Media Contact: LoAnn Halden
+1.954.630.1637 x 714
loann.halden@iglta.org

LGBT Party at ASAE raises $4,875 for IGLTA Foundation
Conference fundraiser supports global gay tourism

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (15 August, 2015)For 11 years, Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, has sponsored a party for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender professionals attending the America Society of Association Executives conference, but this year saw the event rise to a new level, generating $4,875 for the IGLTA Foundation. The 11 August reception during ASAE, a collaboration between Meet Minneapolis, Delta Air Lines and the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, drew more than 400 people to popular downtown dueling pianos bar The Big Bang for an evening of cocktails and live music. Attendees, who received a welcome from ASAE President John Graham, were encouraged to make a donation to the IGLTA Foundation with their RSVP. In addition, Meet Minneapolis and Delta Air Lines presented the IGLTA staff with a check for $3,500 during the party.

We are excited that the 11th annual LGBT party weve sponsored at ASAE was the most successful yet, said Melvin Tennant, president/CEO, Meet Minneapolis. Supporting the growth of the industry through the funds raised at the event is important to all of us at Meet Minneapolis.

The IGLTA Foundation is the associations philanthropic organization. Donations help to fund a scholarship program for the next generation of tourism professionals, marketing assistance for small gay-friendly businesses in emerging destinations that lack governmental support or LGBT infrastructure, and global research to further understanding of LGBT travel.

"As a proud global partner of IGLTA, we were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event and further demonstrate Delta's commitment to the LGBT global travel community, said Norma Dean, director, specialty sales for Delta Air Lines. The evening also included a Minneapolis travel giveaway valued at more than $2,000, which went to Bob Moore, Executive Director of the Technology Councils of North America. It was a great night of entertainment for a great cause, said John Tanzella, president/CEO, IGLTA. Thanks to our alliance with Meet Minneapolis and Delta Air Lines we were able to significantly raise awareness of the IGLTA Foundation among the professionals at ASAE. Photos available upon request: loann.halden@iglta.org.

About IGLTA

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. In 2013, the association signed on to ECPATs Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct to prevent child exploitation. The associations membership includes LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 75 countries. For more information, visit www.iglta.org and follow us at http://www.facebook.com/IGLTA or www.twitter.com/iglta.

The IGLTA Foundation is the philanthropic organization of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. Its mission is to use the power of LGBT travel to build bridges worldwide. Those bridges, in turn, enable understanding, awareness and commerce to flourish in diverse communities around the globe. For more information: www.igltafoundation.org: www.facebook.com/IGLTAFoundation.