A total of six finalists were selected for this highly competitive category, sponsored by the Italian National Tourist Board, which saw strong submissions from across the industry.

The winner will be announced at the Travel Industry Awards by TTG on 29 September at Magazine London.

See this category’s shortlist below, and click here to view the wider awards shortlist. 

THE SHORTLIST:

Erik De Vos, senior travel experience designer, The Luminaire     

Over the past 12 months senior travel designer Erik De Vos has worked to inspire every member of staff in the business with a completely original and inclusive approach to travel design. An example of this is the Hidden History of Florence itinerary – an exploration of an aspect of LGBT+ history and how it affected renaissance art. He has also helped The Luminaire recruit a diverse team of experts to provide new inclusive voices and perspectives on the world.

Ben Eddon-Carruthers, managing director, Huben Travel

Ben Eddon-Carruthers set up Huben Travel with his husband Hugh following negative experiences they experienced on their own holidays. Over the past few years, everyone working for Huben Travel has had thorough service training with an emphasis on LGBT+ guests, ensuring that each hotel is contacted in advance of their arrival to prevent frustrating situations. Eddon-Carruthers has commissioned LGBT+ blogs and travel guides, networked with hotel groups to ensure their policies align with Huben Travel’s and has championed social media aimed at the LGBT+ community.

Nick Johnson, senior account manager, Virgin Atlantic

Nick Johnson is chair and founder of PRIDE@VirginAtlantic, an LGBT+ employee network which has now been running for six years with more than 500 members and allies. Passionate about always staying ahead of the curve, Johnson restructured and renamed the network over the past year, recruiting a new diverse committee, and helped lead on the airline’s new brand campaign, “showcasing to the world how inclusive our people are and in turn how we embrace all of our customers”.

Uwern Jong, experientialist-in-chief, OutThere          

Uwern Jong is experientialist-in-chief of OutThere, an inclusive consumer-focused travel magazine, rooted in its brand values of “diversity, discovery and discernment for the LGBTQ+ community and their friends”. Celebrating 12 years in print and online, OutThere describes itself as one of the world’s leading luxury and experiential travel media brands for LGBT+ people, while also stepping outside its niche to become one of the UK’s foremost consumer travel magazines.

Simon Mayle, event director, Proud Experiences, RX Reed Exhibitions

Simon Mayle, now based in Brazil, led a team to create Proud Experiences, described as the only international event for travel brands and agents – to get together, learn, network and do business – solely dedicated to the LGBT+ traveller. With three events having taken place so far, growing rapidly each year (and not withstanding the two past years when it could not take place), the event is the culmination of his “true belief that travel has the power to change”.

Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir, founder and director, Moonlight Experiences   

Prominent queer activist Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir founded experiences and events platform Moonlight Experiences, dedicated to the celebration of diverse queer culture and belonging, in a bid to uplift marginalised voices whilst supporting queer women, LGBT+ spaces and creatives. Since launching in London, Aisha has campaigned for diverse and better tourism within the UK and the company and has quickly expanded her business to other cities in the UK, Europe, Africa and the USA. 

To find out more about the Travel Industry Awards by TTG, or to purchase a ticket, click here.