At TravelSquire we believe you should know before you go what to expect when traveling. Have you ever visited somewhere new expecting people to be friendly and receptive—then for some reason, just weren’t? It puts a damper on the whole trip, even if the experience itself was OK.
This scenario may ring true especially for gay and lesbian couples who think they’ll be greeted warmly by the hotel staff when they arrive in a foreign country but experience the opposite. As a result, many European destinations are taking a stand to make an alternative lifestyle more acceptable with an online training program called GayComfort. With this program LGBT travelers are ensured that they will be treated respectably just as if they were straight. Some cities throughout Europe have enacted this training for their hotels but Switzerland is the first and (so far) only country making the program available to its hotels nationwide.
What this means for LGBT travelers is that they won’t be stereotyped or denied service in any hotel in Switzerland because of their sexual orientation. This level of acceptance has grown outside the hospitality industry, too. For example, since 1992, the Street Parade Zurich has given thousands the opportunity to gather together to celebrate “love, freedom, tolerance, and respect.” The first parade had only 1,000 participants, but in August 2011 the total attendance had skyrocketed to over 900,000!
The annual event takes place along Lake Zurich, practically unrecognizable for the day in a world of crazy colors and bright decorations. Electronic music fills the air and one can’t turn a corner without finding a hip party; certainly the day won’t pass without making at least one new friend. And even though there’s a huge amount of people coming into the city, Zurich still maintains its safe atmosphere.
This is just one small part of Switzerland’s many events and changes that help to make the world a better place for everyone to live. After all, according to Executive Vice President of Markets & Meetings for Swiss Tourism, Urs Ebharhard, Switzerland is “very progressive and tolerant” and “genuinely gay and lesbian welcome.” Along with world class cities, awesome scenery, exceptional adventure sports and top-notch shopping and entertainment, you’ll have the guarantee of being welcomed into an LGBT-friendly environment.
That’s where GayComfort comes in. Available online and in four different languages, this program trains hotel employees on how to “avoid stereotyping gay travelers” and “emphasizes the diversity that exists within the LGBT customer group.” For them, the most important thing is to let gay and lesbian couples know that while they are on vacation they can relax like anyone else.
So no matter who you are, or what sex your partner is, you know you’ll be welcomed to stay, sleep, eat, drink, and experience Switzerland every way you please.
More information is available at: