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American Airlines, Madrid Pride, San Francisco top gay travel awards

 American Airlines, Madrid Pride, San Francisco top gay travel awards

The Logo network announced the winners this week of its TripOut Gay Travel Awards at London’s World Travel Market.
 
The network’s affiliated gay travel web site TripOutGayTravel.com recruited gay travel writers, editors and travel experts to come up with a list of nominees.  But the site’s readers decided on the winners. 
 
California did pretty well.   San Francisco was named best US destination.   And the Abbey in West Hollywood was named best gay bar in the world.
 
Here’s some of the highlights: 
 
 
 New York City reigns supreme as the premier LGBT global travel destination for 2010 by winning "Best Global Destination." 
 
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 Returning favorites won for a second year in a row including: American Airlines for "Best Airline," "The Abbey" in West Hollywood for "Best Gay Bar in the World" and Madrid Pride for Best Annual Gay Destination (Party or Event). 
 
 Canada solidifies its position as a well-known "gay approved" travel destination winning "Best Breakout Destination" for Toronto. In addition, Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montreal receives "The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer." Lapointe can aptly be described as a forefather and architect of Canadian and Montreal LGBT travel. 
 
 Rio De Janiero won the popular vote of "Sexiest Place on Earth" destination by a staggering 58% of the user-generated votes.
 
In addition, TripOutGayTravel.com recognizes Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montreal with the "The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer." The award goes to an organization or travel professional who has increased awareness of the LGBT consumer in the world of travel, tourism and hospitality. Charles Lapointe is a former delegate to the United Nations, a former Canadian Cabinet Minister and since 1989 he has been President and CEO of the Greater Montreal Convention and Tourism Bureau (Tourisme Montreal). In 2002, he also became Chairman of the Canadian Tourism Commission. 
 
For more information about the winners and nominees listed below, please go to TripOutGayTravel.com. A full list of nominees and winners for each category is listed below.
 
 
The Second Annual "TripOut Gay Travel Awards":
 
 
Best Global Destination (City or Country)
Berlin, Germany
Buenos Aires, Argentina
London, United Kingdom
Madrid, Spain
Montreal, Canada
New York City, United States (WINNER)
 
 
Best U.S. Destination
Chicago, IL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Philadelphia, PA
Provincetown, MA
San Francisco, CA (WINNER)
 
 
Best Airline
American (WINNER)
Delta
JetBlue
LAN
Southwest
Virgin America
 
 
Best Hotel Chain (Collection)
Ace Hotels
Andaz Hotels
Axel Hotels (WINNER)
Four Seasons
Hyatt
Kimpton
 
 
Best LGBT Tour Operator
Alyson Adventures
Atlantis
Olivia
Out Adventures
Sweet
Zoom Vacations (WINNER)
 
 
Best Annual Gay Destination (Party or Event)
Amsterdam Gay Pride
The Dinah & Dinah Shore Weekend, Palm Springs
Madrid Gay Pride (WINNER)
Manchester Pride
Provincetown Bear Week
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
 
 
Best Ultimate Luxury Hotel/Resort (Global)
SkyLofts at MGM Grand – Las Vegas, NV
The Raleigh - South Beach, Miami, FL
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome – Paris, France (WINNER)
The London, West Hollywood – West Hollywood, CA
Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino - Curacao, Dutch West Indies
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
 
 
Best Breakout Destination
Dallas, TX
Mexico City, Mexico
Reykjavik, Iceland
Tel Aviv, Israel
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (WINNER)
Siem Reap, Cambodia
 
 
Sexiest Place on Earth
Barcelona, Spain
Key West. FL
Las Vegas, NV
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (WINNER)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Palm Springs, CA
 
 
Best Gay Bar in the World
The Abbey, Los Angeles, CA (WINNER)
Club Manana, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Roscoe's, Chicago, IL
The Round-Up Saloon, Dallas, TX
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London, UK
The Week, Rio/Sao Paulo/Florianopolis, Brazil
 
 
The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making our World Gayer
Charles Lapointe, Tourisme Montreal

By

SF Gay Travel Examiner

Ed Walsh has written regularly for the LGBT press since 1998. His travels have taken him from Australia to Iceland and just about everywhere in...

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