Philly’s Gay Tourism Caucus marks fifth anniversary
By Jen Colletta
PGN Staff Writer
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News
WHAT? NO WOOD OR SILVERWARE?: Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus President Tami Sortman (middle) reacts to news from Meryl Levitz of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation of a $2,500 donation to PGTC as Jimmy Contreras applauds. The State of Pennsylvania also announced a grant of $20,000 and the Visitors and Convention Bureau announced a $2,500 grant at the group’s fifth-anniversary party Nov. 26 at Roy’s Restaurant in Center City. The group will use the funds to further the caucus’ goal of promoting Philadelphia as a gay destination. Photo: Jason Smith
In the past five years, you’ve likely changed your hairstyle, broken up and gotten back together with a boyfriend or girlfriend and celebrated one of those milestone birthdays that you’re trying to forget. In that time, the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus has helped to put Philadelphia on the national map of gay travel destinations, using its members’ skills and experiences to see this goal to fruition.
In 2002, eight city and state representatives gathered at the Westin Hotel to discuss how Philadelphia could partake in the $54-billion gay tourism market.
“Our main challenge was to determine who we really were because at that time it was just a group of people meeting to talk about what they can do, and from there it was decided that we should become an actual organization,” said Tami Sortman, president of the PGTC.
This initial meeting served as the foundation for the PGTC, which has worked to make Philadelphia a “destination of choice” for GLBT travelers. Five years later, the organization has not only grown to more than 75 members, but has succeeded in boosting the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection’s reputation as a hotspot for gay tourists.
The caucus brings together Philadelphians from all walks of life and career fields to promote the city to potential GLBT visitors and ensure that Philly’s tourist spots know how best to welcome and accept gay travelers.
“Our members are hotels, attractions, retail stores and restaurants and basically anyone that tourists would interact with while in the city,” Sortman said.
In 2003, the PGTC partnered with the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation to develop a groundbreaking print marketing campaign that encouraged GLBT tourists to visit Philadelphia. The following year, the campaign hit the airwaves with television commercials proclaiming the award-winning campaign’s slogan, “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay.”
“We kind of served as an advisory group to the GPTMC to get that campaign moving forward,” Sortman said.
Since 2002, the caucus has introduced several initiatives that have enhanced the city’s marketability as a gay-friendly location.
With an expanding membership base, the PGTC created several subcommittees to focus on such aspects as research, sports tourism and hotel packaging.
The group was influential in the recent installation of 36 rainbow street signs around the city’s gay enclave and published the “Gay-Friendly Merchant Guide,” a tourist’s handbook to all of the gay-friendly shopping, dining and nightlife the city has to offer. The caucus also created gay-sensitivity training programs that have been implemented in local hotels to educate employees about the best way to make gay tourists feel comfortable and welcomed in their accommodations and in Philadelphia.
The PGTC celebrated its fifth anniversary Nov. 26 at Roy’s restaurant, 124 S. 15th St., with nearly 100 supporters. At the event, the Pennsylvania State Tourism Office pledged a $20,000 grant, and the GPTMC and Convention and Visitors Bureau each contributed $2,500. Sortman said the GPTC is looking for the city to match these last two contributions with a donation of $5,000.
She said the organization will use the money to fund upcoming plans such as expanding the gay-sensitivity training programs to other locations besides hotels, like attractions and restaurants, to ensure that all Philadelphia tourist spots actively welcome GLBT tourists. The PGTC is also working to install another 36 rainbow street signs throughout the Gayborhood, bringing the total number of signs to 72.
As part of its three-year strategic plan, the PGTC aims to host regional, national and international GLBT sporting events and will bid on GLBT conferences and conventions to attract large groups to the city.
For more information and to learn how to become a member of the PGTC, visit www.gayphiladelphia.org.
Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.