Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Feature: Welcome to Mardi Gras 2010 from mardigras on Vimeo.

HotelTravel.com is promoting gay-friendly deals for this year’s Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, which runs from Feb. 19 to March 6. According to HotelTravel.com’s chief marketing officer, Tom Racette, the global travel industry has come a long way with learning how handle the needs of gay travelers.

“In this day and age most major hotel chains have very gay friendly policies,” says Racette. “It’s hard to envisage any city more gay friendly than Sydney. The town wears its queer heart on its sleeve even when not hosting one of the greatest events celebrating the vibrancy of gay and lesbian culture,” he added.

The 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, now in its 32nd year, has been expanded into a two-week series of events with an emphasis on the arts, music and theatre. Besides being big business, the festival, and especially its hallmark parade, has become known as one of the most lively, colorful events in the world.  Sydney residents, including straight people, turn out in huge numbers to support Mardi Gras.