Winners: 2009 Gay.com Travel Awards

Over the past two months, thousands of Gay.com's gay and lesbian readers have been casting their votes for the best in travel for the 2009 Gay.com Travel Awards. 
 
Nearly 25,000 votes were cast, and – drum roll please – we are now proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Gay.com Travel Awards!
 
 
Favorite Airline:  Delta
Favorite International Destination: London, England
Favorite Romantic Getaway: Paris, France
Favorite Domestic Destination: San Francisco, CA
Favorite Resort Town: Provincetown, MA
Favorite Hotel Chain:  W
Favorite Guest House: Island House, Key West
Favorite Casino: Mandalay Bay
Favorite Car Rental Company: Enterprise

According to Gay.com Editorial Director Jenny Stewart, there were likely many reasons for such a high voter turnout.  "We made this year's Gay.com Travel Awards completely interactive, and I think that really resonated with both the readers and the nominees," says Stewart.
 
"All official nominees were asked to submit nomination letters directly to the readers, and this approach reflected Gay.com's new emphasis on  social media," continues Stewart. "It not only provided nominees an opportunity to outline their contributions to the gay and lesbian community, it gave the readers themselves insight they may not have had in regards to efforts made by the travel industry on behalf of their community.”  Adds Stewart, “We were thrilled that almost 100% of the nominees actually submitted nomination letters; it really reflected the spirit in which these awards are held!”
 
 The winners agree.
 
"On behalf of the city and county of San Francisco, it is a great honor to be recognized as the "Best Domestic Destination" in the US in the 2009 Gay.com Travel Awards," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "I am proud to represent a city with so many historic firsts for the gay and lesbian community -- including the birth of the rainbow flag, home to the first openly gay men's chorus and the first LGBT chamber of commerce. We look forward to the readers of Gay.com creating their own 'only in San Francisco' experience."
 
"I'm proud that London is a city which not only welcomes LGBT visitors from all over the world but celebrates their contribution to London life too," London Mayor Boris Johnson told Gay.com. "Our capital is world renowned for its vibrant culture and this award proves our continuing appeal to thousands of LGBT visitors every year."
 
Delta, which took home top honors in "Favorite Airline," says winning the award reflects their company vision. "At the very core of our values is a strong commitment to global diversity and we are proud to support the LGBT employees, customers and communities where we live and serve," said Cynthia Per-Lee, vice president – Talent, Diversity and Field Human Resources. "Winning this year’s Gay.com Travel Awards is tremendous validation of the company's commitment to embracing diverse people, thinking and styles. The award also reflects the inclusiveness of our more than 70,000 employees worldwide who provide superior service to our customers flying the world's largest airline."
 
Perhaps Jon Allen at the Island House in Key West captured the spirit best when he told Gay.com, “This award is like the Academy Awards of Gay Traveldom."

(Images courtesy of Getty)
 

Comments

[michaelj72]

well this is a good list, I've lived in two of them the resort town and the domestic destination. I'd like to see a new category added - perhaps call it the fave international resort town, and i think Vallarta might have a good chance there.

[David L Wylie]

Congratulations Jon Allen and the Island House. Boy, I remember some great times at the place...great food, great atmosphere, great host!

David

[Mark]

Kudos to DELTA!!! Their employees have always welcomed my partner and I with open arms. Finally, an airlines whom deserves nothing less than recongnition for such fantastic service. Everyone fly Delta...you'll be glad you did!!! Thanks for being so diverse Delta Airlines!!!

[Billy Reynolds]

As a Proud Employee of Delta
Thank you Gay.com

[37000Feet]

Congrats to Delta and more importantly their employees. Truly deserved.

[@Daniel_Baylis]

Hmmm... I'm going to rally the troops and ensure that Montréal makes it on the list next year as "Favorite Romantic Getaway".

We put the man in romance ;-)

[ryder]

i love michael jackson
yes is am truley gay
i am looking for a man
my boyfriend better not look at this
me and my dad fenced in the shower
me and my dog had sex
I LOVE MEN
EVEN BLACKS
FUCK GIRLS ITS ALL ABOUT DICKS
ANY TIME BOYS
CROSS SWORDS BABY
BOOBS AR OLD SCOOL SACKS ARE NEW SCHOOL
HAVE A BONER YET?

[GayArgentina]

nice things said London Mayor Boris Johnson. I went there last year with my bf had no problem!

[Laurie McConnell]

I'd like to see a category for Best Small Town Gay Getaway. Big cities are great of course - they're often more diverse, the huge populations means gay neighborhoods and clubs - but small towns are the way many of us live and travel and as more of them become open and accepting it makes the baseline 'vacation experience' finally available to everyone.
Where I live on the Sunshine Coast of BC (40 minutes from Vancouver by ferry ride) we have a very big and fully integrated gay and lesbian community. You won't 'see' it with clubs or a part of town, because we're everywhere, working, playing, marrying, and visiting for very romantic coastal small-town vacations where gay & lesbian couples are treated just like any other visitor. Want a romantic candlelit dinner next to the ocean in a popular restaurant? They'll pull out all the same stops the straight couples get, and there will be smiles all around. Celebrate an anniversary. Get married. This community loves equally.
So let's add a category for best small town (under 10,000 population) experience!

[Jason]

So where's the cruise lines? Don't forget about those of us who love a good cruise vacation (and FYI, Atlantis is not a cruise line!).

[GayVietnam]

Great opinion poll! London and San Francisco are some of the few most beautiful places in the world.

[R Fuller]

Any suggestions of where may be a good place to go for a week and a half vacation towards the end of October?

[Niraj]

Delta?!?!? One of the few airlines left REFUSING to offer the same employee interline benefits to same-sex partners as they offer to straight couples...