Trade couple launches LGBT specialist OTA

The website, samesexholidays.co.uk, has now gone live following a pre-launch during London Pride.

The agency is the brainchild of Mark Swords and his husband Stuart, who both previously worked as reps for Thomas Cook and Thomson.

It will focus on providing travel based on the pair’s own experiences as LGBT tourists, with a specialist product offering, advice and the marketing tagline: “We live it, you’ll love it”.

Mark said it was the lack of LGBT-friendly knowledge offered by operators that had led to the online travel agency’s creation.

“We were planning our wedding to Ibiza a few years ago and we found it difficult to get the correct advice from operators. A lot of travel documentation wasn’t catered towards same-sex couples,” he said.

“It’s the same with our friends – they found it really difficult organising weddings and honeymoons, so we knew that there was definitely a market.

“With Samesexholidays we really want to sell our own personal experience to other LGBT travellers and give service at a personal level.”

The OTA began taking bookings through its website on June 10 and Swords said the agency had already received “plenty of interest”.

“We’ve had more than 250 likes on Facebook within a week. At the moment it’s all about getting ourselves out there,” he added.

He also cited TTG LGBT as a way of growing the business’ profile amongst the trade.

“There’s nothing in the industry like it. I found the March event I went to inspiring – it was a great way to meet agents and suppliers.”

Meanwhile, Mark urged the trade to support Orlando following the murder of 49 people at LGBT nightclub Pulse in the city almost a fortnight ago.

“We currently have a deal on our homepage for Orlando, because when things like this happen you just have to stand strong. Of course it does make people think, but if anything we need to be promoting destinations more when attacks happen,” he added.