The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) has been recognized by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) with the 2024 International Travel Award for Best Organization - Inclusivity, the first of its kind to be presented in PATWA’s history. The award was presented during a ceremony at ITB Berlin. The PATWA International Travel Awards acknowledge outstanding contributions in the promotion of tourism by governments, organizations, brands, ministers, and individuals.
Fostering a welcoming and inclusive travel environment for LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide is central to IGLTA's mission. Receiving this award from PATWA, a respected industry organization, is a significant validation of these ongoing efforts.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognized by PATWA for our dedication to inclusivity. This award serves as a powerful motivator as we continue to elevate LGBTQ+ travel and collaborate with industry leaders through our membership network to create a more diverse and welcoming travel landscape," said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella (he/him).
"For our new Organizational Excellence category of the PATWA International Travel Awards we selected IGLTA for inclusivity. As an international nonprofit media organization, PATWA strongly believes that tourism should have no geographic, social, religious or economic boundaries. Similarly, we believe inclusivity extends to LGBTQ+ travelers, ensuring travel is safe and equal for everyone,” said Yatan Ahluwalia (he/him), Secretary General of Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA).
The PATWA International Travel Awards are renowned for their rigorous selection process. These prestigious awards acknowledge excellence across various sectors including travel, tourism, aviation, and hospitality. The ceremony was attended by eight tourism ministers, four governors, two senators, ambassadors, the leadership of various hotels, airlines and industry leaders. Two IGLTA destination members, Malta Tourism Authority and Embratur, also saw their countries receive major recognition: the Malta Ministry of Tourism was recognized for Tourism Minister of the Year - Mediterranean Region and Destination of the Year - Mediterranean Region, and Brazil was recognized for Tourism Minister of the Year - South America and Destination of the Year.