As a platinum partner of Winter Pride 2021, Booking.com has launched the study and ‘Postcards from Pride’ to shine a spotlight on the attitudes, concerns and travel preferences, as well as past stay experiences, current realities and hopes for a more inclusive travel future.
With travel restrictions resulting in this year’s Winter Pride cancelled, and this key moment of travel and celebration put on hold for LGBTIQ+ communities, it’s more important than ever to reflect on the challenges they face.
With this campaign, Booking.com aims to create a more inclusive experience when travel becomes a possibility again, whilst supporting the mental health and well-being of New Zealand’s rainbow communities.
Postcards from Pride
Each ‘Postcard from Pride’ in the project features a diverse representation and stories from LGBTIQ+ travellers across Aotearoa.
The stories highlight the challenges faced by the community whilst travelling, and celebrates how travel can make the world a more inclusive place.
“We’re thrilled that Booking.com has selected OutLine Aotearoa to donate the proceeds of ‘Postcards from Pride’ and look forward to using this funding to continue providing vital mental health support to rainbow people throughout Aotearoa,” said Claire Black, General Manager.
LGBTIQ+ Travel Today in Aotearoa
‘Postcards from Pride’ showcases insights from Booking.com’s global research with LGBTIQ+ travellers.
Key findings include that over half (58%) of LGBTIQ+ Kiwi travellers say they have to consider their safety and wellbeing when picking a destination and over half (60%) also believe that travelling as part of the LGBTIQ+ community means that some destinations are off-limits.
These extra considerations for LGBTIQ+ people extend across the entire planning and travel journey for those surveyed:
- 51% believe being LGBTIQ+ impacts the decisions they make when planning a trip, with 44% saying that it has affected their destination bucket list.
- Over half (54%) report that being LGBTIQ+ impacts who they choose to travel with.
- 53% indicate that traveling as an LGBTIQ+ person impacts how they behave with their significant other when traveling together.
- Over half (55%) believe being LGBTIQ+ impacts how they present themselves during their trip (e.g. clothing, makeup choices, etc).
While these insights expose the concerns that weigh on many LGBTIQ+ travellers’ minds, often before they’ve even arrived at their destination, there are also more promising signs with 88% of LGBTIQ+ travellers surveyed believing the majority of the experiences they’ve had so far have been welcoming.
More Welcoming Stays for Everyone
To support creating a more inclusive travel experience, today Booking.com is announcing the launch of its Travel Proud programme in Australia and New Zealand.
The core of the Travel Proud initiative is for accommodation providers to become a Proud Certified property on the Booking.com platform via a free 75-minute online Proud Hospitality training session that has developed in partnership with HospitableMe.
After completing the online course and making a commitment to deliver a more inclusive experience, Proud Certified partners will receive a Travel Proud badge on their property page to show potential guests that they can rely on a welcoming experience.
“Everything we do at Booking.com is about enabling smoother and more enjoyable travel experiences for everyone – no matter where they come from, who they love or how they identify,” said Todd Lacey, Area Manager New Zealand at Booking.com.
“Despite the barriers and challenges that remain, this underscores an underlying optimism amongst LGBTIQ+ travellers and a growing opportunity for the travel industry to do even better to create more welcoming experiences for everyone. We firmly believe we can get there together and that everyone should be able to experience the world as themselves, always.”
The postcards are available for purchase from the Postcards from Pride website, all proceeds from the campaign will be donated in support of OutLine Aotearoa, which provides a nationwide, free and confidential 0800 support line for the rainbow community.
