A recent study by Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) shows that 90 percent of Canadian LGBT+ travellers intend to travel domestically amidst international uncertainty and represent a $12 billion leisure travel opportunity. The CGLCC has partnered with Tourism HR Canada to offer a certificate program that helps businesses realize the economic opportunity of LGBT+ travellers and build LGBT+ safe spaces across the country. The program is free from now until March 31, 2021, thanks to funding provided by the Government of Canada.

“Safety is a key consideration for the LGBT+ community when travelling. In fact, 89% of LGBT+ travellers value safety as a key consideration when choosing a travel destination,” said Darrell Schuurman, Chief Executive Officer of the LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important that businesses better understand how they can make the LGBT+ community feel safe and welcomed. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense.”

The program is available for any customer-facing professional, management, operators and organizations/associations in the tourism industry. The online courses take less than one day to complete and all participants leave with a certificate.

Certificate Program 

An Introduction to LGBT+ Diversity and Inclusion (Prerequisite; 1-2 hours) AND

Navigating LGBT+ Diversity and Inclusion in the Tourism Industry (Workshop; 4 hours)

The prerequisite course is a self-paced online program that will provide a strong foundation for understanding LGBT+ identities. The following workshop is a live facilitated event on Zoom to provide an understanding of different LGBT+ communities and action items to ensure your workplace is an LGBT+ safe space. Visit the website to find a workshop in your region. Both courses are required to receive a certificate.

Bonus Seminar for Tourism Executives

LGBT+ Travel Market-Ready Seminar (2 hours)

This live, facilitated seminar provides exclusive LGBT+ travel market information, case studies from around the world, and exposes travel executives to a number of custom LGBT+ products to help inspire your own successful LGBT+ tourism-welcoming strategy. Register online for a seminar in your region.

Dates vary per region. Visit the website to find a seminar in your area. The program is only free from now until March 31, 2021. Individuals can sign up for a digital course in their area or businesses can contact tourism@cglcc.ca to organize custom workshops.

About Tourism HR Canada 

Tourism HR Canada is a pan-Canadian not-for-profit organization with a mandate aimed at building a world-leading tourism workforce. Tourism HR Canada facilitates, coordinates, and enables human resource development activities that support a globally competitive and sustainable industry and foster the development of a dynamic and resilient workforce. Tourism HR Canada works on behalf of all constituency groups that make up the tourism sector’s labour market, including employers, labour unions, national and provincial/territorial associations, government, and equity groups. www.tourismhr.ca

About Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce 

Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) links LGBT+ businesses in Canada to the wider business and corporate community. It fosters economic growth by supporting and nurturing LGBT+ businesses, entrepreneurs, students and allies, and by helping Canada’s corporate world connect with the LGBT+ business community.  www.cglcc.ca

About the Project 

As part of an Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)-funded initiative, Tourism HR Canada is working with its principal partner, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), to deliver a responsive, comprehensive and sustainable LGBTQ2 Tourism Market-Ready Program aimed at helping tourism businesses and communities develop a lucrative and fast-growing LGBTQ2 market. www.cglcc.ca/tourism/

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.