customers being lesbian or gay it makes good business sense to support this market. It is also demonstrably the right thing for us to do to support equality for all people in Mexico in 2013”. 

CEO of Out Now, Ian Johnson, said that these new developments are a sign of the rapidly accelerating progress of change taking place in Latin America in relation to LGBT equality.

“Out Now tracks LGBT business and consumer data all across the world and the pace of change and integration taking place in some countries - such as Mexico and Brazil - in the Latin America region is faster than any other single country has yet seen”, Johnson said. “LGBT people are today more open about their sexual orientation than ever before and more people now know someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. As societies we are learning how to live amongst - and respect - the diversity that has always been there in our communities. Whereas once this was hidden it is now known - and people of all kinds can become more comfortable living in a more open society. The AMAV travel agents association of Mexico is an important part of a social and business wave of change that is good for their members - as well as for Mexican society generally”. 

The 3rd International LGBT Business Expo http://www.LGBTbusinessExpo.com and the International LGBT Travel Show are being held in Guadalajara, Mexico from September 5 - 7, 2013.

In 2013 LGBT Confex also manages the Out Now Business Class LGBT pavilions for exhibitors at World Travel Market events in São Paulo and in London.

Exhibitor, sponsor and delegate bookings are now open for all events.

For more information contact andres(at)lgbtconfex.com