Logo launches TripOutGayTravel.com

Logo, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks announced the launch of TripOutGayTravel.com, a new site, dedicated to all things travel for the LGBT community. Launching Friday, May 1, TripOutGayTravel.com provides LGBT travelers with the latest on gay travel through its vast editorial features, deep destination guide content and the web’s largest gay travel video library.

The site also invites users to recommend and comment on destinations, as well as discuss the thousands of travel listings on the site. While TripOutGayTravel.com is part of Logo’s larger constellation of Web properties, the site will operate separately from LOGOonline.com. TripOutGayTravel.com marks the first stand-alone travel-focused Web property launched by MTV Networks.

The TripOutGayTravel.com community can also book their next trip through the site, which is powered by Travelocity’s booking engine. TripOutGayTravel.com provides a platform for travel aficionados to get informed and connect with other travel fanatics with user recommendations and a gay-friendly ratings system for travel destinations. Additionally the site will feature a daily travel blog, extensive travel video from LOGOonline.com and editorial features such as "The World’s 10 Best Gay Beaches" "Quick & Easy Romantic Road Trips" and "The Most Historic LGBT Places in the U.S."

TripOutGayTravel.com is launching with multiple advertisers and three primary advertising sponsors – American Airlines, Travelocity and Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.

American Airlines, a long-time supporter of the LGBT community, will be a site-wide sponsor and co-sponsor of the official TripOutGayTravel.com sweepstakes where users will enter to win a trip to Fort Lauderdale at Florida’s first W Hotel. Thirty first-place winners will receive a Fort Lauderdale beach chic starter kit including a beach towel, flip flops and beachball. And finally, in addition to Travelocity’s booking capabilities, the travel giant will target LOGOonline.com’s upscale users through continued and ongoing marketing efforts.

As a proud partner of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), TripOutGayTravel.com will showcase only the most trusted sources for gay travel planning, the site will deliver a new style that will create a best-in-breed gay travel planning experience.

Logo has previously shared with its viewers travel tips through the travel section of LOGOonline.com and TV series "Bump!" and "Round Trip Ticket." From discovering the top 50 gay bars in America, to browsing through photos of the hottest European beaches or watching full episodes of "Bump!" shot in every continent around the globe, TripOutGayTravel.com gets viewers where they need to go.

"We’re proud that our standalone site will launch with premier sponsors who recognize Logo’s prowess in delivering distinct, targeted opportunities where they can connect with a loyal audience. In this case, an audience that always places travel high on its priority list no matter what the state of the economy is," said Lisa Sherman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Logo.

"As the #1 wholly-owned-gay online destination, LOGOonline.com is truly connected to the LGBT community and its myriad, diverse interests. We know that travel tops that list for most gays and lesbians based on their passionate feedback to our online and on-air offerings on this topic," said Justin Garrett, Vice President of Digital Advertising Sales, Logo. "TripOutGayTravel.com will tap into that passion by providing a community for like-minded travelers to exchange tips and agendas and easily convert those ideas into actual bookings."

George Carrancho, Manager of American’s LGBT Rainbow Marketing and Sales, said, "We work hard year-round to enhance American Airlines’ strong reputation in the LGBT community. Our partnership with Logo and TripOutGayTravel will allow us to keep bringing valuable travel services and content to many of our most loyal LGBT customers."

The launch of TripOutGayTravel.com follows the recent successful growth of Logo’s Web properties. While the Logo Constellation has been the #1 wholly-owned gay property in terms of online traffic for the past year, the constellation surged past the competition, which includes a larger ad network to become the #1 entity within comScore’s Gay/Lesbian category in March, 2009, as it saw its total unique visitors jump +29% from February, 2009.

Also starting Friday, May 1 at 7 PM ET/PT Logo will air "TripOut Gay Travel Weekend," a weekend-long marathon, dedicated to all things travel and the launch of TripOutGayTravel.com. Travel around the globe with Logo from local hotspots ("US of ANT" and "Out in the City") to international destinations ("Bump!" and "Round Trip Ticket") to the history of a legendary vacation destination ("When Ocean Meets Sky") and get ready to indulge your inner traveler. Logo’s 4-year running Friday night travel programming destination, TripOut, will also continue airing under its new name "TripOut Gay Travel" with frequent throws to the new site in this cross-branded weekly block.