| News Briefs |
| The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Announces Partnership with KultureCity in Honor of Autism Acceptance Month and New Initiatives for 2022 The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas announces its partnership with KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to raising acceptance and assisting individuals of all ages who have sensory needs. Launched on April 1 to align with Autism Acceptance Month, the resort’s 40,000 square-foot concert venue and performance space, The Chelsea, will be officially certified as a sensory-inclusive venue. As a licensed sensory-inclusive venue, employees of The Chelsea received training on the needs of adults and children with sensory sensitivities, including autism, PTSD, ADHD, dementia and more. Additionally, the venue is now equipped with sensory bags featuring noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, KultureCity VIP access passes and Feeling Zone thermometers, a tool which provide individuals an additional means of communication. The Chelsea also offers an onsite quiet room providing a space to decompress for those who may be overwhelmed by sensory elements during an entertainment event. “Offering a safe and comfortable environment for all guests to enjoy entertainment is a top priority,” said Fedor Banuchi, Vice President of Entertainment at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. “We are thrilled to partner with KultureCity at The Chelsea to ensure we are sensory inclusive as we pride ourselves on the diversity of our guests.” “Sensory needs (autism, dementia, PTSD and similar conditions) are present in one in four individuals; due to this, those with sensory needs often times feel socially isolated. When a group of friends or families visit Las Vegas, those with sensitivities might not participate in certain activities; by ensuring that The Chelsea is certified, autistic individuals along with those with sensory needs can enjoy a concert or performance. We are honored to partner with The Cosmopolitan to ensure inclusion for all!” said Uma Srivastava, Executive Director of KultureCity. About The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a unique luxury resort and casino that offers a decidedly different perspective. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Cosmopolitan’s distinct vertical multi-tower design features more than 3,000 guestrooms with residential living spaces, private terraces and breathtaking views of the city skyline. For more information visit: www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com and on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. About KultureCity: KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs, not just those with autism. Since the program’s inception, KultureCity has created over 900 sensory-inclusive venues in 5 countries: this includes special events such as the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, MLB World Series, and MLB All Star Weekend. KultureCity has won many awards for its efforts, including the NASCAR Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award in 2017 and the 2018 Clio Sports Silver for social good in partnership with Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans Arena. |
| Visit Lauderdale Champions Diversity and Acceptance with New “We Are” Campaign Visit Lauderdale, the destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, Fla., launched a new campaign to celebrate and support the area’s diverse population and spread the message that inclusion and acceptance are embraced across the area’s 31 neighborhoods. The “We Are” campaign includes video and social media as an extension of the destination’s “Everyone Under the Sun” campaign, which was created to welcome all populations and communities. “Visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale can be assured they are in a place where diversity, inclusion and acceptance is actively championed as an established way of life that is fully ingrained throughout our community,” says Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “The Visit Lauderdale slogan, ‘Everyone Under the Sun,’ reflects the open and welcoming nature of our community, and when we say, ‘Everyone Under the Sun’, we mean it.” Greater Fort Lauderdale includes 31 diverse municipalities. People from 170 countries, speaking more than 147 languages call Greater Fort Lauderdale home. It is home to the largest percentage of same-sex couple households in the U.S. and is recognized as Florida’s LGBT+ capital. It is also a majority minority county with a large Hispanic and Caribbean-American population and is recognized as one of the most progressive destinations in the U.S. for its authentic and welcoming vibe. Find more information at visitlauderdale.com and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. #EveryoneUnderTheSun and #WeAreVL. |
| NYC & Company Invites Visitors to Brooklyn Like a New Yorker—New Brooklyn Travel Guide Showcases Borough’s Multicultural Appeal and Authentic Experiences with Information on Hotels, Attractions, Dining, Arts and Culture, and Neighborhoods— NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, announced a new Get Local NYC campaign. The new initiative kicks off with a new Brooklyn travel guide, inviting visitors to Brooklyn Like a New Yorker. Subsequent travel guides covering exploration in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens will follow, with one borough featured per month. As more visitors return, NYC & Company remains committed to five-borough storytelling, ensuring that all communities across New York City benefit from the return of tourism. For further details, visit nycgo.com/getlocal. “Brooklyn’s energy is unmatched and Brooklynites are the heart of the city,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Whether you catch a show at BAM, see the street art in Bushwick or grab some ‘rasta pasta’ at Footprints, Brooklyn has unlimited possibilities to keep you busy. We are thrilled to launch Brooklyn Like A New Yorker, offering hidden gems all over the borough. You won’t fuhgeddaboudit!” “A visit to Brooklyn is a special experience, whether strolling under the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or eating a Nathan’s Famous hot dog on the boardwalk at Coney Island,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon. “From world-class art at the Brooklyn Museum to Black-owned businesses in Little Caribbean and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn is a spectacular place to sightsee, dine, shop and experience life in New York City just the way New Yorkers do. We welcome the world to Brooklyn Like a New Yorker.” Just a subway, taxi or ferry ride from Manhattan, Brooklyn offers everything from world-famous sites like Coney Island and the Brooklyn Bridge to welcoming neighborhoods where visitors can learn about Black history, enjoy authentic ethnic food and marvel at beautifully preserved architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Brooklyn is also the City’s most populous borough, home to 2.7 million people, including the City’s new mayor, Eric Adams, who owns a home in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Brooklyn has thousands of restaurants, from Michelin-starred spots like Aska to hipster cafés like the vegan Vspot to family-owned ethnic food eateries, including Asian and Latin food in Sunset Park, Polish food in Greenpoint and Caribbean delights in Flatbush (aka Little Caribbean). Brooklyn has long been a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, whether they’re walking down the street holding hands, marching in a Pride parade or raising families. Venues include C’mon Everybody, a music and live arts space in Bed-Stuy; Ginger’s Bar, a friendly lesbian bar in Park Slope; Xstasy Bar & Lounge, which gets a Latino crowd in Sunset Park. For further information on exploring Brooklyn, visit nycgo.com/brooklyn. |
| Las Vegas Shows Its Pride Year-Round with LGBTQ+ Events and Celebrations From annual events to amazing entertainment, Las Vegas proudly celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and empowers travelers to embrace who they are year-round. The destination recently launched a digital content series, How to Be 🌈 (in Vegas), which explores queer identity, self-acceptance, and everything a fabulously inclusive environment like Las Vegas can inspire. With the first trans woman to ever compete in the Miss USA pageant and the current Miss Nevada Kataluna Enriquez acting as host, this series allows Las Vegas to expand on the destination’s hard-fought inclusivity efforts, opening the city up to people around the world as a safe place to embrace their authentic selves. The first episode is now available on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and VisitLasVegas.com. The destination also boasts several venues where LGBTQ+ visitors can celebrate their pride with Only Vegas experiences. The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association’s most anticipated event of the year, the BigHorn Rodeo, will take place Friday, Sept. 16 to Sunday, Sept. 18. The Henderson Pride Festival returns for a second year at Lake Las Vegas Thursday, May 19 to Sunday, May 22, featuring a series of events focused on celebrating diversity, self-awareness, promoting health and wellness in all its forms. RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite Alyssa Edwards will bring her fierce looks and fabulous personality to House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on June 13. The NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference will take place Tuesday, Aug. 2 to Friday, Aug. 5, at Bellagio Resort & Casino. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is the only advocacy organization for the LGBT business community. The International Gay Bowling Organization’s Las Vegas Showgirl Invitational Bowling Tournament is set for Saturday, Sept. 3 to Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. The biggest LGBTQ+ event of the year, Las Vegas PRIDE, returns for a weekend of fabulous fun celebrating the vibrant community in Las Vegas. Completely centered around pride and diversity, the annual event features a night parade through Downtown Las Vegas, Friday, Oct. 7. Out & Equal Workplace Advocates presents its Workplace Summit Monday, Oct. 17 to Thursday, Oct. 20 at The Mirage. Out & Equal is the premier organization advocating for LGBTQ+ workplace equality. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com, www.visitlasvegas.com or www.vegasmeansbusiness.com. |
| To submit a press release for consideration for coverage (no charge) in Multicultural Travel News and Multicultural Entertainment News, send by email to editor Lisa Skriloff at lisa@multicultural.com. About This Newsletter Multicultural Travel News newsletter (MTN) covers travel news of interest to ethnic and niche travelers and those who market to them. We write about destinations that interest multicultural travelers or have outreach campaigns to travelers of Hispanic, African American, Asian American and other cultural backgrounds; women; LGBT travelers and people with disabilities.Multicultural Travel News is also written for leisure and business travelers looking for what to see and do and for marketing executives interested in ideas, best practices and the business case for targeting so-called “minority” travelers. We cover cities and countries, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, convention and visitor bureaus, tour operators and other travel marketers with a multicultural angle. Multicultural Travel News is written and edited by Lisa Skriloff. Multicultural Travel News is published by Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. (MMR). To view past editions click here.For a free subscription to Multicultural Travel News and its sister publication, Multicultural Marketing News, sign up here. Lisa Skriloff, Editor Multicultural Travel News Multicultural Entertainment News Multicultural Marketing News Dance Travel News Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. 212-242-3351 lisa@multicultural.com www.multicultural.com www.dancetravelnews.com www.multiculturaltravelnews.com |
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