LGBTQ Travelers May Not Need Official Certification Programs for Safety

LGBTQ travelers have been enormously enthusiastic about getting back on the road since the widespread easing of travel restrictions. But despite their economic clout, many are still experiencing discrimination when traveling as nearly half of LGBTQ travelers reveal they've faced such mistreatment.

However, as travel companies are increasingly developing or growing certified LGBTQ-friendly hotel programs year-round beyond Pride Month in June, official certifications often aren't the main factor LGBTQ travelers consider when choosing accommodation.

"It's all very well for a hotel to profess it's LGBTQ friendly, but really it can only gain that accolade if it can successfully demonstrate that all LGBTQ customers who visited think it is friendly," said Darren Burn, the CEO of Out of Office, a luxury tour operator specializing in LGBTQ travel.

He believes that hotels need a lot more than a certain certification to be considered LGBTQ-friendly.

"Does an LGBTQ+ customer have a similar experience to all other customers at the hotel? Are they welcomed in t