At a panel discussion at the LGBTQ+ pavilion at ITB Berlin, representatives of the travel industry talked about how hotels and destinations can market inclusive tourism.
When Karl Krause books a hotel with his husband Dan Colijn, it raises many questions. How will the couple be received? Will they get odd looks? Will they get the double bed they want? Together, the founders of the award-winning travel blog Couple of Men travel the world.
The uncertainty of whether they are really welcome at their hotel always travels with them, said Karl Krause, speaking at the panel discussion entitled "Travel Proud - Making Travel Truly Inclusive" at the LGBTQ+ pavilion at ITB Berlin.
The travel bloggers are not alone in this regard. Stephanie Frank from Booking.com presented a survey according to which 52 per cent of Gen Z describe themselves as "something other than straight". 80 per cent of people in the LGBTQ+ community worry about their safety when booking a trip, and one in three fear judgmental reactions from hotel staff.
For this reason, Booking.com is offering free training to promote tolerance. More than 125,000 Travel Proud stays can now be found on the website.
Karl Krause, Gloria Milani, Clark Massad and Stephanie Frank (from left to right) at the panel discussion entitled "Travel Proud – Making Travel Truly Inclusive" at ITB Berlin 2026.
A label for guidance
Since 1983, the IGLTA network has been raising awareness in the travel industry for the needs of travellers from the community. Division manager Clark Massad considers the current situation to be particularly precarious for transgender people, who are increasingly encountering problems at borders with the gender entry in their travel documents.
IGLTA offers a range of support services, such as a language guide, training and assistance with putting together marketing material. According to Massad, hotels should already be using different personal pronouns on their booking forms. An IGLTA label provides guidance on which hotels are open to travellers from the community. This kind of certification is also well received by other travellers who value tolerance.
Gloria Milani, Senior Director, TMC's & Consortia at Accor, is convinced that offering training to raise awareness among staff also pays off economically. Many Accor hotels are already Travel Proud-certified. They benefit from an image of open-mindedness and satisfied, returning guests.
