Happy Birthday to Us!

We were thrilled to announce our first anniversary today, and hope you'll join us in celebrating a great first year!

Since launching in 2006, Pink Choice has expanded to include over 200 global destinations covering 1000 hotels, inns and guesthouses. The site’s membership is strong and growing stronger, with over 800 unique visitors per day reading and posting reviews.

“Gay travel is changing before our eyes, with destinations literally branding themselves pink to attract the gay traveler – and the gay dollar,” said Trevor Pinker, co-founder of Pink Choice. “This is a great movement, but travelers need to hear real voices amid the marketing speak: they can help our global community know before they pack their bags whether their destination will welcome them with open arms. We’re proud to be providing a forum for those voices.”

The site’s rising popularity corresponds to findings of a study by MarketResearch.com in association with Witeck-Combs Communications (The Gay and Lesbian Market in the US, Fifth Edition, February 2007). The study cites that “nearly half (48%) of gay men and lesbians (47%) believe that the degree of gay-friendliness of a destination is important, very important, or extremely important in deciding where to travel.” This from a community that, according to the study, is comprised of frequent travelers and weighs in with an estimated 2006 buying power of $660 billion, with that number projected to exceed $835 billion by 2011.

“Let’s face it: the gay and lesbian community enjoys travel, but can’t always be sure they know what they’ll find when they reach their destination,” said Stephen Mascilo, co-founder of Pink Choice. “Unbiased, honest reviews about the things that matter most was a need that wasn’t being addressed, and we are proud to have taken the right steps to make a difference to our members.”

The travel community has responded as well: advertisers on the website include the Canadian Tourist Board, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, the Provincetown Business Guild, the World’s Foremost Gay and Lesbian Hotels, BeYou Travel, Cape Air, and many individual hotels and guesthouses from around the world. Apart from advertising, Pink Choice encourages gay friendly properties to list on the site and travelers to submit comments that will help the community.

At year’s end, www.pinkchoice.com will issue its Pink Choice Awards to recognize properties that stand out based on the number and quality of the reviews they receive.