Congratulations to PHL Diversity, DVLF's 2017 Business Hero

LGBT Meeting Professionals Association would like to congratulate PHL Diversity and LGBTMPA Advisory Board Member Greg DeShields on being honored as Delaware Valley Legacy Fund's 2017 Business Hero!

About PHL Diversity

PHL Diversity (a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau) - PHL Diversity, formerly the Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC), was founded in 1987 as a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau to help attract more multicultural visitors to the city. Now, PHL Diversity continues to work to increase Philadelphia's share of the multicultural meetings and tourism markets. PHL Diversity maximizes opportunities for the region by promoting Philadelphia as an ethically diverse visitor destination. By encouraging multicultural business and social responsibility, PHL Diversity helps the city's varying multicultural communities benefit from the hospitality and tourism industries. In the past year, PHL Diversity has shown a commitment to the LGBT community and has brought the National LGBTQ Task Force; Out and Equal; the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association; and the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association all to Philadelphia.

About HEROES

HEROES was started 11 years ago to honor individuals whose work and leadership advance the rights of the LGBT community. Through the nomination process we seek to identify youth, adults, non-profits, straight-allies & businesses who have bold ideas, act with selfless intention, are admired for their integrity, and are regarded as courageous in advancing the equality of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender community in the Delaware Valley and beyond. DVLF honors these Heroes annually in celebration of their character & in encouragement of others to act heroically.

Source: https://www.dvlf.org/heroes

Newly Released Handbook of LGBT Tourism & Hospitality

Check out the newly released Handbook of LGBT Tourism & Hospitality by Jeff Guaracino and Ed Salvato, featuring a section on "Strategies for Building an Effective Marketing Campaign" written by LGBT Meeting Professionals' Executive Director David Jefferys.

To research this book, the authors traveled to six continents, interviewed nearly a hundred industry experts, and analyzed multiple emerging trends among LGBT travelers. The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality is an easy-to-read, practical, and relevant guidebook with a simple goal: to help marketing professionals, business owners, and allied professionals compete in the increasingly competitive global LGBT travel and hospitality industry.

Jeff Guaracino, author of the authoritative book Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing (Elsevier, 2008), is a highly regarded expert in LGBT marketing, tourism, and large-scale events. His groundbreaking work in Philadelphia catapulted the destination into the Top 10 most-visited U.S. cities by LGBT travelers. He led the Atlantic City, NJ tourism industry through the seaside resort's most turbulent tourism period, and in 2016 he became president and CEO of Welcome America, Inc., which seeks to enhance Philadelphia's image among travelers and to attract more visitors to the city.

Ed Salvato is Chief Content Officer for ManAboutWorld, the world's number one digital gay travel magazine for smart phones and tablets. He was previously Editor-in-Chief of Out Traveler and Out & About, the first gay consumer-based electronic newsletter, and other major LGBT travel content platforms. He serves as the treasurer on the Board of Directors of the IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association). He also assembles and moderates LGBT panels annually at the New York Times Travel Show and other travel shows around the country.

Order your copy here: http://harringtonparkpress.com/lgbt-tourism-hospitality/about-the-authors/