BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

*Join the Gay Travel Business Network and save $295 off your THRIVE registration fee.

Registration + Coffee: Orange County Convention Center

Welcome to Connect THRIVE Summit

David Downing, President of Brand, United Landmark Associates + Connect THRIVE Summit emcee
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Chair of the Orlando Alliance Board and Executive Director at the Hope Community Center

Research Findings: Leveraging the Diversity Within LGBTQ for Improved Marketing Results

How You Can Leverage LGBTQ Research for LGBTQ Travel Marketing Success: Thomas has three decades’ worth of insights. After unpacking some myths, he’ll jump into recent CMI studies to explore opportunities to welcome LGBTQ travelers to your destination. Get three practical strategies to successfully reach and earn market share from the diverse LGBTQ community.

Thomas Roth, President, Community Marketing & Insights

Why GTBN? Hint: It Doesn’t Stand for “Go to Bed Now”

Everything begins with the “why.” There’s a goal that’s driven by passion, purpose, a mission, and a vision. GTBN (Gay Travel Business Network) supports THRIVE and why it’s essential that events like THRIVE continue to happen.

DJ Doran, President & CEO, Aequalitas Media and Chicago Mayoral Candidate

Hi, My Name Is…

Each attendee will have 30 seconds to introduce themselves to the group.

B2B Networking Break sponsored by GTBN

Open networking break for one-on-one meetings—NOT prescheduled—attendees move from table to table during this hour-long segment. You know what to do!

“Do Say Gay.”

We have a constitutional problem, folks. And it doesn’t stop in Florida. Nadine has been fighting this battle for three decades.

Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida

Lunch Networking Break

Putting Out the Welcome Mat for LGBT+ Meetings & Conventions

Let’s do this. A marketing and sales panel to represent the needs of LGBT+ meeting planners and groups.

Avery Bender, Event Manager, University of Florida, Conference Department
Jim Clapes, Director of Events, M3Meet
Alan Kleinfeld, Director, Arrive Conference Solutions
Michelle Moore, Sr. Director of Meeting Sales & Services, Experience Kissimmee

Sponsored by

It’s Tricky, But We Can Help. A Panel of DEI DMO Diversity Officers

Three experts share their perspectives on what this new role means and how you balance diversity when you can’t ask that question.

Melissa Cherry, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Senior Vice President, Miles
Sonya Bradley, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Visit Sacramento
Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Diversity Officer, Destinations International

sponsored by Miles Partnership

LGBTQ Update: A European Overview

What does recovery look like in LGBTQ tourism? Is the USA seen as a “safe” destination and what can we expect now from key inbound European markets?

Thomas Bömkes, Managing Director, Diversity Tourism

Keynote: The Real Brian Boitano is Something of a Renaissance Man

Renaissance Man After skating to fame on the international stage, Boitano proved himself to be a winner in the kitchen, on television, and beyond. He is a cookbook author, keynote speaker, philanthropist, a forerunner in the celebrity cooking show trend, and star of “What Would Brian Boitano Make?” on the Food Network. His list of accomplishments includes a prime-time Emmy Award and the production of more than 30 television specials, plus ownership of the popular Boitano’s Lounge at the Kindler Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Gold medalist Boitano is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, The World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Brian Boitano

Cocktails & Conversations sponsored by Kentucky Department of Tourism & Louisville Tourism

Sure, Kentucky has thoroughbreds. But they didn’t fit into the room, so they brought Bourbon instead. Let’s get into destination branding with an Old-Fashioned in hand.

Chenelle McGee, Director of International and Group Sales, Kentucky Department of Tourism
Jessica Morgan, Director of Tourism Development, Louisville Tourism

Registration + Coffee: Orange County Convention Center

A Journey of Becoming: The onePULSE Story

Barbara Poma, founder of onePULSE Foundation, shares the story of Pulse and how each of us is shaped by experiences of belonging – being and feeling part of a meaningful family, a community, a group. Update on creating the National Pulse Memorial, a place of sanctuary and commemoration; the Pulse Museum, a site of potential and transformation; and the Orlando Health Survivors Walk, a pilgrimage of empathy and compassion.

Barbara Poma, Founder, onePULSE Foundation

California’s Capital City of Sacramento Wants to Tell its Authentic LGBTQ Stories

How Visit Sacramento is creating a multi-year marketing strategy to attract the growing LGBTQ audience. Sacramento’s DEI effort means marketing to a wider, more inclusive audience and providing equitable opportunities for more community members to benefit from the tourism economy.

Sonya Bradley, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Visit Sacramento
Dustin Woehrmann, President & Creative Director, Communify

Stirring the Alphabet Soup: TSA & LGBTQIA+ Travelers

TSA may not conjure up warm and fuzzy for travelers, but they actually do care. TSA shares the latest information and resources to assist LGBTQIA+ travelers navigating the screening process.

Marie Trottier, Policy Advisor/Tribal Affairs Liaison, TSA

Sponsored by

B2B Networking Break sponsored by GTBN

An enhanced networking break where you can meet with speakers and attendees.

Do This: Defining the DMO Role in Promoting LGBTQ Travel

There’s once chance to make a great first impression. Three expert DMOs share their top do’s and dont’s on approaching the LGBTQ market for a win-win.

Santiago Corrada, President & CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
Todd O’Leary, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Sonoma County Tourism
José E. Arana Rodríguez, Marketing Manager, Discover Puerto Rico

“I’m Running.” — A Conversation With DJ Doran, Chicago Mayoral Candidate

“…When a friend suggested that instead of complaining I do something about it, I agreed. So, after weeks of thoughtful consideration and analysis, I have decided to run for the Mayorship of Chicago. I do not make this decision lightly nor do I have any illusions of easy success, but I am going to try and I will give it my all.” — DJ Doran, CEO of Aequalitas Media, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ media companies, on the decision to shift from the sidelines to the center of the action.

DJ Doran, Mayoral Candidate of Chicago

Measuring Pride: The Impact of LGBTQ Events and Businesses on the Visitor Economy

Pride is a year-round look, so let’s improve how we measure its positive effect on a community. As we embrace the importance of LGBTQ events in our industry, let’s ask: Which ones drive the most visitation? What events create a more vibrant visitor economy? How do destinations attract and retain the best parades, festivals and events for their community?

Ted Sullivan, CMO, Zartico

Lunch Networking Break

Pride as a Tactic, Not Just a Strategy: Targeting LGBTQ+ Audiences Year-Round

We’ll walk through the how-to basics: Targeted LGBTQ+ advertising; monitoring destination conversations; engaging with relevant user-generated content, bringing your destination organization into LGBTQ+ conversations. We’ll also highlight some of the various niche groups within the LGBTQ+ travel community that can be reached, including the circuit party crowd, parents, sports fans and more.

Matt Skallerud, President, Pink Media

Boarding Pass: The Business of Pride

There’s plenty of room for everyone, so let’s all get on board. Supporting the business of travel and tourism is what we do every day.

Marc Graser, VP, Global Brand Storytelling, NMG Network
Jeremy Cooker, Vice President of  Marketing and Special Projects, New Orleans & Company
Laura Fernandez, VP Head of Industry Travel + Tourism, Sirius XM
Rachel Covello, CEO & Publisher, OUTCOAST

Opportunity Crossroads: At the Intersection of LGBTQ+ and Multicultural Travelers

Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X consumers have preferences, shifting demographics, emerging values, and motivators that we can exploit and deploy. Let’s observe how consumer behaviors can lead to culturally relevant and inclusive brand marketing strategies for destinations and travel brands.

Danny Guerrero, Founder & Principal, The Culturist Group

Fireside Chat With CEO Stacy Ritter, Visit Lauderdale: “We Are Committed” to Diversity & Inclusion

Fort Lauderdale’s “Everyone Under the Sun” campaign means what it says. Let’s talk about the evolution from LGBTQ marketing to the very strong community position represented by this latest destination initiative.

Stacy Ritter, CEO, Visit Lauderdale
Will Seccombe, President/CEO, Connect Travel

Cheers! Wrap-Up and Champagne Toast

Evening Event Shuttles to IPW Opening Reception

Event Shuttles from Host Hotels to Walt Disney World® Resort EPCOT®

IPW Opening Reception: Walt Disney World Resort

A Celebration of Culture and Possibilities

Join us for opening night of IPW 2022 at EPCOT® for A Celebration of Culture and Possibilities! Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures of World Showcase as diverse Disney stories come to life. Enjoy a variety of international culinary delights, specialty beverages, global entertainment, unique photo opportunities and a few surprises as you stroll around the world at this exclusive party. This special event will be held June 5, and we invite you to be part of the magic as we welcome the world back to Orlando.

Evening Event Shuttles

Event Shuttles from Walt Disney World® Resort EPCOT® to Host Hotels