FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     //    August 1, 2011
Contact: Matt Comer, 704-729-4291, info@visitgaycharlotte.com

Just in time for Democratic National Convention, new travel portal Visit Gay Charlotte launches for LGBT community

Local gay men find an entrepreneurial spirit to help LGBT travelers and newcomers find their way in the Queen City

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A new online portal that promises to guide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers, newcomers and residents to friendly and inclusive lodging, dining, shopping and nightlife has launched. The two local gay men who founded the site, Visit Gay Charlotte (visitgaycharlotte.com), hope their vision will serve a growing LGBT tourism market in the Queen City, which is fast becoming a destination for business travelers, national conventions and other events.

“Even before it was announced the Democratic National Convention would be held in here in 2012, we knew there was an opportunity for Charlotte to embrace its LGBT visitors and in the process embrace its local LGBT community, which already contributes so much diversity, creativity and vibrancy to the city,” says Mark Wisniewski, a founding partner in Visit Gay Charlotte.

The site features regularly updated listings which all users can rate and review. A comprehensive local events calendar includes activities for LGBT visitors, newcomers and residents. The site also details individual listings’ popularity with certain crowds, such as those venues popular with a friendly mix of LGBT and straight clientele or those primarily popular with gay men or lesbians. Visit Gay Charlotte is already highly optimized for mobile browsing and a mobile app is slated for development and release later next year.

“We recognize that on-the-go convenience for travelers away from their desktop and laptop computers will be essential,” Wisniewski says.

In addition to listings for travelers and newcomers, Wisniewski and Matt Comer, a local journalist who is also a founding partner in the site, plan to help share the story of Charlotte, recently named a “Next Biggest Boom Town” by Forbes, by regularly highlighting and profiling LGBT leaders, business owners, events and organizations.

“From the beginning we’ve wanted Visit Gay Charlotte to be dynamic and comprehensive,” says Comer. “We want visitors and travelers to feel welcome, but we also want a hand in helping to build better community for both long-time residents and those now choosing to make Charlotte their home. We’re most excited about the spotlight we can help shine on all the wonderful people, businesses and organizations that help make this city a great place in which to work, live, learn and relax.”

Comer and Wisniewski also plan to offer businesses, events and organizations opportunities to increase their visibility on the site. Many of the featured products are still in development and will soon enter a test- and case-study mode.

“We’re looking forward to working with businesses and organizations who’d like to have their brands promoted to a key and savvy market that is hungry for places to go and things to do when they travel to Charlotte, whether that’s simply for business or for pleasure,” says Comer.

# # #

To learn more about Visit Gay Charlotte, include potential promotions deals and how to get involved by contributing your photography, writing and reviews, log on to visitgaycharlotte.com/getinvolved or email us at info@visitgaycharlotte.com.