Altus Group and LA INC. Launch Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide for Los Angeles.

PHILADELPHIA -- Altus Group has partnered with LA INC., The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, to produce the Los Angeles Navigaytour. An official gay and lesbian travel guide, the Navigaytour identifies gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses, clubs and bars, festivals, attractions and places of cultural significance in one of the most popular gay destinations in the United States.

"This is incredibly exciting," said David Jefferys, president of the Altus Group and publisher of the Navigaytour. "The Los Angeles Navigaytour will be the gay traveler's constant companion for enjoying one of America's most gay-friendly cities."

Los Angeles was named a top 10 destination for gay and lesbian visitors in a 2006 Travel Industry Association survey. In addition, LA is the fourth-most traveled city by gay visitors, according to a September 2007 survey by Community Marketing, Inc.

In addition to travel information, the Navigaytour will include a special wedding planner. Written for gay and lesbian couples wanting to marry, the planner will include comprehensive information about gay-friendly venues, churches, clergy, hotels, caterers, florists, photographers and other wedding-related businesses.

"The Supreme Court's historic decision opens the doors for lesbian and gay couples from across the United States to marry," said Patti MacJennett, Senior Vice President, Marketing of LA INC. "Same sex marriages commenced on June 17, and we expect nearly 70,000 additional visitors to come to the State. The Bureau wants to ensure that resources are readily available to the LGBT community."

The planner compliments a new section for gay weddings on the LA INC. Web site, www.discoverLosAngeles.com. Couples can find information on a variety of settings for their weddings, read FAQs and find a list of Travel Alternatives Group (TAG) approved hotels. Visitors should go to discoverlosangeles.com and click the "Gay Travel" link.

LA INC., The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Though not part of city government, LA INC. is recognized as the city's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information Web site of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com.

Altus Group is a Philadelphia-based marketing communications agency that focuses on gay consumers. The agency produced the first gay-themed tourism campaign, "Philadelphia: Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay([TM])" for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

In addition, Altus Group (www.altus-group.com) produces a gay-themed travel Web site: www.navigaytour.com, which offers gay and lesbian travelers a complete online trip planner for gay-friendly destinations. Altus also produces Navigaytour guides for cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Diego.