Florida has hit the headlines in recent weeks following its newly approved “Don’t Say Gay” bill. But Tampa Bay, a city described as “an area that is more progressive than some others” by Visit Tampa Bay’s chief marketing officer Patrick Harrison, is keen to lead by example and walk the walk.
Tampa Bay, he stressed, has a unique stance on diversity and inclusion in the Sunshine State. The city might not be the first destination agents think of when selling to LGBT+ customers, those with accessibility needs or clients from ethnic minority backgrounds, and this was confirmed by agent participants during the D&I roundtable, but there are a number of reasons why it should be.
During the discussion, which was chaired by TTG editor Sophie Griffiths, agents asked their most burning questions and aired their concerns, while Visit Tampa Bay shared what makes the city a welcoming option for all travellers.
Will my LGBT+ customers feel welcome in Tampa Bay?
“Visit Tampa Bay believes 100% in diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Harrison. “Everything we do is cultivating a message that shows our company matches our community.” And the Tampa Bay community is certainly pro-LGBT+. In 2019 the city voted in openly LGBT+ female ex-police chief Jane Castor as mayor, who won 73% of the ballots. The destination is also cited as a diverse and inclusive destination by Rachel Covello, chief executive of pro-LGBT+ publication outcoast.com.
Is Tampa Bay ready for my customers with special accessibility needs?
Visit Tampa Bay has a dedicated accessibility ambassador, Jamie Santillo, who is owner of Adventures by Jamie (a travel agency focusing on travellers with special needs and mobility-friendly experiences) and a wheelchair user herself. Santillo visits accommodation providers such as Marriott International and assesses them to decipher what the hotel is doing well and what it could improve when it comes to accessibility.
A common issue globally is hotels placing ash trays in front of lift buttons, so those in wheelchairs are unable to reach. Visit Tampa Bay’s accessibility-approved hotels can be found at visittampabay.com/stay, while Santillo also recommends Alderman’s Ford Regional County Park, ZooTampa, Columbia Restaurant and the Henry B. Plant Museum as some of the best mobility-friendly attractions.
