By Mark Baratelli (Story, Photo & Video)
Owner
Staff Page
MBA Orlando, our city's LGBT Chamber of Commerce, unveiled their new logo, voted in a new board of directors and shared their newest projects for 2011 at their January 5th meeting held at Fields BMW in Winter Park.
Among their many 2011 projects is "Converge," their effort to go after tourism, conventions and major events catering to the LGBT community and bring them to Orlando, something we reported that the Orange County CVB chooses not to do much of. As we shared in 2010, Orlando is not known as a gay-friendly vacation destination according to experts from Las Vegas, Key West and American Airlines. They say Orlando is leaving millions of dollars on the table for other cities to gobble up. Whatever the reason may be, Converge is taking advantage of what the CVB doesn't want to do and hopefully will succeed. One big event they have their eyes set on: bringing the 2018 Gay Games to Orlando.
Another goal is to have, within the next three years, an LGBT Visitors Center in the heart of Thornton Park for LGBT tourists to Orlando to stop in and see listings of LGBT businesses and businesses that are LGBT-friendly.
Their big project is Come Out With Pride that takes place in downtown Orlando all around Thornton Park. This year it attracted 70,00 people! The General Manager of Publix downtown says its his busiest day of the year. This LGBT event clearly has a strong economic impact on Orlando.
Photo & Video Credit: Mark Baratelli