April 9, 2019 – With WorldPride 2019 coming to New York City for the first time in June, Westchester County’s hospitality industry is upping its game when it comes to welcoming diverse visitors.
Westchester County Tourism & Film – an official WorldPride partner – is hosting training on April 11 to equip local hospitality employees with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide winning service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) guests.
County Executive George Latimer said: “Here in Westchester, all are welcome. We are proud to host this training to help our travel and tourism providers be the most gracious of hosts, not only for the visitors we’ll see during WorldPride 2019, but also on an ongoing basis.”
Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board Chair Christopher Oldi said: “The Board is grateful that this important and crucial training will take place in advance of WorldPride 2019. WorldPride 2019 is sure to be a momentous event and we here in Westchester are excited to take part.”
The training is being delivered by Hospitable Me, the global leader in LGBTQ+ strategy, marketing and training for tourism and hospitality businesses. Topics will include:
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Broad overview of the LGBTQ+ tourism market and why this growing market is an important travel niche
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Specific relevance of LGBTQ+ guests to your business
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Language, service and legacy systems issues for LGBTQ+ consumers
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How gender diversity and sexual fluidity are shaping the next generation of travelers
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How LGBTQ+ travelers are often slighted by hospitality providers
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Which service touch points are sensitive for LGBTQ+ clients
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Dos and don'ts for welcoming diverse travelers
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How to greet guests who use pronouns other than he/she
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Why progressive hospitality businesses are using gender-neutral language
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Best practices and competitive analysis in your sector
Founder of Hospitable Me Billy Kolber said: “You can’t provide personalized, authentic service to LGBTQ+ people if you don’t understand who we are, or feel comfortable engaging us. Participants in our 90-minute program will gain that understanding, the tools and the language they need to engage with LGBTQ customers in authentic, intuitive and personalized ways.”
Tourism & Film Director Natasha Caputo said: “Our office works closely with the hotel and tourism industry every day – and this training is just another example of the great things that can occur thanks to our collaborative approach.”
Limited space is available for the travel and tourism industry. For more information call 914-995-8500 or email: .
About Westchester County Tourism & Film
Westchester County Tourism & Film is the official destination marketing organization of Westchester, N.Y. Its mission is to generate economic benefits for the county by enhancing and promoting its image as a premier Hudson Valley business and leisure destination. Encompassing big cities, small towns, farms, and vast expanses of natural beauty, Westchester is easily accessible by car, its own regional airport (HPN) and three major rail lines. Accommodation choices range from independent to internationally branded hotels and conference centers. Learn more at visitwestchesterny.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.