Booking.com Kimpton Maa-Lai Enhances LGBTQ+ Experience

Booking.com advances LGBTQ+-friendly travel experiences

On August 28, 2024, Booking.com and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok are working to make travel more welcoming and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers through a seminar titled ‘The True Meaning of Travel for Everyone: When the Travel Industry Collaborates to Welcome and Celebrate LGBTQ+ Travelers’. Representatives from Booking.com, the travel booking platform, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, the accommodation provider, and Jai-Zira, the LGBTQ+ traveler, joined the discussion to demonstrate the power and positive impact of collaboration in the travel industry through the ‘Travel Proud’ training program, which aims to create travel experiences that are truly accessible and authentic to all by promoting friendly services to help LGBTQ+ travelers overcome the challenges they continue to face and move towards a world of inclusion and acceptance for all.

According to Booking.com’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Travel Experience Survey*, 75% of Thai LGBTQ+ travelers have experienced discrimination while traveling. (59% of LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide have also experienced this challenge.)

Additionally, 80% of them foresee discriminatory behaviour from fellow travellers, and expect these incidents to be caused by locals (81%). As a result of these challenges, 59% of Thai LGBTQ+ travellers have cancelled a trip in the past year after discovering that their planned destination did not have policies or guidelines to support LGBTQ+ people living there. Discrimination remains a major barrier for LGBTQ+ travellers when travelling, and in our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world,

Booking.com launches ‘Travel Proud’ program

Booking.com launched its ‘Travel Proud’ programme in 2021, a free training programme for accommodation partners on equality of treatment. Help educate and understand the travel barriers facing LGBTQ+ travelers with our partner accommodations that have been trained to become Proud Certified and receive the Travel Proud badge on their Booking.com listings, reassuring travelers that they will receive a warm welcome during their stay.

Ms. Chatsuda Lertpiriyakomol, Area Manager, Partner Services Thailand and Indochina, said: “With our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, no matter where they come from, who they love or who they identify with, we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce travel barriers and facilitate a seamless travel experience for everyone, no matter where they travel. By exploring the challenges facing LGBTQ+ travelers, we believe that the Travel Proud training program will give LGBTQ+ travelers in Thailand and around the world the confidence to choose their accommodations and destinations and be themselves in this inclusive space.

The event was also attended by Mr. Patrick Alexander Boat, General Manager, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok Hotel, Regional General Manager, Luxury & Lifestyle, and Mr. Sirawit Kamolvorawut, or ‘Jai-Zira’, an actor, content creator and travel group representative. LGBTQ+ attendees will share their insights and experiences on how inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ+ travelers in the travel industry can help create a warm and welcoming travel experience.

Mr. Patrick Alexander Bot, General Manager, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok Hotel, Regional General Manager, Luxury & Lifestyle, said that Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok is committed to ensuring that all travelers, including LGBTQ+ people, can be confident that they can be their most authentic selves throughout their stay at our hotels.

Travel Proud aligns with our commitment.

The Travel Proud program aligns with our commitment, particularly our warm and welcoming hospitality training program for travelers, led by hospitality experts HospitableMe, provides practical guidelines that help our staff understand and connect with LGBTQ+ travelers more.

“At Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, we believe that genuine human connections make life more meaningful, and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok wants to be more than just a second home for guests, but a safe haven that they may not know they need.

Our staff are committed to providing services that foster relationships and engagement with our guests and each other, especially when it comes to supporting diversity and inclusion. including the warmth and friendliness that everyone can give to each other to create a better world for everyone,” said Mr. Patrick.

However, the success of the collaboration in the travel industry to promote friendly travel for everyone “Because we believe that travel is a force for good, seeing the number of properties that have received the Travel Proud badge increase and our partners providing safe and warm guest experiences for all customers is an encouragement and pride for us. In other words, we hope that our partners who work with us will continue to provide services that are Friendly and safe for all travelers. The purpose of our Travel Proud program is to create opportunities for our partners to learn and understand the challenges that LGBTQ+ travelers face, and to provide them with more friendly and equitable services.”

In 2024, more than 67,000 properties worldwide were trained and received Proud Certified certification, and in Thailand, more than 1,700 properties received certification, including the Travel Proud badge on Booking.com.

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