Travel Impressions Launches Gay-Oriented Productsby Michelle Baran

Travel Impressions has launched TI Gay & Lesbian Travel, a collection of gay-friendly travel products.

The program includes more than 950 gay-friendly properties, which Travel Impressions defined as properties that are open to actively welcoming gay and lesbian vacationers and extending the same service levels, courtesies and professionalism as they extend to all other visitors.

TI Gay & Lesbian Travel offers packages to the continental U.S., Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Tahiti. Travel Impressions has also created niche gay and lesbian travel categories such as romance, family and group travel. The Farmingdale, N.Y.-based operator said it plans on adding destinations to the program.

Citing an annual tourism study conducted by gay market researcher Community Marketing, Travel Impressions noted that more than 76 percent of U.S. gay and lesbian respondents have a current passport, compared with 24 percent to 30 percent of all U.S. adult citizens.

Seventy-five percent of gay travelers state that known gay-friendliness is a top reason for choosing a destination. The study was based on more than 7,500 responses from self-identified gay and lesbian consumers.