American Airlines Re-Boards LGBT Confex

GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO (OUT NOW) – July 11, 2013 -- One of the world’s leading airlines has chosen to get on board with Latin America’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travel business conference and consumer expo event for the second year running. 

The International LGBT Business Expo www.lgbtbusinessexpo.com is the annual flagship event from Latin America’s leading LGBT specialist conference and exhibitions company – LGBT Confex www.LGBTConfex.com - and is the region’s leading business event focused on connecting business with LGBT consumers.

The event has garnered the support of many leading brands and organisations, including American Express, IBM, Out & Equal, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tourism Thailand, Guadalajara OVC, Jalisco Secretariat of Tourism, Mexico Tourism Board and Out Now Global.

The American Airlines sponsorship represents the second year of support from the airline for the LGBT Confex conference. George Carrancho, Manager of Diverse Segment Marketing for American Airlines will also present a conference workshop on the continuing growth of global LGBT tourism. He will describe American Airlines long history and commitment to global diversity, and its record serving the LGBT marketplace. The International LGBT Business Expo includes four key platforms for exhibitors and delegates - tourism, diversity, entrepreneurship and technology.

“American Airlines is committed to meeting the needs of all our customers,” Carrancho says. "We are proud to be recognized as the only airline, and only a handful of corporations that have earned a perfect 100% score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index every year. Our commitment to equality and fairness is second to none when serving our customers too, and we are delighted to again support LGBT Confex and the International LGBT Business Expo.” 

Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, said he is looking forward to working with American Airlines to build on their already successful partnership. 

“We work very hard with all our sponsors and partners to help them better understand and meet the needs of LGBT people as customers and as employees,” Sandoval says. “American Airlines is an ideal fit with our organization’s ethos as they so clearly share a commitment to connecting with LGBT people in ways that support the community and helps their business. It is a win-win that LGBT Confex is delighted to be able to facilitate.”

With Latin America and the Caribbean accounting for almost 1 in every 5 American Airlines flights, the decision to support LGBT Confex can be seen as both socially responsible and economically smart.

The latest market data from the world’s largest LGBT market research program - the ’Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study’ reveal that the global air travel market is big business. The research shows that the top 17 global markets will account for a total of USD$181 billion in LGBT tourism spend during 2013. Mexico’s LGBT travelers account for USD$9.2 billion of that total. 

The LGBT2020 study also shows that a significant number of the most popular destinations for LGBT travel are in the Latin America region - including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mexico City, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta all figuring strongly in LGBT people’s travel plans for 2013. 

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now www.outnowconsulting.com noted that it was economically savvy of American Airlines to align itself with the LGBT market.

“Latin America is home to two of the fastest growing LGBT markets - Brazil and Mexico,” Johnson says. “To support the leading LGBT event in the region is a really smart business move. LGBT customers are some of the most sought-after travelers in the world. With a preponderance of double-income, no-kids households - and with more countries and states recognizing gay relationships, the opportunities for an airline with the extensive reach of American means their sponsorship of LGBT Confex is on the right side of business as well as being on the right side of history.”

LGBT Confex presents their annual flagship event - the 3rd International LGBT Business Expo www.LGBTbusinessExpo.com - over three days from September 5 - 7, 2013 in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

MORE INFORMATION?

English language media contact: 
Darren Cooper, Senior Consultant, Out Now 
info@outnowconsulting.com

Spanish language media contact: 
Andres Reyes, Media Manager, LGBT Confex
andres@lgbtconfex.com 

ABOUT AMERICAN AIRLINES:
American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American’s fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777- 300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American’s website, aa.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American’s AAdvantage® program, voted Airline Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members earn miles for travel and everyday purchases and redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol “AAMRQ” on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

ABOUT LGBT CONFEX:
Latin America’s leading LGBT conferences and Exhibitions Company is LGBT Confex www.lgbtconfex.com . Established in 2011, the organization quickly demonstrated its capabilities to put together a professional team with staff who bring many years in event management expertise. Following the success of their inaugural event in 2011, LGBT Confex doubled in scale with 2012’s even more successful event in Cancun. The next event - International LGBT Business Expo - is being held in Guadalajara, Mexico from September 5 to 7.  www.MexicoExpoLGBT.com 

ABOUT OUT NOW:
The world’s premier LGBT marketing organization is Out Now. Established in 1992 in Australia, Out Now has grown to reach more than 20 markets worldwide. Its work covers strategy, communications and training as well as managing the world’s largest and most extensive LGBT market research program LGBT2020 www.LGBT2020.com . Many of the world’s leading brands including IBM, Volvo, Toyota, Citibank, Barclays Bank, Time Inc Magazines, Doubleday Books, Hilton Hotels and German National Tourist Office rely upon Out Now Global. The agency also provides the world’s best LGBT business networking program Out Now Business Class www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - and qualifying delegates to the LGBT Confex event are being provided with complimentary membership in this world’s best B2B initiative.

###ENDS###

Contact Information

Darren Cooper

Senior Consultant

Out Now

Contact via E-mail