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GAY & LESBIAN TOURISM
Ari Gold Joins Boy George at Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay Ski Week
Jan. 20, 2005 /Pop sensation Ari Gold will perform at Lake Tahoe's 10th annual Gay and Lesbian WinterFest at the Laser Blue Dance Party. Culture Club icon Boy George leads the entertainment line- up as special guest DJ and New York comic Eddie Sarfaty will headline at WinterFest Comedy Night. Chrisanne Eastwood will host the WinterFest Cabaret Night and Caesars Tahoe will present the Indigo Girls on March 5 during WinterFest's opening weekend.
This high energy Winter Party takes place on Lake Tahoe's scenic south shore March 6-13, 2005. WinterFest is a seven day celebration with world class skiing and boarding, snowmobiling, receptions, DJ dance parties and Comedy Night.
Boy George pumps up the volume on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at the Horizon Casino Resort. Top DJs from London and the US will join Boy George at WinterFest.
"Ari is quite clearly a star waiting to burst," said Boy George. As Lake Tahoe's only Gay and Lesbian Ski Week since 1996, WinterFest has attracted thousands of the friendliest skiers to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe WinterFest provides an atmosphere of camaraderie among Skiers and non skiers alike. With so many winter activities to choose from and daily receptions, everyone experiences a true winter vacation. WinterFest Hosts provide great attention to detail so guests can relax and enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
Stay where the action is at Lakeland Village, a beautiful lakefront resort offering luxurious guest rooms. Call 1-800-822-5969 and ask for the WinterFest 2005 group rates starting at only $95 per night with fireplaces, kitchens, balconies and daily morning receptions.
WinterFest and the Laser Blue Dance Party is sponsored in part by Q Television, Passport Magazine, Nevada Commission on Tourism, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitor Authority, Barefoot Winery, GayWebMonkey.com, Outword Magazine and Outlands Magazine and is hosted by the Nevada Gay and Lesbian Visitor & Convention Bureau.
VIP Packages and individual tickets for the Laser Blue Dance Party are available online at www.LakeTahoeWinterFest.com or by calling the NGLVCB at 877-777-4950.
Hot casino action teamed with the beauty of Lake Tahoe's scenic South Shore will make Lake Tahoe WinterFest the hottest Winter Party. There is only one Boy George and only one Lake Tahoe WinterFest.
NGLVCB promotes tourism to Nevada to the estimated 18 million Gay and Lesbian travelers.
1st World Outgames: An Unparalleled Success at the Eurogames
Montréal, 2 August 2004 . – On Thursday, 29 July 2004 , the 1st World Outgames Co-President and three-time Olympic medalist Mark Tewksbury , co-hosted the opening ceremonies of the Eurogames in Munich with popular German television host Isabel Varell before a crowd of 30,000 spectators at the Olympic Hall. Each mention of the 1 st World Outgames elicited thunderous applause and numerous standing ovations from the enthusiastic crowd.
Mark Tewksbury led a delegation of six people representing Montréal 2006 in Munich , which included Montréal 2006's Chief Executive Officer, Louise Roy . Montréal 2006's information and public relations kiosk in the Rainbow Village was a hub of activity where more than 6,000 pamphlets were distributed and over 1,000 athletes signed up for Club Montréal.
The Canadian Consulate and the Québec Office in Munich hosted a friendship cocktail on Friday, 30 July, at which leaders of some 112 teams were in attendance. Mr. Stephane Charbonneau, representative of the Canadian Consulate and Mr. Benoît Jean Bernard, director of the Québec Office in Munich , both restated the intention of the two levels of the Canadian government to continue to support the 1 st World Outgames in Montréal in 2006, not only in financial terms, but by promoting the event throughout the international diplomatic network worldwide. They also emphasized the important contribution of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities make to Québec and Canadian society on social, cultural, economic and political levels.
Mark Tewksbury , supported by Geoffrey Lyne from Australia, Catherine Meade from Canada, Connie Schälicke from Germany and Ole Udholst from Denmark, emphasized that the 1 st World Outgames in Montréal will mark a turning point in the evolution of GLBT sport, not only because it will be the largest gathering of GLBT athletes ever held, but also because of the International Conference on GLBT Rights which will be held just before the opening of the Outgames in July 2006.This high-level Conference , which is expected to attract over 2,000 delegates from over 100 countries, will be a first for the GLBT community in terms of scale and international attendance.
PRIDE WEEK IN MONTRÉAL: 1 st WORLD OUTGAMES IN PRIDE PARADE
Divers/Cité, Montréal's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pride celebration, capped off a week of activities with its annual pride parade on Sunday, August 1. Ninety groups braved the August heat to participate in this year's parade, along with thousands of spectators.
The 1 st World Outgames had a major presence in the parade with delegation of about 100 people, including representatives of a dozen of the city's sports teams. Spirits were high as the parade headed through the streets of downtown Montréal into the Village in a wave of colour, music and cheers from the crowds lining the streets.
11th EDITION OF THE ROWING CANADA CUP AT MONTRÉAL'S OLYMPIC BASIN
Montréal's Olympic Basin on Île Notre-Dame was the centre of activity on Saturday, 31 July and Sunday, 1 August for the 11th Edition of the Rowing Canada Cup, a competition that brought together about 350 elite Canadian athletes. Staff and volunteers from the 1 st World Outgames were present for the entire weekend to lend a hand to the Rowing Canada Cup Organising Committee.
Top rowing athletes from each province — the future members of the Canadian national rowing team —participated in the Cup. The event attracted a large number of spectators who cheered on the athletes who will represent Canada in future national and international competitions.
Michel Prescott, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the City of Montréal , presented medals to winners at the close of the tournament on Sunday.
The Gay and Lesbian Rowing Federation (GLRF) held its GLRF Montreal City Launch as part of the competition weekend. The GLRF also had an information kiosk and held a Sunday afternoon summer social and barbeque at the Olympic Basin organised in collaboration with the Montreal Rowing Club.
JULY 06, 2004
Massachusetts Named 'Gay Travel Destination of the Year' - OUT&ABOUT Announces 2004 Editor's Choice Award Winners
Sandals Resorts Receive 'Rock Bottom' Dishonor for 11th Consecutive Year
OUT&ABOUT, PlanetOut Inc.'s acclaimed travel brand for gay men and lesbians, announced the winners (and losers) of its 11th annual Editor's Choice Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in gay travel during the past year. The state of Massachusetts received top honors as 2004's "Destination of the Year," and the wave of weddings in San Francisco was named "Event of the Year." Sandals Resorts took the "Rock Bottom" award -- bestowed upon the travel company in greatest need of improvement with respect to gay travelers. Since 1994, the OUT&ABOUT Editor's Choice Awards have recognized outstanding achievements in gay travel, chosen on the basis of excellence, innovation and solid gay-family travel values.
Massachusetts recognized as "Destination of the Year"
The Bay State became the gay state as of May 17, 2004, when it began offering the first legal gay marriages in the United States. While Massachusetts has never actively courted the gay and lesbian market, gays and lesbians came courting here after the state's Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling that was at once stunning and a long time coming. "By opening up its arms and the legal institution of marriage to its citizens, Massachusetts has reshaped society, and in doing so has sent a positive and welcoming message to gay and lesbian travelers," said OUT&ABOUT Editor-in-Chief, Ed Salvato.
"Gay and lesbian visitors can now marry in Beantown and honeymoon in Provincetown," said Salvato of OUT&ABOUT's "Destination of the Year." Last year's top honors went to the gayest destination down under, Sydney.
San Francisco weddings named "Event of the Year"
OUT&ABOUT's "Event of the Year" award goes to the year's most major, life- enhancing event for gays and lesbians, one that left an indelible mark on organizers, attendees and observers alike. This year's most remarkable event was undoubtedly the wave of gay and lesbian weddings that occurred in San Francisco. Thanks to Mayor Gavin Newsom and his team, roughly 4,000 gay and lesbian couples traveled from as far away as Europe to tie the knot in a society-enhancing display of loving civil disobedience. Honorable bridesmaids for this honor: New Paltz, NY; Multnomah County, OR and Sandoval County, NM.
Sandals Resorts stuck at "Rock Bottom" for 11th consecutive year
For the 11th consecutive year, Sandals Resorts received the OUT&ABOUT "Rock Bottom" designation for its egregious homophobic policies. The company, which designs vacations for couples, holds steadfastly to its "heterosexuals only" couples policy -- continuing to believe that such a policy is something other than the most blatant form of discrimination.
"Sandals continues to be one of the most blatantly homophobic travel organizations in the world by expressly prohibiting gay couples from their resorts," said Salvato. "Friends and family members of gay and lesbian people need to be aware of Sandals' policies before they choose to spend their vacation dollars at a resort that discriminates against their loved ones."
About OUT&ABOUT (www.outandabout.com)
OUT&ABOUT is the award-winning travel newsletter and online resource for gay men and lesbians. Critically acclaimed, it is a leading voice of gay travel. The OUT&ABOUT Web site offers visitors access to OUT&ABOUT destination files, guidebooks and premium supplements. OUT&ABOUT is a division of PlanetOut Inc. (www.planetoutinc.com).
About PlanetOut Inc.
PlanetOut Inc. (PlanetOut) is a leading online media company offering consumer services, news and entertainment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The company serves its growing community of more than 3.3 million active members worldwide through a comprehensive group of branded businesses offering diverse services: Gay.com, PlanetOut.com, Kleptomaniac.com and OUT&ABOUT travel. PlanetOut offers FORTUNE 500 advertisers access to its uniquely aggregated worldwide membership. The gay and lesbian community trusts the PlanetOut brand for providing highly relevant content, community and specialized services: chat, news, entertainment, travel, dating, relationships, marriage, family, health, spirituality, personal finance, career/ business, law, politics, community activism -- even fashion and shopping.
JUNE 16, 2004
Ground-Breaking TV ad set to promote“gay-friendly” Philly
Philadelphia is the first destination in the world to produce a gay-themed television commercial, which will begin airing on June 2, 2004, as part of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation's (GPTMC) three-year, $1 million gay tourism campaign, Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay ™ . The 30-second spot, produced by the Altus Group, the agency that developed the campaign's theme and print ads, will air exclusively on cable networks in the Philadelphia market. details see the clip
World's Foremost Gay and Lesbian Hotels Organization Formed.
DECEMBER 15, 2003
Olivia Presents k.d. Lang Aboard Boston to Montréal Cruise
Olivia, the lifestyle company that connects, transforms and celebrates the lives of lesbians as well as their families and friends, today announced the addition of singer k.d. lang to its Boston to Montreal itinerary scheduled for July 2004. In her first-ever Olivia appearance, k.d. lang will perform two shows -- one in Boston and the other in Provincetown during the cruise scheduled for July 3-10, 2004. With the addition of lang, a multi-grammy winner, Olivia continues its commitment to bringing great entertainment to its vacations while creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for its passengers. "We are thrilled to have k.d. lang join us for a concert aboard our Boston to Montreal cruise in 2004," Errett said. "This trip is very special for us as it marks the first time that Olivia will be offering guests the opportunity to participate in a wedding ceremony in Boston. At the same time, we are honored to have such a distinguished singer as k.d. lang perform on this landmark trip." "I am excited for my first Olivia performance and the chance to share my music with such an inspiring group of women," said k.d. lang. Aboard Holland America's five-star 1200-passenger ms Maasdam, Olivia guests will have the opportunity to attend the k.d.lang performance in Boston and Provincetown. The cruise begins in Boston, Massachusetts, with its first stop in Provincetown. The cruise will continue through to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island Quebec City, and Montreal. For those interested in tying the knot, Olivia will be offering vacation stretcher packages that include a romantic marriage ceremony in Boston. Olivia is offering special pricing until January 15, 2004. Rates start at $1099 and are per person based on double occupancy. The most up-to-date information on all Olivia vacations can be found on the company's website at www.olivia.com
About Olivia
Olivia is the world's largest and best-known provider of travel services for lesbians and their families and friends, reaching more than 3 million women internationally. In 2003, Olivia celebrates 30 years as a catalyst for social change that connects, transforms, and celebrates the lives of lesbians, as well as their families and friends. For more information, please visit http://www.olivia.com/ .
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