London – Queer Destinations and HBX Group (HBX.SM), a leading B2B travel technology marketplace, today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind Conscious Online Travel Platform (OTA) — a milestone that transforms how LGBTQ+ travellers and residents discover, trust, and spend with businesses and destinations worldwide.
The launch marks the next phase in the strategic partnership between the two organisations and introduces a scalable ecosystem that brings together certification standards, advanced booking technology, and curated global supply.
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Certification: Queer Destinations certifies governments, destinations, hotels and businesses through its rigorous “Queer Destinations Committed” programme, which includes LGBTQ+ inclusion standards and specialised training for hospitality professionals.
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Technology: The booking infrastructure enables seamless connectivity and performance.
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Global supply and connectivity: The platform is enriched with HBX Group’s exclusive global accommodation inventory and marketplace capabilities, providing scalable international reach.
Together, this structure enables travellers and residents to discover and book within a certified network, ensuring every transaction supports organisations that have demonstrably committed to inclusion, while providing scalable global distribution to participating destinations and businesses. Revenue flows back into the local queer community through collaboration with local LGBTQ+ NGOs, completing a loop of conscious, compounding impact.
According to estimates by LGBT Capital, the global LGBTQ+ community represents $3.7 trillion in annual spending power — a figure that, measured as a national economy, would rank fifth in the world. Yet that power has historically flowed without coordination or intention, into markets and businesses regardless of their stance on the rights of the community that generates it. Queer Destinations was built on a simple premise: that spending power, consciously directed, is one of the most effective tools for change available to any community.
After building its foundation by leading the national strategy of countries like Mexico, Greece or Spain, training companies in over 15 countries and establishing partnerships with organisations like European Travel Commission, World Travel & Tourism Council or IGLTA, Queer Destinations is evolving from global certification standard to direct-to-consumer platform, in partnership with HBX Group.
Inclusion becomes truly impactful when it is supported by scalable infrastructure. By powering this platform, we are enabling inclusive travel to grow globally through trusted technology and connectivity. This effort is only possible when we also recognise and value the diversity of people, and when we continue to train our teams to understand, respect, and promote that diversity in every interaction. This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering a more open, responsible, and accessible travel ecosystem.
Elena Pérez, Chief People Officer, HBX Group
The launch of our platform marks a significant milestone in our mission to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion across tourism. By combining our certification framework with HBX Group’s global technology capabilities, we are creating a trusted space where travellers can make informed choices and where hotels can demonstrate their commitment to inclusion.
Edgar Weggelaar, CEO at Queer Destinations
For nearly 60 years, queer rights have been won through protest and demonstration, asking governments for rights that should have been granted by definition. Today, we are awakening to our collective economic power. With over $3.7 trillion in spending power, the queer community would be the fifth largest economy in the world. Queer Destinations was built to direct that energy toward the governments and destinations that are publicly committed to diversity, training corporations, creating safe spaces, and ensuring that we can travel, and live, as we are.
Oriol Pàmies, Founder, Queer Destinations
The platform will be introduced at ITB Berlin, with a broader launch planned for later this year. Initial expansion will focus on key markets including Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Greece.
About HBX Group
HBX Group is a leading global B2B travel technology marketplace that owns and operates Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, The Luxurist, Roiback and Civitfun. We offer a network of interconnected travel technology products and services to partners including online marketplaces, tour operators, travel advisors, airlines, loyalty programmes, destinations, and travel suppliers.
Our vision is to simplify the complex and fragmented travel industry through a combination of cloud-based technology solutions, curated data, and a broad portfolio of products designed to maximise revenue. HBX Group is present in more than 170 countries and employs more than 3,500 people worldwide. We are committed to making travel a force for good, creating a positive social and environmental impact.
HBX Group International PLC (HBX.SM) is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, ISIN:GB00BNXJB679.
About Queer Destinations
Queer Destinations is a leading organization in the development of strategies for more inclusive tourism, focused on the LGBTQ+ community and acting as a bridge between governments, destinations, and organizations. Its educational program “Hospitality Meets Diversity” has trained thousands of tourism professionals, with the goal of ensuring safe, respectful, and discrimination-free spaces for all travelers. With an international presence and strategic alliances with governments, companies, and institutions, Queer Destinations drives a model of tourism based on diversity and human rights.