LGBT tourism and inclusive holiday lettings in the United Kingdom
Embracing diversity in LGBT-friendly holiday homes
- What is LGBTQ+ tourism?
- Holiday rentals and LGBTQ+ tourists
- How to welcome LGBTQ+ guests?
- Bathroom management
- Extending promotions to LGBTQ+ people
- What other steps should I take to rent out my holiday rental?
- What places are LGBTQ+ tourists looking for?
- Upcoming LGBTQ+ events
What is LGBT tourism?
LGBTQIA+ tourism refers to the type of tourism aimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, queer, intersex, asexual individuals, where the + also includes all those non-heterosexual and non-binary gender identities and sexual orientations that do not fall within the acronym letters. Besides being an important segment of society from a socio-cultural perspective, this part of the population has also gained significant economic relevance over time: the LGBT+ tourism market generates an annual global turnover of around 200 billion dollars. LGBT+ tourism has been steadily growing and blossomed in the 90s, involving both singles and couples. Its prosperity is confirmed by some data: it is estimated that LGBT tourists have a 38% higher income compared to the average, thus they have more opportunities to allocate their savings to holidays.
Holiday homes and LGBT tourists
LGBT tourists generally prefer the option of holiday homes, in order to enjoy greater freedom and carefreeness. Holiday rental portals, such as Holidu, are usually used to make bookings, especially from foreign countries. If you intend to boost your business and attract more guests, create an LGBT-friendly holiday home, perhaps by displaying the famous rainbow flag of the community on your website pages and in your rental listings: many steps forward have been taken, but unfortunately, cases of discrimination or lack of openness towards this community still persist, so it is always good to declare your openness to all guests regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Also, remember that word of mouth generated by the community stands as the best way to advertise your holiday home worldwide.
How to welcome LGBTQ+ guests
The first step in a perfect welcome for LGBT+ guests concerns the inclusive communication of the holiday home. This means using appropriate language, both from the manager and from any staff working within the property. It is advisable that you understand the distinction between the various segments that make up the LGBTQIA+ community, so you can be able to handle any type of conversation and familiarize yourself with your guests. You can include a statement in the regulations of your holiday home asserting that no discrimination of any kind is practised on the premises and that you are committed to supporting equality and inclusivity. You can also try to use neutral pronouns in the advertisements published on OTA or on your holiday home website, aiming to make non-binary holidaymakers feel comfortable. Above all, try to use the pronoun most preferred by the guest by listening to the way they communicate and talk about themselves: continuous errors, even unintentional ones, could make the guest not fully comfortable. Also, be prepared about LGBT+ attractions and events in your area, possibly creating a small brochure: in case of requests, you will immediately know how to meet your guests’ needs. Include a list of useful phone numbers, such as those of associations in your area, as well as references to law enforcement agencies. For the rest, the good rules for all guests apply: always show interest in their opinions about your property, seeking feedback with the aim of making your holiday home perfectly LGBT-friendly.
Managing bathrooms
If you rent out individual rooms in your apartment and do not have a private bathroom for each room, do not assign communal bathrooms to a specific gender. Try to ensure that all toilet facilities can be used without gender distinctions. The same goes for the presence of products such as shampoo, cleaners, or shower gel: choose items as neutral as possible.
Extend promotions to LGBT people
Holiday homes frequently offer special packages for couples and families, often referring exclusively to traditional unions. Make sure to extend the promotion to LGBT families and couples: this way you will have more chances to rent out the holiday apartment. Another measure could be to create inclusive advertising messages also for special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, a celebration that generates a high flow of bookings for accommodation facilities every year.
What other measures to take to rent out my holiday home
Even in the case of LGBTQ+ guests, general hospitality rules must be followed. Make sure to provide:
- A clean, sanitised, and well-ordered environment.
- Maximum comfort possible, such as air conditioners, functioning appliances, and bathroom items.
- Wi-Fi Internet access, clearly communicating the credentials, writing them in a visible place in the house.
- Safety equipment is required by law, including fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.
- At least one television with Internet access and offering the possibility to watch foreign TV channels, so as to allow guests from other nations to entertain themselves with their favourite programs.
- Everything needed for cooking and eating at home, from pots to glasses, from cutlery to plates, as well as a good coffee machine and an electric kettle.
- The necessary supplies for daily cleaning, such as brooms, detergents, and buckets.
What places do LGBT tourists seek?
LGBT community members are generally looking for destinations with an open-minded approach to issues regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, in order to avoid discrimination and unpleasant incidents. In many cities, there are venues with a high attendance of LGBT people, primarily bars, cultural centres, saunas, gyms, and wellness centres. In seaside resorts, there are also LGBT-friendly establishments, which will most likely be appreciated by your guests. Being able to give advice on preferred places and those to avoid certainly works in your favour.
Upcoming LGBT events to follow
LGBT tourism in the UK is rapidly expanding and has been showing interesting numbers for several years. Events dedicated to the gay community are becoming more frequent, mainly concentrated between May and August, with June confirming its great protagonist role as usual.
Dozens and dozens of important British cities will be involved in LGBT events even in 2024. Brighton & Hove, known as the UK’s biggest and most popular Pride festival, kicks off on the 3rd of August. LGBT events will involve almost all the corners of the nation, from Aberdeen to Essex, from Stoke to Shetland, and from Cardiff to Pembrokeshire, so you can count on several opportunities to advertise your holiday home and make it available to the LGBT community.