13th Annual PlanetOut Inc. Travel Awards
Best in Gay and Lesbian Travel for 2006
WASHINGTON, DC, June 27, 2006. PlanetOut Inc. (NASDAQ:LGBT), the leading media and entertainment company focused on serving the gay and lesbian community, recently revealed its 13th annual PlanetOut Inc. Travel Awards, sponsored by Travelocity. PlanetOut presented the awards at a luncheon co-sponsored by the company and Travelocity at the annual convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) in Washington, D.C.
Formerly known as the OUT&ABOUT Editor's Choice Awards, the renamed awards continued to recognize achievements in gay and lesbian travel during the past year, as well as bring attention to an industry increasingly opening doors to LGBT travelers and the $65 billion they spend annually on travel (Community Marketing, Inc.).
This year's winners included:
o Gay resort town: Provincetown
o Domestic destination: New York City
o International destination: Buenos Aires
o Destination of the year: Spain
o Airline: American Airlines
o Cruise company: Crystal Cruises
o Hotel collection: Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
o Gay resort: Royal Palms
o Tour operator*: OutWest Global Adventures
o Gay events: Sydney Mardi Gras
"There might as well be a map of Spain next to the definition of 'progressive society' in the dictionary," said Ed Salvato, travel editor, PlanetOut Inc. "With a headstrong leap into modernity, Spain has doffed its Franco past and embraced an inclusive social policy such as legalized same-sex marriage, hedonistic nightlife, cutting-edge cuisine and fast-moving energy amid balconies and Iberian charm."
Salvato assembled a panel to adjudicate the awards. Judges included Ed Salvato, travel editor, PlanetOut Inc.; Bryan Saltzburg, vice president, leisure businesses, Travelocity; Gary Lee, staff writer, The Washington Post; Steve Rothaus, editor Miami Herald; Kenneth Kiesnoski, executive editor, Travel Weekly; Derek Hartley, host, OutQ on Sirius; Darren Frei, editor, The Out Traveler; Aefa Mulholland, senior writer, PlanetOut Inc.; Bernhard De Paz, ManTours (Germany); and, Mike Luongo, senior writer, PlanetOut Inc.
Travelocity again showed its support of gay and lesbian travel with its sponsorship of the awards. "It's an honor for Travelocity to take part in these long-standing awards," said Saltzburg. "We're very much looking forward to seeing even more places open up to this audience."
More information about the winners can be found at http://www.planetout.com/travel/awards.
Since 1992, the annual awards have recognized the best of the best in gay travel by shining a well-deserved spotlight on the best destinations, resorts, airlines and more.
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