St. Pete Lands LGBT Tourism Convention

St. Petersburg’s reputation for inclusion has landed it a first.

The city has been selected by the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association as the host site for its annual global convention in 2017. The association, which provides education and networking opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism industry, has never held its annual event on Florida’s Gulf Coast before.

The association’s board of directors chose St. Petersburg for its 34th annual conference, May 3-6, 2017, for a number of reasons, the organization announced in a media release.

“Not only does St. Pete have a charming downtown and incredible beaches, it also boasts major attractions like the Dali Museum and has been actively engaged in the LGBT market,” Dan Melesurgo, the board’s chair, was quoted as saying. “Our goal as a travel association is to showcase the host destination in conjunction with the conference, so we look forward to expanding the global audience for St. Pete. We know our attendees are going to fall in love with it, if they’re not already fans.”

The 2017 conference will take place at the Vinoy Renaissance.

“As home to one of the largest Pride events in America, St. Petersburg/Clearwater has long been a welcoming destination for the LGBT traveler,” David Downing, executive director Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, was quoted in the release as saying. “We’re honored to be the host city for IGLTA’s 2017 Annual Global Convention, and we look forward to showing off our gorgeous white sand beaches, world-class cultural scene and unique Gulf Coast vibe.”

Photo from the City of St. Petersburg Facebook page