Back in the USA for 2021

4 February 2021

LIVE EVENT TO TAKE PLACE 8-10 NOVEMBER

1 HOTEL BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Reed Exhibitions, the organisers of the LGBTQ-focused travel event PROUD Experiences, have announced that for the first time since the pandemic, their award-winning event¹ will once again take place in New York but with new dates for this year:  8-10 November 2021.

PROUD Experiences, first launched in the UK back in 2018, is a ground-breaking event for the global travel industry focusing on a sector that is valued at some US$218billion. Following the event's initiative, the past 12 months have seen Reed Exhibitions join over 130 UK organisations in the fight for trans equality with Stonewall, Britain’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality charity, under the banner “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” #transrightsarehumanrights.

Simon Mayle, Event Director, said that he believes the travel industry will continue to seek business together as we emerge from the last 12 months of turmoil:

"We are watching as the post-pandemic world continues to deliver the good news of the vaccine rollouts and in discussion with our friends and partners at NYC & Company, we are now looking to a time towards the end of 2021 when we, as a community, can once again come together and be the voice for international travel brands, destinations and experiences. While the world came to a halt, we know from the last event that the LGBTQ+ sector is still said to continue its growth – the UNWTO predicted for 2020 that there would be some 180 million LGBTQ+ tourists and we don’t expect that to alter. In fact, we expect it to grow given the real desire for travel after lockdown.” 

PROUD Experiences is expected to continue its blueprint of a mixture of business sessions with appointments between buyers and suppliers, together with the masterclass sessions that allow all attendees to hear from industry experts, LGBTQ+ travellers and leading brands. Their personal stories, marketing best practices and case studies show how engaging with such a diverse community and maintaining loyalty will help businesses.

NYC & Company president and CEO, Fred Dixon commented:

“We are so excited to once again welcome PROUD Experiences to New York City. As the number one LGBTQ+ destination in the US, there could not be a more fitting backdrop to connect, engage and educate at one of the most important and gratifying business gatherings.”

[1] Winner of the AEO Excellence Awards for Best Tradeshow Launch in 2019