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Hey everyone, ready for another deep dive?
Today we’re exploring something really
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cool, how the travel industry is becoming
more inclusive. Especially in the luxury
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travel sector. Exactly, and you know what?
We’re zeroing in on Mallorca. Beautiful
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island. Oh yeah, and we’ve got some
insights from a luxury travel agency
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called La Luxure. They’re based right in
Mallorca. Yep, and get this, they’re
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members of the International LGBTQ Plus
Travel Association. Association. The
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IGLTA. Makes you think they really know
their stuff about making travel welcoming
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for everyone, right? Absolutely. So let’s
jump right in. This partnership between
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Virtuoso. Big network of luxury travel
agencies. Yeah, and the IGLTA. It’s huge.
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Signals a real shift in the luxury travel
market. Definitely a big step forward.
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What changes can travelers actually expect
from this? Well, it’s setting a new
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standard. Okay. For one, they’re focusing
on specialized training for travel
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advisors. Interesting. So they can better
understand information. And then they’re
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focusing on training for travel advisors.
So they can and serve LGBTQ Plus clients.
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Ah, so it’s going beyond just booking a
flight and a hotel? Way beyond. It’s about
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crafting an experience that truly
resonates with someone’s identity.
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Personalization and authenticity. Exactly.
Plus, there’s a push for innovative
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marketing. Oh, how so? Highlighting
destinations and experiences that are
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genuinely welcoming to everyone.
Showcasing diversity and inclusivity. As a
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core value. Love that. Okay, let’s talk
about LuxJourno. Their approach to
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inclusive luxury travel is a key to their
success. They’re focused on providing a
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place where people can travel in Mallorca.
It’s really turning heads. What are they
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doing that’s so unique? Well, they’re all
about creating personalized experiences.
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That go beyond the ordinary. Right. Like
arranging private tours of Mallorca’s
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LGBTQ Plus historical sites. Ooh, I’m
curious about those. What makes these
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historical sites so special? What stories
do they tell about Mallorca’s LGBTQ Plus
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history? Well, one really noteworthy site
is the former home of this renowned poet
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and activist. Wow. They played a big role
in shaping Mallorca’s inclusive spirit.
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So, La Luxure arranges exclusive tours of
this place. Yeah, bringing those stories
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and struggles to life. You know, the
people who paved the way for the island’s
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welcoming atmosphere. That’s incredible.
Sounds really immersive and meaningful. It
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is. And La Luxure is just as meticulous
about accommodations. Oh, how so? They
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make sure all their partner hotels aren’t
just luxurious. And virtuoso endorsed. Of
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course, but also recognized for their
commitment to being truly inclusive.
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Finding those kinds of places sounds
tricky. How do they actually find hotels
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that meet those standards? What are they
looking for? It’s a rigorous vetting
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process. More than just the usual quality
checks, I bet. Oh, yeah. They personally
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connect with hotel staff, review policies
and practices, even engage with past
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guests. Wow. To make sure their LGBTQ Plus
clients will feel comfortable, respected,
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and truly welcomed. Exactly. They’re going
the extra mile with those details, for
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sure. Every aspect of the travel
experience aligns with their values.
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That’s impressive. And it goes beyond
accommodations, too, right? Right. They
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also partner with chefs and venues that
embody Mallorca’s inclusive spirit. I’m
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really intrigued by this inclusive spirit
you keep mentioning. What does that
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actually look like in practice? Can you
give some examples of these chefs or
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venues? Sure. One example is this talented
chef who sources ingredients from local
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LGBTQ Plus-owned farms. Interesting.
Creates these unique dining experiences
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that celebrate diversity through food. Oh,
wow. And what about venues? Yes. Well,
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there’s this charming bookstore and
cafe… Sounds nice. …that hosts events
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showcasing LGBTQ Plus authors and artists.
Fostering a sense of community. Exactly.
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They really do have a knack for connecting
travel culture and community. It shines
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through in how they talk about
inclusivity. Right. Calling it subtle yet
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impactful. I like that. What exactly do
they mean by that? Any specific examples?
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Oh, yeah. They’ve got a few. Instead of
focusing solely on LGBTQ Plus-specific
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destinations or events, they weave
inclusivity into, like, every aspect of
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the experience. I see. Like suggesting a
fantastic restaurant known for both its
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amazing food… Yeah. …and its welcoming
atmosphere. Oh, I get it. Or recommending
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a local artisan market… Okay. …where
you can connect with artists from all
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kinds of backgrounds. It’s about those
little touches. Creating a truly inclusive
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and authentic experience. So they’re
making inclusivity part of the whole
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journey. Not just an add-on. Not a
separate category. Exactly. And it seems
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to be working. Oh, so… They’ve shared
stories of guests feeling a real sense of
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belonging… And connection. …during
their travels with La Luxure. That’s
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awesome. It’s really inspiring to see them
using their platform to make a difference.
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Definitely. Makes me think, even if we’re
not using a luxury travel agency… Like
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La Luxure. …are there things we can do
to make our own travels more inclusive?
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Absolutely. For starters, awareness and
intention. Okay. Think about the
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businesses you support while traveling.
Yeah. Yeah. Are they committed to
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diversity and inclusivity? Do they reflect
the values we want to see in the world?
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Exactly. That’s a good point. It’s easy to
get caught up in the excitement of travel.
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And not think critically about our impact.
Right. And it’s more than just our
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spending choices, too. It’s about being
respectful and open, engaging with people
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from different backgrounds and cultures.
Yeah. Travel’s a great opportunity to
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learn and grow. And that includes
expanding our understanding of
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inclusivity. So approach travel with a
sense of curiosity… Be open to new
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perspectives. And experiences. Right. And
remember, inclusivity isn’t just about
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tolerance. It’s about more. It’s about
celebrating and embracing diversity.
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Creating spaces. Where everyone feels
seen, heard, and valued. What a beautiful
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way to put it. Creating a world where
everyone feels like they belong. Exactly.
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And that sense of belonging… …is
something we can all contribute to. In our
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travels and in our everyday lives. This
conversation has given me a lot to think
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about. Me, too. The lectures are great.
This approach is really inspiring. They’re
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redefining what luxury travel can be. It’s
not just about fancy amenities anymore.
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It’s about creating a genuine sense of
welcome. And belonging. For everyone.
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They’re not just talking the talk. Right.
They’re walking the walk. Putting it all
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into action. It’s so refreshing to see a
company in the luxury travel space. Making
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such a bold stance. They really are.
Showing that inclusivity and luxury aren’t
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mutually exclusive. They can totally go
hand in hand. They even enhance each
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other, I think. Absolutely. Well, Luxure
says they’re reimagining luxury travel as
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a space of genuine welcome. Powerful
statement. What do you see as the most
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significant part of this reimagining? Hmm.
It’s about shifting the focus from
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exclusivity to belonging. I like that. For
so long, luxury travel has been about…
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Having access to something others don’t.
Exactly. But Luxure is changing that.
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Saying that true luxury is about…
Creating an environment where everyone
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feels valued. And celebrated for who they
are. Yes. So breaking down those barriers.
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Making luxury travel more accessible. Not
just in terms of affordability, but… In
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terms of feeling like you truly belong.
That you deserve to be there. Exactly.
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Everyone deserves to experience the joy of
travel. Regardless of background or
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identity. Absolutely. This has been such
an eye-opening conversation about
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inclusivity in the travel industry. It’s a
really important topic. And we’ve seen how
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Luxure is putting these ideas into
practice. They’re leading the way. But
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what about us, you know? Those of us who
just love to travel and want to make a
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difference. That’s a great question. What
can we do to contribute to a more
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inclusive travel world? Well, I think it
starts with recognizing we all have a role
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to play. We’re not just bystanders. Right.
We can be more mindful of the choices we
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make while traveling. Supporting
businesses that align with our values.
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Exactly. And engage in respectful dialogue
with people from different backgrounds.
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Embracing those opportunities to learn and
grow. And we can use our voices to
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advocate for change. Speak up when we see
injustice or exclusion. It all makes a
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difference. It’s empowering to realize
that we’re not just passive consumers. We
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have the power to shape the future of
travel. By embracing inclusivity as a core
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value. We contribute to creating a world
where everyone feels welcome, respected,
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and celebrated. This has been such an
enlightening deep dive. I agree. Thank you
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so much for sharing your insights with us
today. My pleasure. It’s been great
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exploring this topic with you. And thank
you all for joining us. We hope this has
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inspired you to think differently about
your own travel experiences. And how you
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can contribute to a more welcoming world
for everyone. Until next time, happy
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travels, everyone.