Tourism has always been a formidable force for positive change in the world. When done right, it brings people together with one admirable goal: experiencing distant lands and new cultures. It’s a commonly used cliché that travel opens the mind. And in truth, how could it do anything else?

LGBTQ+ tourism takes the quest for connection to another level by also being a torchbearer for inclusion, diversity, and safety in travel. The International LGBTQ+ Business and Tourism Conference, GNETWORK, holds this mission at its heart. On November 12–13, it’s set to celebrate its 20th edition in our home city of Madrid. We take a look at why you should attend.

What Happens at GNETWORK MAD 2024, Doesn’t Stay at GNETWORK MAD 2024

Any professional working within the diverse world of the LGBTQ+ business and tourism market has a lot to gain from attending GNETWORK MAD 2024. For a start, the congress is completely free, ensuring the event is accessible to a wide range of companies, organizations, and professionals. The only entry requirement is to be interested in the LGBTQ+ market and innovation in the tourism sector.

GNETWORK MAD 2024 is organized by the LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce of Argentina and the Spanish consulting firm JN Global Project. At its core, it is a space where professionals across the industry can connect, exchange knowledge, and establish synergies for the development of inclusive products and services that respond to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. The event aims to highlight the relevance of LGBTQ+ tourism and business on the international scene and represents a unique opportunity to make visible the importance of LGBTQ+ tourism and its positive impact on the economy, explore the opportunities of it as a growing segment, and to strengthen the commitment of Madrid itself.

The two-day schedule includes the full gamut of conferences, debates, and networking events with the participation of national and international experts and invited destinations such as Buenos Aires and Fort Lauderdale taking center stage, among others. So, you can expect to hear voices from all over the world and meet people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Madrid, The Perfect Host!

Spain is a trailblazer when it comes to LGBTQ+ tourism. In fact, it’s been a trailblazer with LGBTQ+ rights in general over the last century, having legalized gay marriage and adoption for same-sex couples as early as 2005, and recently legalizing the right to change legal gender by self-determination.

Its capital, Madrid, epitomizes Spain’s liberal attitudes and is one of the most gay-friendly places in the world. We should know, we live here! A visit to Madrid’s gayborhood, Chueca, is an unreplicable experience. The area was the epicenter of Spain’s La Movida Madrileña, which helped transform Spain into the liberal paradise it is today shortly after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco. Madrid is also known for excelling in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism, meaning it has first-class infrastructure for organizing conferences and large-scale events.

All this makes our city the perfect host for an event all about bringing LGBTQ+ people together. Plus, the city is known for being cosmopolitan, diverse, and incorporating the best of Spanish culture into its everyday life. A visit to Madrid for the GNETWORK MAD 2024 event is the perfect opportunity to explore the city and delve into Spanish culture—and its lively (to say the least) nightlife.

The site of the conference is the five-star VP Plaza España Design Hotel, which has a privileged position right in the beautiful Plaza España at the bottom of Madrid’s answer to Fifth Avenue, Gran Vía. The hotel is itself visually stunning, with a beautiful entrance foyer, and it offers 1,400 m² of meeting spaces with versatile, spacious rooms equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.

Sounds Great! How Do I Sign Up?

Anyone and everyone interested in LGBTQ+ tourism is welcome at GNETWORK MAD 2024 on November 12–13. However, places are limited, so register now for free here!

Don’t miss out, as GNETWORK MAD 2024 is all set to be a groundbreaking event where diversity is celebrated, connections are made, friendships forged, and borders made to feel like nothing more than lines in the sand.