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San Francisco CVB and Soutwest Airlines sign marketing partnership for gay&lesbian travelers
The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) and Southwest Airlines, the official airline of gay and lesbian San Francisco, announced a $180,000 gay-friendly tourism marketing campaign designed to increase air travel on Southwest Airlines and overnight visits to San Francisco and the Bay Area by gay and lesbian travelers. The yearlong agreement incorporates advertising, communications, direct-to-consumer mailings, ticket-giveaways and online marketing.

We are thrilled to partner with Southwest Airline to welcome more gay and lesbian visitors to San Francisco, states Joe D`Alessandro, president & CEO, SFCVB. San Francisco offers a myriad of art and culture to suit everyone`s tastes and interests and promises visitors an `Only in San Francisco` experience.

The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) launched its first national advertising campaign for gay and lesbian travelers in May 2007. The full-color print campaign features a series of 10 images shown through the viewfinders of digital cameras, showcasing the diverse activities and experiences gay and lesbian visitors may enjoy while in San Francisco.

In May 2007, Southwest Airlines launched the airline`s first ever Web page dedicated to the gay and lesbian community. The page is an inviting section on the Southwest site that includes specific information and relevant imagery that makes the gay traveler feel welcomed and appreciated by the airline.

We want the LGBT community to know about our low fares, excellent Customer Service, and great Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program for the same reason we want every community to know that if you love to travel, there`s simply no better airline than Southwest Airlines, said Jena Atchison, Segment Marketing Manager of Southwest Airlines.

The Travel Industry Association (TIA) 2006 Travel Survey concluded that San Francisco is the #1 gay-friendly destination in the U.S. and Canada by a 19 percent margin. In the United States, gay travelers spend $55 billion annually, primarily on leisure travel, according to Community Marketing, Inc., based in San Francisco. Community Marketing`s 11th Annual LGBT Travel Survey, a research study profile of more than 7,500 self-identified gay and lesbian consumers, showed that gay travelers fly frequently, with 84 percent of respondents taking at least one flight in the last year, and the median respondent taking six flights. Theodore Koumelis - Thursday, September 13, 2007