W OSAKA + IGLTA TRAVEL WITH PRIDE

During our recent visit to Osaka, Mr n Mister were invited to be special guests at ‘Travel With Pride’ an event hosted by W Osaka in collaboration with IGLTA to help launch this year’s LGBTQ+ Global Travel Convention.

Each year IGLTA hosts the convention – the world’s premier educational and networking event for LGBTQ+ tourism, attracting hundreds of professionals from across the globe. The convention is not only the largest of its kind, but it is also the longest-running – with the 40th edition taking place this year in Osaka.

The launch event hosted by W Osaka was a chance to hear directly from IGLTA about what was in store for the convention, to learn about W Osaka’s commitment to our community, and to see just how eager Osaka was to welcome LGBTQ+ travellers.

We were honoured to be guest speakers at the event and share both the Mr n Mister story and our views on travel for the community.

As Mr n Mister, we have done 3 editorial trips to Osaka, and there is much about the city that resonates with us: the vibrancy of the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi district. The combination of youthful energy and rich culture and history. The best vintage fashion and record stores. The kind nature of the locals – Osaka really is the friendliest city.

AND not to mention the best Okonminyaki!

We got to speak firsthand about both the positive and negative experiences of traveling through different countries as a gay husbands and our hopes for the future of the industry. We also go to share our experience of staying at the W and to speak of their incredible hospitality.

It was wonderful to meet so many key attendees on the night – the US consulate, travel executives and business owners – all who are championing our community.

We got to see first hand, the commitment that W Osaka has made to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and their genuine desire to push for true diversity and inclusion.

We are aware through their long history of advocating for us, with campaigns like LoveTravels or hosting their recent ‘Pride Talk Session’ event – that W Hotel values and respects our community and is not afraid to be an active and visible ally. LoveTravels represents Marriott International’s commitment to advance inclusion, equality, and create positive and sustainable impact wherever they do business. 

It feels so nice to know that when we recommend the W Osaka to our audience, that not only is it a spectacular hotel we are recommending, but one where the culture is inclusive to everyone. 

Huge congratulations to IGLTA and W Osaka on their collab and bravo to W Osaka on pushing for inclusivity and diversity in the most genuine and heartfelt way. It’s this type of evolution in culture that ultimately affects positive changes in a country’s laws and pushes society forward.

For further info on W Osaka, visit www.marriott.com

For more info on IGLTA and their Global Convention, visit www.iglta.org

Leave a Reply