HBX Group launches conscious OTA with Queer Destinations

First-of-its kind travel platform designed for LGBTQ+ travellers

Queer Destinations and HBX Group have announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind Conscious Online Travel Platform (OTA) to transform how LGBTQ+ travellers and residents discover, trust, and spend with businesses and destinations worldwide.

The launch introduces a scalable ecosystem that brings together certification standards, advanced booking technology, and curated global supply.

Together, this structure enables travellers and residents to discover and book within a certified network, ensuring every transaction supports organisations that have "demonstrably committed" to inclusion, while providing scalable global distribution to participating destinations and businesses. 

Revenue flows back into the local queer community through collaboration with local LGBTQ+ NGOs, which the duo have said completes "a loop of conscious, compounding impact".

According to estimates by LGBT Capital, the global LGBTQ+ community represents $3.7 trillion in annual spending power — a figure that, measured as a national economy, would rank fifth in the world and yet, that power has historically flowed without coordination or intention, into markets and businesses regardless of their stance on the rights of the community that generates it. 

Queer Destinations challenges this and addresses it. It is now evolving from global certification standard to direct-to-consumer platform, in partnership with HBX Group.

“Inclusion becomes truly impactful when it is supported by scalable infrastructure,” said Elena Pérez, chief people officer at HBX Group. 

"By powering this platform, we are enabling inclusive travel to grow globally through trusted technology and connectivity. 

"This effort is only possible when we also recognise and value the diversity of people, and when we continue to train our teams to understand, respect, and promote that diversity in every interaction. 

"This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering a more open, responsible, and accessible travel ecosystem.

Edgar Weggelaar, CEO at Queer Destinations, added: “The launch of our platform marks a significant milestone in our mission to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion across tourism. 

"By combining our certification framework with HBX Group’s global technology capabilities, we are creating a trusted space where travellers can make informed choices and where hotels can demonstrate their commitment to inclusion.”

Oriol Pàmies, founder of Queer Destinations, concluded: “For nearly 60 years, queer rights have been won through protest and demonstration, asking governments for rights that should have been granted by definition. 

"Today, we are awakening to our collective economic power. With over $3.7 trillion in spending power, the queer community would be the fifth largest economy in the world. 

"Queer Destinations was built to direct that energy toward the governments and destinations that are publicly committed to diversity, training corporations, creating safe spaces, and ensuring that we can travel, and live, as we are.”

The platform will be debuted at ITB Berlin, with a broader launch planned for later this year. 

Initial expansion will focus on key markets including Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Greece.