Richmond recognized as a Top 10 LGBT destination

OutRVA said Wednesday that Richmond has been selected as a Top 10 finalist in the NatWest British LGBT Awards to determine the best LGBT travel destination.

Other top 10 destinations in the running are: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Stockholm and Vancouver. The No. 1 LGBT travel destination will be determined by votes cast through March 22. Winners will be announced at an awards party on May 12 in London.

The NatWest British LGBT Awards recognizes individuals, organizations and destinations that have demonstrated a commitment to the LGBT community. Businesses and corporate organizations celebrated for their commitment to the LGBT community have included MTV, HSBC, Marriott Hotels, Royal Air Force, American Express, Vodafone, EY and Tesco.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is asking for votes in a video recorded on the city’s new T. Tyler Potterfield bridge with downtown Richmond and members of Richmond’s LGBT community behind him. “This is an exciting opportunity for Richmond to tell travelers how welcoming we are. Our wonderful community has so much to offer LGBT visitors and OutRVA has helped communicate that message,” Stoney said in a statement.

OutRVA is the Richmond Region Tourism’s campaign to highlight the area as a welcoming travel destination for LGBT visitors. “We’ve accomplished so much through the OutRVA campaign and put Richmond on the map as a welcoming destination. The British LGBT Awards can take Richmond to the next level and spread the word on an international scale,” said Katherine O’Donnell, Richmond Region tourism’s vice president of community relations.

More than 7 million people visit the Richmond region annually, contributing more than $2 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates nearly 22,000 jobs in the Richmond Region.