While it implies objectivity, “best” is almost always subjective, or — at best — qualified. When we ask for the best hotel or restaurant, the answer can be as much a reflection of our sensibilities as it is of any objective quality measure.
Generally, “you get what you pay for,” but finding “the best” isn’t simply a matter of picking the most expensive option — it’s knowing what resonates for you. In our first two years of ManAboutWorld, we’ve seen more than 100 destinations and 1,500 hotels on six continents. Much of it is a blur. But some of it stands out. Editors’ Choice winners are the ones that resonated most for us. The ones that truly shared our values. The ones we would go back to… and sometimes do, when we’re not busy searching out new and different places to recommend. (download the list as a pdf from the link at the end)
And this year’s Awards go to…
DESTINATION OF THE YEAR: Fort Lauderdale
Gay-popular since the ‘70s, Ft. Lauderdale is still on the rise while other gay destinations are mainstreaming. With its white sand gay beach, 16 exclusively gay guesthouses (the most of any destination), and a nightlife scene that’s busy seven nights a week, Ft. Lauderdale is one of the few places where you don’t have to rely on a phone App to hook up. And while it wins our hearts with its sun, sand, surf and fun, it’s also home to the Stonewall Museum, one of the only permanent spaces in the U.S. devoted to exhibitions relating to LGBT history and culture, and the world’s first AIDS museum.
Not content to rest on gay assets, the county’s tourism promotion board sets industry standards. The county has worked tirelessly in the last year to bring new gay events and many meetings to Greater Ft. Lauderdale, and to support the advancement of LGBT rights in Florida and around the world. In July, it became the first Convention and Visitors Bureau in the country to call for a repeal of its states’ gay marriage ban. It is currently conducting the first survey of transgendered travelers, showing sensitivity to all segments of the LGBT travel market.
Previous winner: Provincetown, Massachusetts
GAYBORHOOD OF THE YEAR: Le Village Gai, Montreal
An authentic gay hamlet centered along and radiating out from the ever-vibrant rue Ste. Catherine, Montreal’s “Gay Village” shines all year round but never as brightly or as in summer. With strands of pink bulbs strung above bustling outdoor restaurants and bars tended by handsome men with charming accents and bursting with sunburned, tipsy patrons, Montreal’s gayborhood welcomes all but remains an oasis for LGBT locals and visitors.
Previous winner: Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR: JetBlue
This year we recognize a young airline that keeps innovating with respect to product development, LGBT customers outreach, and engagement of its LGBT employees. JetBlue is laser focused on customer experience, recently introducing Mint, an out-of-the-box approach to meeting the needs of premium air passengers, as well as main cabin travelers, with expanded entertainment options and fast WiFi on its A321s; it has been active in gay causes including PFLAG; and supports its own LGBT employee group JetPride.
Previous winners: Cape Air and Porter AirlinesContinue reading “2014 Editors’ Choice Awards — Recognizing The Very Best In Gay Travel”
For three days in late September, the nation’s first showcase of LGBT jazz composers, performers and arrangers will delight the crowds at Philadelphia’s OutBeat Jazz Festival, featuring performances, panel discussions, and master classes. More than a dozen concerts take place at venues throughout Philadelphia, and the festival concludes with an all-day jam at Union Transfer. The event runs from September 19 until the 21st.
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author. 