BUENOS AIRES IS one of the highest-profile destinations in South America for LGBTQ travelers, and it proved an ideal host city for GNetwork360, one of the region’s leading conferences on LGBTQ tourism.
The 10th edition, held in August at the Alvear Palace Hotel, welcomed roughly 1,500 participants from 18 countries for four days of workshops, meetings and networking events.
GNetwork360 was founded by Pablo De Luca and Gustavo Noguera, who have developed the event into a key networking and educational forum for professionals and stakeholders in Latin American tourism.
Reflecting on a decade of conferences, De Luca noted the rapid expansion. “Growth has been fast,” he said. “Since starting, we’ve engaged around 10,000 people across topics related to gay tourism.”
The annual program spans several segments, each with its own focus. The first day features a corporate leadership forum addressing policies and human-resources concerns; this year that segment was co-hosted by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, with presentations from CEO Chance Mitchell and Steve Adkins, CEO of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
The second day centers on travel, highlighted by an LGBTQ travel expo showcasing tour operators, tourism boards, airlines and other industry suppliers. The third day concentrates on marketing and communications strategies tailored to LGBTQ travelers.
Noguera emphasized that GNetwork360 tackles pressing industry topics. “The first day includes guidance on creating inclusive work environments for transgender people,” he said. “That’s a critical issue. On the second day we explore how millennials travel, how to engage the Asian market — especially China — and how to leverage digital media. Training for major LGBT events in South America, such as OutGames, is also an important focus.”
Sponsors and participants this year included the Argentina Ministry of Tourism, the Buenos Aires Tourism Board, IBM, Delta Air Lines and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, reflecting broad public- and private-sector support.
Delegates also experienced a visible sign of the city’s progressive stance: Buenos Aires became the first city in the world to honor an LGBTQ rights activist by naming a subway station after them, underscoring the destination’s commitment to inclusion and visibility.