Member Spotlight: McKenzie McMillan

McKenzie McMillan ^(He/Him)
Managing Partner, Luxury Travel Designer

For a long time now, LGBTQ travel has been seen as a niche market, one that has potential to be profitable to agents that want to pursue it, but also one that many agents struggle to excel in, or simply to understand.

After 20 years in the industry, I’ve seen countless agents try to break into this market, some with great success, but others with little to no success. For advisors that consider themselves allies, but are not actually members of the LGBTQ+ community, I absolutely understand where the disconnect can lie. Needs and desires of the LGBTQ community can be as nuanced and diverse as those of any other group of travelers, and without the lived experience, it can become a bit of a puzzle, one that’s hard to crack.

As a proud member of this community, my advice to advisors, is that queer travelers, are just like any other traveler group – they have many similar dreams, some are single, some, couples looking for a romantic getaway, and some are families, looking for that magical adventure with their kids. Some want journeys on a budget, and some want the best of the best that luxury travel can provide. Where the difference lies, is in comfort levels, and often the concern about traveling, and also feeling the respect and dignity that they may be offered back home, especially here in Canada. We aren’t necessarily looking for the next gay cruise, or pride festival, but rather, we’re looking for holidays, just the same as heterosexual travelers, but ones where we will feel safe and respected. It can be big obvious things, like countries that don’t outlaw LGBTQ relationships, or smaller things, like hotels that don’t automatically assume two men checking into a room, require two queen beds (believe me, this happens far more often than you think)  

Basically, it’s not JUST about what countries have policies that protect the gay community at large, or have progressive governments and perceived progressive ideals – we, as a community, live our lives having to deal with the fear of discrimination, but also daily micro-aggressions, and awkward moments, often from those who don’t mean ill-will, but simply don’t understand us, or have never met us. This, however, is the beauty of travel! It serves to open up our minds, as the traveler, but also those in destinations – it’s been proven that the more people travel, and experience other cultures, the more accepting they become.

Last year, I took a group of friends on an amazing sailing journey through Croatia. When we boarded our boat, our skipper, who was absolutely wonderful, definitely had not had a boat full of gay men before – I could instantly tell that he was well meaning, but maybe not 100% sure how to relate to us, and quite honestly, I felt the same barriers on my end – fast forward seven days, and that possible barrier, was gone! We joked together, we laughed, we dove into the crystal clear Adriatic together, and shared a toast to an amazing week. I could see in real time, how our ability to relate and understand each other grew, our guide, and my friends, all left that trip with a better understanding of people who were not like us – it was a powerful experience, and one I’ll never forget!

Basically, the best advice I can give, to any advisor who wants to be an ally, and help LGBTQ+ travelers plan their dream vacations, is to first, spend time within the community, make friends, and strive to listen and understand the goals, desires, and also fears, that play a pivotal part in our lives – only then, can you really understand what drives LGBTQ Travel needs. It’s one thing to support equality, but to learn and understand the LGBTQ experience, it what will set any advisor apart!

2026-06-18 16:11:08

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