Pride Month kicks off this weekend in Provincetown, the queer capital of the United States. The 5th annual Provincetown Pride focuses on LGBTQ+ awareness, empowerment, and diversity, with a bevy of parties, drag shows and dancing. For early weekend arrivals on Thursday June 2, there’s Taproom Talk @ The Fine Arts Work Center – Right on Q: Identity & Understanding Around the Word ‘Queer’ as well as the Underwear Party @ Red Room – Pride Edition. Revelers traveling from Boston on Friday June 3rd can hop a festive ferry with the Special Pride-Edition Crossing on Bay State Cruise Company for a day packed with activities, starting with the Dedication of Rainbow Crosswalk and the Pride Proclamation with the Gilbert Baker Foundation. The evening’s highlight is Provincetown Follies – Pride Edition @ The Crown & Anchor. Dubbed” The Gayest Show in Town,” it’s a cabaret with a bit of Vegas, Follies Bergere and Moulin Rouge. Then move on to the Pride Kickoff Party @ Red Room at 10pm. Saturday June 4^th starts with the Pride Drag Brunch @ Pilgrim House, Provincetown’s Longest-Running Drag Brunch. For those in need of beaty boost, it’s time to head over to ‘Beat’ Booth – Makeup & Flair Station by House of La Rue. Dog lovers can check out the Yappy Hour – Hosted by Puppy Play. Later in the day, it will be time to attend the Pride Rally at Town Hall & ‘Sashay’ to Tea. There’s a Teaside Garden Party @ Somerset House Inn, a Waterfront Event @ East End Books – “Furnace Creek” by Joe Boone, and the Pride Queer Comedy Showcase Presented by the PBG & Fruit Basket with queer stand-up comics Franqi French, Jaye McBride, Sam Morrison, Kristen Becker & Anddy Egan-Thorpe. On Sunday, close out Provincetown’s 5th Annual Pride Weekend with Feet Over Front Street 5K – Pride Run & Walk, a fun event with the LGBTQ+ community. June also marks the start of the newLGBTQ+ History Trolley Tours of Provincetown with Anne Hutchinson. This new hour-long tour has “all the answers you need to get your gay history straight.” Tours run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June, and on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday in July and August. Tours can also be booked independently. As if all of this isn’t enough, Tea Dance at The Boatslip is back with resident DJ Maryalice, who has been spinning the tunes for nearly three decades. Tea Dance happens from 4pm to 7pm every afternoon through Labor Day. Getting to Provincetown from Boston and New York City just got a lot faster and easier this summer with the advent of Tailwind, which is offering seaplane service from Boston’s Fan Pier Marina to Provincetown, promising a 35-minute trip. There is also new service from Manhattan’s SkyPort Marina on the East River to Provincetown via Fan Pier. For more on lodging, restaurants, shopping, nightlife and activities, go to Provincetown Tourism.

Visit Lauderdale launched its new VisitLauderdale.com destination website that includes an accessibility microsite in recognition of the tourism bureau’s new focus on accessible travel as part of its well-established inclusion commitment. Visit Lauderdale, formerly known as Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, launched the new Visit Lauderdale name and brand slogan “Everyone Under the Sun” last year. The slogan is a nod to the destination’s residential diversity and lengthy involvement with inclusive travel marketing. Work has been underway with Simpleview since the brand launch on the new destination site. Meanwhile, Visit Lauderdale staff has been working to increase awareness of existing accessibility offerings in the destination and to help area businesses provide enhanced offerings for travelers with both visible and hidden disabilities. “Accessible tourism is not only about human rights, but also an opportunity to embrace and educate all visitors,” said Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s SVP of Inclusion & Accessibility. “We embrace all visitors with wide open, welcoming arms and we are dedicated to increasing awareness of accessibility features throughout the destination.” Greater Fort Lauderdale hotels, restaurants and attractions create a welcoming space for every guest. Many provide accessible amenities including handicap accessible rooms – some specially equipped for the hearing-impaired – as well as wheelchair ramps, accessible outdoor dining spaces including spacious outdoor patios, special sensory-inclusive websites, and sensory-sensitive live performances such as those at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) utilizes the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program with a mission to provide a discreet way for adults and children with hidden disabilities to show they need additional support or just a little more time with airport processes. Free sunflower identifying lanyards and pins are available via advance email request at contactfll@broward.org. Area resources listed on the site include information on where to find wheelchair accessible beaches, and about the Fort Lauderdale-based Special Needs Group, which provides a wide range of equipment including rentals of wheelchairs, scooter, audio and visual aid necessities and other essentials. Equipment is delivered directly to cruise ship staterooms at Port Everglades, hotels, attractions, or the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Visit Lauderdale’s new brand identity and colors are now in use across the visitlauderdale.com website along with new user-friendly features. Find the accessibility microsite at visitlauderdale.com/accessibility.

Natchez, Mississippi, the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River, announces a multi-day celebration happening this Juneteenth to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Americans and embrace African American history, culture, creativity and liberty. This year’s featured event is the third annual Soul Food Fusion Festival, a culinary and cultural experience that highlights the aroma of traditional soul food cooking, fused with historic folklore, cultural arts and music from the diverse background of Natchez. “These programs in honor of Juneteenth are a wonderful way for our city to relish in the present moment, while remembering the work and sacrifices before us that made this celebration possible,” says Devin Heath, executive director of Visit Natchez. “We are going beyond commemorating the anniversary of emancipation by celebrating African American culture with events open to visitors and locals of all backgrounds who would like to honor those who fought for the rights and privileges held today in the United States.”

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.

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.

—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.

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.

Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM) launched in February 2021 and has spent the past year introducing its collective impact model and working to inspire authenticity and inclusive leadership throughout the tourism and events industry. TDM’s mission is to be a resource to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion practices that will educate, advocate, engage and empower in collaboration and cooperation with all industry initiatives. The team, led by Executive Director Greg DeShields, is committed to eliminating disparities through advocacy and education. TDM has accomplished many milestones in the first year, including more than 25 DEI-focused presentations with notable organizations, successful apprenticeship programs, workforce development strategies, and the establishment of strategic industry partnerships. New members to the Board of Directors: Adam Burke, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board; Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company; Shelly Cruz, CMP, Vice President of Global Sales at MGM Resort’s International. The new board members will join under the leadership of Elliott Ferguson, TDM’s Chairman of the Board and President and CEO, Destination DC, and Mike Gamble, TDM’s Founder and President and CEO of SearchWide Global.