The executive director of Travel Gay Canada says businesses in Windsor-Essex are already well positioned to attract LGBT travellers, but he has a few tips.

Speaking at the 2014 Travel Gay Conference at Caesars Windsor, Colin Sines says businesses are wise to get to know their customers, so he encourages partnerships with groups like Windsor Pride.

He also says destinations may want to be more inclusive in their promotional material. “If they were shopping, and they had (a picture) of a couple of girls holding hands doing shopping, that’s all it is,” he says. “That means that I am welcome there. They are including me within their program.”

Travel Gay Canada’s most recent statistics says the LGBT community spends about $8.5-billion a year on travel, and 48% of that in Canada. “Any business or destination would be nuts not to want to be a part of that.”