Fagabond takes gay travel planning to a new level
With the launch today of Fagabond, gay travelers have a new online tool to help them plan and book their next trip.
Ongoing research by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, a marketing firm that specializes in gay travel, shows that gay travelers are strongly influenced by information they find online and much more likely to use online booking services.
According to the firm’s 16th Annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Report, approximately 30 percent of respondents said that articles on LGBT websites are the top influencer when researching and making their destination selection.
Fagabond features a booking widget powered by Travelocity and gives witty LGBT-focused information such as destination descriptions, nightlife picks, and restaurants recommendations. Users of the site can also find travel deals and sign up for the e-newsletter.
While additional destinations will be added over time, Fagabond currently includes information on 20 of the country’s top gay-friendly cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Austin and Washington, D.C.
“Fagabond is five years in the making, and we’re thrilled with the final product,” said Fagabond co-owner Mike Sheridan. “While the descriptions and headlines are tongue-in-cheek—we want people to actually enjoy the planning stage—the content is informational, accurate, and compelling for a gay person mapping out their next getaway.”
Fagabond’s other co-owner, Jim Werner, added, “Our goal for users is in the tagline: ‘Same Sex. Different Travel.’ It’s where the gay community can find the information that will help them choose their destinations, plan their trips, and book their stays—all for gays, all by gays, and all in one place.”
Sheridan and Werner believe that what sets their travel website apart from others is the booking capability provided by Travelocity, making it a full-service planning tool. Users can reserve their hotels, flights, cars, and attraction tickets—all without leaving Fagabond. Travelocity has been actively involved in marketing to and servicing LGBT travelers since 2004.
Now through July 31, travelers who book their trips on Fagabond can receive $25 off their total. This exclusive deal is available only to those who use the Travelocity widget on Fagabond to reserve their hotels. To qualify, the stays must take place by December 31, 2012.
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