Illinois Launches LGBT Tourism Site

Illinois tourism officials have launched a website dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism in the state. The site lists resources available throughout the state as well as recommendations on the best places to eat, play, shop, and stay. Its clear the cash-strapped state is looking for its share of the gay dollar – the average LGBT person in the U.S. spends $1,974 a year on leisure travel.

Gays and Lesbians Leading the Nation in Mobile Internet Usage

Some new data was just published showing that gays and lesbians are among the leading groups in the nation when it comes to mobile internet usage. And no, hours spent on Grindr was not one of the survey metrics. It turns out that we're more likely than the general population to own Smartphones, and more than twice as likely to make purchases from them. In fact, in the past week, 28% of us have made a purchase using our Smartphone, 63% of us have found info on a local business using it, and 36% of us have used it to receive or redeem deals or specials like Groupons. The data was published in 5th Annual LGBT Community Survey by Community Marketing, Inc., which can be found here. 

LAN Airlines Launches LGBT Site

LAN, a Latin American airline, just launched a new microsite that showcases the diversity found throughout South America, and is a one-stop-shop resource for LGBT travelers there. LAN's new LGBT microsite features a host of information and resources for the prospective traveler to South America. It includes detailed descriptions of key South American destinations with information of interest to gay and lesbian travelers. The site also features recent LGBT-related news pertaining to countries throughout South America, as well as events of interest to gay and lesbian travelers to South America, including trips from leading LGBT tour operators.

Ad Spotlight: Absolut Vodka

Absolut is celebrating 20 years of LGBT advertising. In 1981 it ran its first gay-targeted ads in The Advocate and After Dark. To celebrate, Absolut is launching a national $4 million outdoor, digital, and print campaign. Click here to read the full New York Times article.

Ad Spotlight: Kimpton Hotels

Kimpton Hotels has launched a new website dedicated to communicating the various LGBT services and programs they offer, including LGBT marriages, ceremonies, honeymoons, parties, and events. Check it out here.

New Startup Sells Tasteful Greeting Cards for The LGBT Community

Here’s a business that I think will fulfill a much needed niche: tasteful greeting cards designed specifically for the LGBT community. Most LGBT-specific cards I’ve ever seen have been overtly sexual- ideal to give to a friend on a birthday, but not appropriate for a more serious occasion like your anniversary with your partner. Enter The Crooked Arrow, a company founded by Tracy McKay, an interior designer and artist who has been creating greeting cards since her childhood. “”Just imagine the trouble a mother in a small Mid-Western town would have trying to find a card to send her gay son and his new husband in New York City,” said Tracy. “That’s exactly why I created TheCrookedArrow.com—to rekindle and preserve the tradition of card sending in this community.” Read more here. 

Out Magazine's Parent Company Launches new LGBT Website

Here Media, the parent company of Out magazine, just launched a new LGBT website called Gay.net, which features content related to LGBT culture, entertainment, travel, style, and leisure. Gay.net’s content features a mix of editorial voices and opinions. Upon visiting, readers have access to the nine most recent features and news headlines through the site’s “The It List.” Additionally, a horizontal thread across the bottom of the homepage allows readers to see the day’s most popular trending stories. A unique feature to the new site is the new “The Randomizer” tool, which, which clicked on, automatically pulls an arbitrary headline that a reader may have missed but may be of interest.

Hyatt & Absolut Sponsor New "Answers" Feature on GayCities

Hyatt Hotels and Absolut Vodka are the first sponsors of GayCities' Answers Q&A feature. The LGBT city guide and travel site debuted the new feature on their site earlier this week. It enables members to tap into the collective wisdom of the community to provide answers to everyday questions. Members can share their knowledge about their home towns and anywhere they travel. Read more here. 

Are You on Google+ Yet?

You know Facebook is pulling some all nighters this week...