"Gay Friendly" Resorts....need suggestions and advice.

[LJC1861]

Hi Everyone,

Lisa is Marketing Director for a bed and breakfast resort in NC. She has been there for 2 years and is very out at work. I know all of her co-workers and attend all the staff parties when spouses are invited. We are both very comfortable in sharing who we are. There are several GLBT employees working for the company in addition to Lisa

Lisa is trying to improve publicity and get Highland Lake noticed in more places, especially the internet. She wanted to include "gay friendly" as a search word and her boss, the owner of the resort, hit the roof!

His feeling is that they don't refer to themselves as ____ friendly for any other group so why should they advertise that they are gay friendly. Lisa is trying to make him understand that GLBT travelers are more likely to book a gay or gay friendly resort so that they know they will be accepted and safe. It has become quite the debate at Highland Lake Inn.

What do you all think?

Linda

 

[OrlandoMike]

First, do I make it a practice to stay at a "gay friendly" resort. YES!

Second, what do I expect from a gay friendly resort?

Nothing much, just to be treated the same as everyone else. Don't ask twice if I ask for one bed for two people of the same sex. If I ask where the local gay bar is don't freak out, I'm on vacation, I might want to go out on the town for one evening. And last but not least, just treat me like every other customer you have.

In return.........

We won't parade around nude, have orgies, blast the disco music all night, or anything else you may have heard......

Next. . . . . . .

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Yep. I like the term gay friendly in the context of resorts or other vacation options because that implies that no one will give us "the look" when we book a room with a single king, or ask that the twins in the stateroom be made into a single bed, or when we clearly enjoy each other's company to the exclusion of all others.

An no. We don't do PDA of any kind in any way for any reason. So rest your weary souls at the thought that you might see two old women holding hands.

I don't expect anything at all from a "gay friendly" place other than that!

 

[RickinNYC]

I'm not a huge fan of separating out any group whatsoever (I know, I know. I contradict myself as a mod on the gay/lesbian board on the DIS. Sue me.)
, but I do understand those that might feel more comfortable using "gay friendly" as a search term. For what it's worth, it's never occurred to me to even consider whether a place is going to be accepting or not. At least in terms of vacations. I'm kind of oblivious that way.

I should mention, however, that years ago, "gay friendly" was crucial iln my travels but it really isn't any longer. Then again, we're talking 20 years ago.

Yeesh.

 

[Kate70410]

I personally always look to see if a place is especially gay friendly. When my fiance and I went about planning our honeymoon trip coming up, I searched high and low for Disney resorts that were gay friendly. I didn't find anything specific to that, so we went with the theme we liked best.

We talked to a few vendors in planning our wedding and some said they were friendly but didn't have anything in their description or on their websites. My fiance and I told them they may want to consider adding that, especially since we are in NJ and civil union's are legal here now. It amazes me that we are now considered a new consumer group to be taken into account when studies have shown that overall, the gay community has more expendiable income than the hetero community and we like to spend it on great things like vacations.

It's not that it's absolutely crucial for me that a business be labeled as friendly, but it's an added bonus and one that if I see that it is more friendly I'm MUCH more likely to give them business over someone who isn't. I'm still young I guess and that's still really important to me.

 

[Boston5602]

We won't parade around nude, have orgies, blast the disco music all night, or anything else you may have heard......

:

Mike , I just canceled our next vacation. It doesn't sound like your going to be as much fun as last vacation ! <G>



But back to the OP , maybe she shouldn't list it gay friendly if the boss has hit the roof over the term Gay Friendly !

 

[LJC1861]

Boston5602,

I agree with you that if the resort owner is not gay friendly than the resort should not be listed as such. Up until this issue we had no way of knowing that he was not.

Lisa and I are planning our committment ceremony and Jack, the owner, asked if we were interested in having it at the Inn. Up until a few days ago we were! We had picked a date, put down a deposit and were welcomed with open arms. Now, all of a sudden things seem to have changed and we are re-thinking our decision to give Highland Lake Inn so much of our money.

Now, a gay couple would never be turned away and the front desk staff would not blink twice if a same sex couple asked for a king sized bed or the location of the local gay bar. Heck, some of the front desk staff would take you there themselves!

I just don't think Jack gets it that we have to think about things that the heterosexual community takes for granted. I don't think her realizes that his business would most likely increase if his resort was listed as gay friendly.

I don't think there is an easy answer to this situation. Jack certainly cannot be forced into feeling something that he does not. Thank you all for your input and advice. I appreciate it!

Linda

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

There is a lovely little resort on Cocoa Beach owned by two long term partners. They have done an incredible job decorating each cottage/villa as well as the grounds. Their website is very carefully written.

It does not say "gay friendly." But. If you are lesbian or gay it's clear as a bell that this is an "our family" resort.

One of the tip offs was that they advertize that they will help plan committment ceremonies to be held on their beautiful grounds...

So, if the person is not comfortable with the term gay friendly, wording the adverts carefully is another signal.

It's not so much that we must have a "gay friendly" guarantee, but it's nice to know that certain places are willing to make it clear that everyone, not just heterosexual couples/singles are welcomed.

There are enough of those "Sands" resorts, eh?