U.S. customers spent $79 billion on online travel last year, according to a new report released today by eMarketer. The research firm predicts that spending in this category will grow at around 17% a year for
 the next five years, totaling $146 billion by 2010.

One of the most notable recent changes, according to the report, is the explosion of social networking
sites, where people can share information and itineraries, post travel blogs and upload videos of their trips.

The report also noted that online travel agencies are facing increasing pressure, as consumers who use
social networks now offer fellow travelers their own advice and recommendations. And that's in addition
 to the pricing pressure from airlines and hotels, which sell to consumers directly from their Web sites.

A 2006 survey by Community Marketing, Inc., found that gay travelers spend about $64 billion a year
on travel alone,(10 percent of the United States travel industry total) with gay men spending more on average than their lesbian and heterosexual counterparts. Statistics show the gay and lesbian community spend
$45 billion a year online for travel, which is about 70% of the total! (while only about 12% of the straight consumers buy online travel.)


             

Major companies in the travel industry have become aware of the substantial money (also known as "pink money") generated by this marketing niche, and have made it a point to align themselves with the
gay community and gay tourism campaigns.

According to Tourism Intelligence International, some 10% of international tourists were gay or
lesbians, accounting for more than 70 million arrivals worldwide. This important market segment is
expected to continue to grow as a result of a change in world-wide attitudes to homosexuality.
American gay and lesbian tourists are estimated to generate $54.1 billion a year—
about 10% of the total  US travel industry.

“The GLBT community has a greater willingness to spend their dollars on travel than most mainstream consumers,” said Chris Haack, analyst for Mintel. “There is a cultural affinity that tends to insulate it from
the shocks that affect the general traveler. Whether communicating with GLBT singles, couples or families, industry players simply need to be aware of each group’s specific needs.”

AMERICAN AIRLINES has always been a leader as being pro-gay. This past year, they even added a gay section to their website! People using the site can earn up to 1,000 frequent flyer miles for booking a vacation. And I don't think you have to show your card to get the discount! - Despite pressure from the religious right, American Airlines has stayed on course with its pro-gay policies over the last 8 years.

As red states like Arizona conservatives push to get an initiative banning same-sex marriage on the ballot,
its capital is actively courting gay travelers. But Phoenix is just one of a growing number of red-state enclaves vying for a piece of the estimated $65 billion spent annually on U.S. travel by gay men and lesbians. And in
doing so, these cities are distinguishing themselves from state politics. -  but do we really want to spend time
 in red state?

Nearly half of all gay men (48%) and lesbians (47%) surveyed in the U.S. say that a destination's
gay-friendliness is important to them when making leisure travel choices. In fact, over one-quarter of
gay men (27%) and lesbians (28%) say gay-friendliness is extremely or very important as a consideration
 in travel planning, according to a new national survey. Gays want to be with gays for the most part. In the
US, the survey shows the popular cities are Los Angeles , New York , San Francisco , Washington D.C. , Miami , Boston , Chicago and Seattle.