From The CEO: Lunch Conversation

I was having lunch with a close friend of mine not too long ago, and we were sharing random dialog about our respective businesses. My friend is someone I have come to regard with very high esteem. Indeed, my friend is a highly successful business owner, with more than 30 years of experience. So, in many regards, I see him as more than just a friend, I also see him as an adviser who is ever ready to share a much needed tidbit or two about his successful business practices. Everybody needs a friend, or even perhaps a few friends like that, especially when it comes to running a business. Someone who is insightful, and not too judgmental, fair, without many of the biases shared by most of mainstream society. I think that is why I was kind of shocked by a question my friend asked of me.

As we sat enjoying our lunch, my friend asked me a business related question. "So tell me, how many gay and lesbian clients do you have?" he asked. I was rather stunned by the boldness, and what I considered to be inappropriateness of the question, so I opted to respond as Socraticly (using the Socratic method) as possible. "I'm sorry, what do you mean?" I took a sip of my water, and observed as my friend seemed not to be phased by the questions. Instead, he continued to savor his lunch as he asked in response "What are your positions on LBGT clients and business?" and he took a sip of his wine, I think it was a sweet red or something like that.

I honestly did not know how to respond, pretty much because I have not previously been asked questions of that nature, especially not in a general conversational tone. I wondered what the purpose of the questions were. Is my friend trying to lock me into a darned if you do, darned if you don't position? Is he looking for a political soundbite that could be used against me in a future legal encounter? Is he challenging my lifestyle? I mean, honestly, what is his angle? He continued to sit there with an expectant expression on his face. Not confrontational, not hostile, just expecting the conversation to continue. So I obliged.

"That is a very interesting question", I said as I took another sip of my water "But here is where I stand". I explained to my long time friend that I so not have Straight Clients, nor do I have Gay Clients, I simply have Clients. I have clients who love to take cruises, I have clients who prefer to lounge on the beach. I have clients who enjoy the fast pace of Las Vegas, and I have clients who enjoy the serenity of a mountain get away. I watched my friend as he nodded his head and began to smile. So I continued by saying to my friend, I do not see two females as a Lesbian Couple, I see them as two women who wish to have a great time in the Bahamas, or Jamaica. I do not question two men seeking a vacation together, instead I see two guys who just want to have a wild and crazy good time so they can forget about a bad week at work, or what ever else may have stressed them out. My friend picked up his glass of wine, gave me a slight tip of the glass as a salute and took a sip of it.

"That is great to hear" he said as he sat his glass down, and motioned for the waitress to bring the check "Let me tell you why I asked the question". My friend went on to tell me that he'd witnessed another travel agent reject a couple simply because they were a Lesbian Couple. He said he'd overheard the travel agent saying that it is nearly impossible to find any vacation destination that is truly Gay Friendly, and  gave them some phone numbers they could call. According to my friends, the ladies were simply looking for an All-Inclusive Caribbean Resort to celebrate one of the lady's birthday. My friend told me that he was infuriated, but could not say anything because he was engaged with a client of his own at the time. With 30 years of experience, my friend is one heck of amulti-tasker. "Because of that interaction" he said as he handed his credit card to the waitress and told her to include a 30% gratuity for her, just because (big show off, but heck, he's my friend, and the lunch was free) "I wanted to be certain that the kind of disservice I witness was not something that is rampant in the travel industry". I thought that was  more than fair, and I truly appreciated him for seeking my position. In a way, I saw this lunch encounter as yet another lesson, and a valuable one indeed.

Unfortunately, my friend had more of a valid point than many people realize. The news is full of people harboring biases against men and women simply because they are part of the LBGT community. That is not just unfair, but it is also stupid. Being in the travel industry, I can honestly say from experience that the LBGT community has comprised more than 30% of my total business, and that is not from active prospecting, it is from being approached for information on cruises and vacations. For that I am very grateful. Still it does not negate the fact that there are people who harbor unfair biases.

Since our founding in 2008, IrSabio Travel Consultants strove to provide the very best in travel and vacation opportunities to all of or clients, regardless of  culture, race, gender or other factor. Our philosophy is simple, we want to be Your Full Service Online Travel Agent, and we pride ourselves in that. At IrSabio, we want your travel or vacation experience to be a truly memorable one, something you will be happy to talk about and do over and over again. Our clients are important to us, and because of that, we don't mind doing the extra legwork to find the most customer friendly vacation options available. We believe that if one country wants to look down on any of our clients, that we are more than willing to find several alternatives who will welcome our clients with open arms. You do not have to settle for being treated like a second class citizen, because you are so much more than that, and at IrSabio, we will do what it takes to ensure that you know you are first class to us.

As a closing thought, although I was caught off guard by the question, I am very glad that my friend asked it of me. People who are afraid to discuss a topic will not benefit from the growth such a discussion offers. Thank you all for being valued clients of IrSabio Travel Consultants.

- E Wise CEO, IrSabio Travel Consultants