Friday, July 30, 2010

Fort Lauderdale's Sebastian Beach Voted #1 of Top Ten Gay Beaches in the World by GayCities Travel

Fort Lauderdale's most popular gay beach Located near most of the gay resorts, Sebastian Street is the most popular beach destination for gay tourists. Populated mostly by men, this beach is see-and-be-seen in that low-key Lauderdale way.

Top ten gay beaches in the world » GayCities Travel Blog

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Rainbow Alliance Represented in Antwerp, Belgium to Promote LGBT Tourism to Greater Fort Lauderdale

Contact: Keith Blackburn

Co-Chair

Phone: 954-523-3500

Fax: 888-889-2275


 

1115 Tequesta Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

www.GoGayFortLauderdale.com

RAINBOW ALLIANCE of GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

Press Release

Rainbow Alliance Represented in Antwerp, Belgium to Promote LGBT Tourism to Greater Fort Lauderdale

Together with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

Antwerp, June 30, 2010: The Rainbow Alliance and Fort Lauderdale was prominently promoted at the 27th Annual IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) Global Convention in Antwerp Belgium from June 23-26, 1010. Thanks to the continued support of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Fort Lauderdale is known around the globe as a premier LGBT travel destination.

The Rainbow Alliance was represented by Co-Chair Keith Blackburn of Mary's Resort in Fort Lauderdale and Pink Vacation Rentals. Richard Gray, Founder & Director of Operations, The Royal Palms Fort Lauderdale & Vice-Chairman of the Broward County Tourist Development Council was also in attendance. In addition, Mayor Ken Keechl, the first openly gay mayor of Broward County, Florida represented Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, Florida.

Mayor Keechl hosted a VIP reception and along with Richard Gray, spoke at the gala dinner. They invited all of the attendees to attend next year's IGLTA Annual Global Convention, to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Antwerp Pride was held on June 26 and the Rainbow Alliance was well represented at the Consumer Trade Show. For this event, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsored a table and had a representative in attendance. In addition, Richard Gray and Keith Blackburn were present to answer questions, provide literature and disseminate promotional materials.

For the final IGLTA Global Convention event, Fort Lauderdale sponsored a Dance Party for all of the attendees and their guests. It was a huge success, leaving everyone thinking about Greater Fort Lauderdale.

The international press was in abundance and resulted in interviews with Mayor Keechl, Richard Gray and Keith Blackburn. In all of these instances, Greater Fort Lauderdale was promoted as The place for LGBT visitors.

Richard Gray was invited along with 9 other IGLTA members to be part of a Global Gay and Lesbian Travel Think Tank. The group met to discuss the state of the gay travel industry. The next meeting will be at the IGLTA Fort Lauderdale Convention next May. IGLTA will be releasing a short statement from the groups meeting

The Rainbow Alliance, in conjunction with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau continues, as it has for the past ten years, to promote Greater Fort Lauderdale to the world as a premier LGBT travel destination.

The Rainbow Alliance is a community-based not-for-profit hospitality and tourism organization that represents a growing number of gay and gay-friendly businesses in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The mission of the Rainbow Alliance is to promote Greater Fort Lauderdale as the #1 gay and lesbian travel destination in North America and to provide valuable resources, leadership and a unified voice for the GLBT community in Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.

If you would like more information about the Rainbow Alliance, please e-mail to visit http://www.gogayfortlauderdale.com/ or email us at GoGayFortLauderdale@gmail.com. For more information on Gay Greater Fort Lauderdale on the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau website, visit www.sunny.org/rainbow

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Jennifer Holliday to Headline 2010 Stonewall Street Festival

FestivalPride of Greater Fort Lauderdale is pleased to announce that Jennifer Holliday will be headlining this year's Stonewall Street Festival and Parade on June 20, 2010. Jennifer is a singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as "Dreamgirls" and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the "Dreamgirls" showstopper and Grammy-winning R&B/Pop hit, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".

The 2010 Stonewall Street Festival and Parade will be held on Sunday, June 20, 2010 and registration is now open. The popular parade starts at 11:00 a.m. runs directly through the festival area and is followed immediately by the festival which officially starts at 12:00 noon. The parade brings the crowd out and the activities keep the crowd. An expected 30,000 people are expected to attend this year.

The festival takes place on a 1/2 mile strip of Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors stretching from N.E. 20 Street on the west end to near North Dixie Highway on the east. Wilton Drive is internationally known as the heart of South Florida's gay community.

Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus June 25



The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus brings you “Feelin’ Groovy”


America in the 1960’s: no place or period in history was or will ever be quite like it! No generation has been defined by its music more than those who lived through the “Age of Aquarius”; a time of youthful idealism, free thinking and individuality.

On June 25, 2010, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus will present “Feelin’ Groovy”, a high energy concert with clips from over 70 songs of the era! The chorus will take you on a groovy musical trek through those turbulent times. Join us as we sing, dance and re-live the birth of an entire musical genre and the awakening of a nation. “Feelin’ Groovy” will take you back … and perhaps move us all forward once again!

Friday, June 25,2010 at 8:00 PM at the Parker Playhouse.

Purchase tickets below or call the chorus office: 954-832-0060.
Tickets are $40, $30 & $20 assigned seating.

Click below to order tickets online

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

RAINBOW ALLIANCE of GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN



Following a recent Call for Nominations, new leadership was ushered in at a Board Meeting of the Rainbow Alliance, with the appointment of Terry Hochmuth, proprietor of Villa Venice Resort as Chairman, Keith Blackburn, proprietor of Mary’s Resort and Ed Lugo, proprietor of Ed Lugo Resort as Board Members. Roger Handevidt, proprietor of the Orton Terrace Guesthouse, returns to the Board as immediate Past Chair and founding member Richard Gray of the Royal Palms Resort continues as Board Member Emeritus.

With newly appointed members to its Board of Directors, the Rainbow Alliance will continue to lead the Greater Fort Lauderdale GLBT hospitality and lodging industry by focusing their efforts on new strategies to build consumer awareness, maintain the strength of its membership base, and tap into the growing groups and events arena. “I look forward to working with everyone, Board Members and Members alike, in a cooperative effort in charting a new direction for the Rainbow Alliance” stated Chairman Terry Hochmuth, and “One of the primary goals is to promote and encourage a more cohesive feel within the group and to foster an improved mutual trust and cooperative atmosphere amongst Members. By doing this, we can all contribute in reaffirming Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premiere Gay travel destination in North America.”

To accomplish some of these goals, the Rainbow Alliance will continue to work closely with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau as it has for the past ten years, to promote Greater Fort Lauderdale in local, national and international gay media and publications. “We have been very fortunate to work with the Rainbow Alliance as we recognize the significance and economic value of the GLBT market,” commented Nicki Grossman, President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. Grossman was recently recognized by the Rainbow Alliance for her tireless efforts in promoting Greater Fort Lauderdale as a gay friendly destination.

With their newly adopted internet portal “GoGayFortLauderdale.com” the 40+ member group is shifting gears to better facilitate a cooperative effort to represent and promote gay and gay friendly businesses to prospective gay visitors.