As convention business and the group traveler returns to Las Vegas, LGBT travel is enjoying growth as conventions flock to Sin City in 2012.
"It's hard to put a number to visitors because we track the meetings and don’t track the leisure travelers but last year the LGBT meetings I was forutnate enough to book accounted for over 80,000 room nights," said Mya Lake Reyes, director of diversity marketing for the LVCVA.
One of the nation's most popular LGBT events is making the move to Las Vegas this year. "The number of LGBT travelers have definitely increased over the past few years," said Reyes. "As far as the offerings, there's so much happening in Las Vegas right now. We're really excited about Gay Days,"
In 2012, Gay Days will take place at the Tropicana Las Vegas from September 4 to 10. The Orlando, Fla., version of the event typically draws about 150,000 visitors a year. "We're looking at 50,000 visitors for first year," said Reyes. "The event has pretty much bought out the entire Tropicana hotel."
Dinah Shore Weekend, another of the most popular U.S. events for the lesbian community, is making the move to Las Vegas in 2012. "Dinah is moving a part of their event from Palm Springs to Las Vegas," said Reyes. The event for the lesbian community will take place from April 27 to 29 across a variety of Caesars Entertainment properties.