Greece’s W Costa Navarino has become the first hotel to receive accreditation from the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association’s newly launched hotel accreditation programme. It opened last year in Costa Navarino, Messinia, southwest Peloponnese, and has implemented several practices to ensure a welcoming experience for its LGBTQ+ guests.
“The foundation of Costa Navarino is built upon a deep respect for our guests. Our commitment is not only to meet, but to exceed their expectations,” said Stephanos Theodorides, MD of TEMES, the hotel’s developers.
“Recognising that everyone has a unique personality, we strive to anticipate diverse needs, ensuring everyone feels as comfortable as they would in their own home. The fact that W Costa Navarino is the first hotel in the world to be IGLTA-accredited is a true honour.”
The aim of the IGLTA programme is to guarantee that travel brands are committed to promoting equality and safety for LGBTQ+ travellers by ensuring properties and travel organisations meet its criteria and evaluation process. It provides evidence that participating hotels genuinely welcome LGBTQ+ guests and, to be accredited, they need to fulfil these criteria:
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Publicly display a non-discrimination policy or customer charter
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Staff manual/handbook and recruitment advertisements should include non-discrimination policies protecting LGBTQ+ staff
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Provide the organisation’s procedures in dealing with LGBTQ+ customer and staff complaints
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Provide contact details of one customer-facing member of staff as the LGBTQ+ champion
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Demonstrate at least two ways of how IGLTA provides for and gives back to the LGBTQ+ community
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Include one example of LGBTQ+ positive/inclusive marketing and communication practice
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Provide one example of positive LGBTQ+ customer reference from customers or third-party peer-to-peer programmes, reference from a travel agent, or IGLTA member
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Provide LGBTQ+ specific diversity and sensitivity training to their team.
