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How do I make known we are LBGT (and Straight) friendly

Hello and thanks in advance.  I have just listed our B&B on Booking.com - and wanted to flag that we are a LBGT (and straight ;-)  ) friendly accommodation (being gay guys ourselves - it goes with the territory). LBGT couples still occasionally meet with prejudice when booking a double room, so its great to reassure them there is no problem here. However I can find nothing anywhere on the site that allows me flag this? Am i missing somthing. Glad of any pointers!


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Thuild - Your … 5 years ago

Dear Dave,

There is not way to automatically add that as a service in the extranet.

However, you can ask BDC to include it in your property description or even fine print.

Best of luck,

Zsolt - www.thuild.com

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Tingis2002 5 years ago

I own and Apartment ``Jarina´´ via booking.com, and am against all kinds of discrimination and bullying.

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fluff 5 years ago

Interesting point. We have built up the reputation locally for being welcoming to all but I think you face a catch 22 as far as public proclamation on a booking site is concerned.

Yes, you would like this particular part of the market to know you are without prejudice and will welcome them as any other. However, this could also work against you as those who are prejudiced would not book your establishment in "fear" of meeting said people.

If you predominantly want this part of the market then steam ahead. We've found the local reputation sufficient as word gets around far and wide very quickly.

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Davespiceuk 5 years ago

Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience Fluff - funnily enough, it wasn't that we wanted to attract LBGT exactly, its precisely that part of the market (those who are prejudiced - even homophobic) that we would would prefer to deter booking with us. That would be our main aim in stating we are LGBT and straight friendly. I would not want guests to arrive who are uncomfortable with two men running the establishment. I guess I am coming from our experience with being on another platform whereby it can be stated clearly, and it seemed to have done both - brought business and no issues.

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Laura, Communi… 5 years ago

This is an interesting question, Dave. Thanks for this post. How have you set up your description in your listing for the time being?

We'd love to hear from other community members who might have experience with this!

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Davespiceuk 5 years ago

Hi Laura
Thanks for your interest in this topic.

We have not found a way to mention this in our Booking.com listing, which is a bit disappointing. I have spoken with BDC staff about the listing as it is automatically generated and thus reads quite poor. It would appear our main feature is that we can store luggage (go figure). We have not found a way to outline our 'LBGT friendly' policy. I'd be glad of any thoughts.

My listing is here http://www.booking.com/Share-Ote1WX if you want to take a look.

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Wightgal 5 years ago

Oh the arguments I've had with the BDc editors over the years about the way our advert reads! Had to laugh at your Boasting luggage storage, what planet are the editors on?

How about incorporating the Rainbow flag in one or more of your photos?

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Wightgal 5 years ago

Sorry, just went back to 're read your advert, it's as bad as ours used to be! They write as if English is not even their second language. Who on earth would use the word "fitted" in two consecutive sentences. Just keep submitting your own " copy" to the editors until they succumb !.... It might take a few years, but eventually it won't look to bad?

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Ccpddb 5 years ago

Good question! We were wondering that as well! We have put notices on some of the gay travel sites and have found that it helps, as well in your photos you might add a reference to a gay flag or something like that! Hope I helped! I will follow this hopefully for more ideas!

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12th Tee B&B 5 years ago

HI Dave,

My brother uses the hashtag #hostswithpride whenever he uses any social media... I wonder if you could use one of your stock photos and add the caption #hostswithpride

Good luck! Let us know how you went ;)

Mel

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Themansion 5 years ago

I like the rainbow flag idea, even if just a hint towards being LGBT friendly. We are the same, we don't advertise as such and as we get a lot of straight mates travelling together worry if a room should have been twinned and don't like to ask as it may come over wrong.

Ian

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fluff 5 years ago

The picture idea seems decent. You can also add an appropriate comment to your main description. You will have to contact BDC to request it. They will most likely decline on the basis of metasearch, keywords, yadda-yadda and you then DEMAND it, stating how important it is to your market.

You will then get your way.

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Davespiceuk 5 years ago

Thanks for your contribution Joey. The discussion is about us as Hosts rather than Guests meeting discrimination. As mentioned earlier, its not about advertising to the LGBT community, draping rainbow flags over the property or screaming from the roof ;-) , but gently trying to avoid people who would be uncomfortable in our guesthouse, on arriving realising we are gay. We live in the UK so a progressive country, however that does not mean it is not an issue - it shouldn't be of course, but sadly - it can be. When it has been, I believe we handle it with dignity and gentleness rather than confrontation. Indeed it is usually an under the rader feeling, but picked up all the same. For clarity, I am not looking to discriminate against or for LBGT people, or make it a feature of the listing, just a note somewhere that we are LBGT and straight friendly as a 'policy' would be appreciated. You do have the ability to state your property is non smoking of course.

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Days Inn Kokopelli 5 years ago

You can add a photo of a rainbow flag or other LGBTQ image to the photos of your property so guests can see it there.

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Control40 5 years ago

Well what I did was just add a flag in my photos,

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Why would they realise that you're gay? :D
Way back when we started working with BC I remember that I was able to mark our property as gay friendly. Not sure if this feature still available though?

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago

No no no, everybody welcome, (except small children and pets).....................

You cannot do this, what about only married people???

Everybody welcome, from any country any religion, and colour...I love the difference, I learn every day, also from you...

Now cooking for 6 people...

Nice evening

Lucy

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Foltahouse 5 years ago

Personally, I can tell by your host picture with the pup that you're gay friendly :)

You could use a picture of you and your spouse/partner in your description and leave it up to the traveller to put two and two together and if they're paranoid and are concerned that you're a 'couple' then they'll move on. Other gay folks will probably assume you're a 'couple' and gay-friendly, just as straight couples would assume a mixed gender couple were married/partnered.

Although 99% (or more) of traveller's don't care about their host's orientation it is important to know that where you're staying on a hard-earned vacation the hosts aren't going to be critical. It is a valid point regardless of how accepting one perceives the world around them to be.

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Davespiceuk 5 years ago

So just an update - I did write to BDC and ask for it to be included in the 'fine print' as a house Policy that we are LBGT and straight friendly, and I share their reply here.
I rather think they and others are missing my point and motivation (in that what we are wanting to minimise is guests who are 'homophobic' to be uncomfortable), but life is too short to stuff a mushroom, and I will work out something on BDC to pass the subtle message. On another platform, its very easy to mention that we are gay hosts and it seems to have worked in our and out guests favour.

Dear partner,
Thank you for contacting us.
We are glad to hear your are openly welcoming guests of all types!
However, this type of information is not generally something we list in the "fine print" section according to our content policies. If anything, this area is used to inform which guests may not be permitted to stay, or any rules relating to who can stay, when the restriction is supported by local/national law.
If there are no specific limitations, the expectation is that everyone is welcome. :-)
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Thank you for working with Booking.com.

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Leandri Klopper 5 years ago

Hi Forum!

What a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed this thread.

Davespiceuk , I think you've received some great insight here. My favorite one was the adding a photo that will subtly indicate that you are welcoming to everyone. Perhaps you can add somewhere that you and your partner welcome everyone, so that all sorts will be comfortable and be (as you would like them to be) in the Know.

I've also felt the cold slap of receiving a logical reason from Booking.com as to why I can't add certain things to my fine print. I used to be an enthusiastic advocate for putting things in the Fine Print when there is no place in the Extranet. Only to learn that they are quite strict on what you say there.

I must let you know that I've found new energy from this post to keep trying to add those things that I was unable to shove onto the Fine print. When you have a vision, then you keep trying to reach it. My guests will be informed that there are potholes leading up to the resort before they book, even if I have to photograph the potholes and add the photos my page! (Haha I won't really do that, but I hope my spark has been carried over...)

Thanks again for the good read everyone! Keep well.

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pibomarco 5 years ago

"But ideas and beliefs are choices.." Not necessarily if someone was "brainwashed" since they were born. The choice/belief can basicly be implemented into a person. :)

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pibomarco 5 years ago

I'm done with the internet/google articles and all the BS information out there. That is why the flat earth community is getting bigger and bigger. :) I rather focus my energy to more productive things.

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago
Dear Le Balcon des Jasses,
Just to let you know, your total earnings for the next 30 days will be 32% less than last year.
We think it's because your rates are now higher for this year. We've found that partners in a similar situation saw an increase in earnings by taking advantage of one of our special deals or promotions...
Boost your ranking with a limited-time discount

Kind regards,
The Booking.com team

HOW CAN BOOKING.COM CALCULATE THIS? I'M FULLY BOOKED EVERY DAY, EVERY ROOM, EVERY YEAR, YES I RICE MY PRICE 10%, AND ITS GOOD FOR ME, AND FOR BOOKING.com, IT JUST MEAN I WAS TO CHEAP BEFORE.....

Command welcome

Lucy

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fluff 5 years ago

It's just 32% less with BDC.

Maybe you're now 32% up on direct bookings, HOORAY!

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago

No, 90% booking from Booking.com,

I like Booking.com, most critic go on the price we pay, but nobody give more, nobody give better service or a better website, ....even this forum are Booking.com

Lucy

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Joey just generally speaking. Defenitly not reading articles from bloggers or influencers. You missed my point anyhow. I don't have time to be a business owner and investigator at the same time. Why would I be wasting my time and energy for things that I can't change? Been there done that when I was younger, now I have other and more important priorites (thank "god") in my life. :)

Agree with Le Balcon. Booking.com acumulates majority of bookings also for my property (well 22% less then last year, because of direct bookings and AirBnB), but the fact is if I wouldn't be on BDC I would be earning less, that's a fact.

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago

Ha ha ha, I love this one, every body welcome, and you to..

Hi From France

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Bandara Hotels… 5 years ago

Booking.com should have a badge or special recommend rate for this group as well.

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Didem - Commun… 1 year ago

 

Hi everyone,

 

Thank you for your support to inclusive hospitality.

 

I've thought that you might be interested in reading more about our Travel Proud certification programme and register for a training here

 

You're always welcome to ask me if you have any questions. Happy to help as much as I can. 

 

Have a wonderful day ahead!