Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico - One of the world’s leading airlines has chosen to get on board with Latin America’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) travel business conference and consumer expo event for the second year running.

The International LGBT Business Expo lgbtbusinessexpo.com is the annual flagship event from Latin America’s leading LGBT specialist conference and exhibitions company – LGBT Confex - and is the region’s leading business event focused on connecting business with LGBT consumers.

The event has garnered the support of many leading brands and organizations, including American Express, IBM, Out & Equal, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tourism Thailand, Guadalajara OVC, Jalisco Secretariat of Tourism, Mexico Tourism Board, and Out Now Global.

The American Airlines sponsorship represents the second year of support from the airline for the LGBT Confex conference. George Carrancho, Manager of Diverse Segment Marketing for American Airlines will also present a conference workshop on the continuing growth of global LGBT tourism. He will describe American Airlines long history and commitment to global diversity, and its record serving the LGBT marketplace. The International LGBT Business Expo includes four key platforms for exhibitors and delegates - tourism, diversity, entrepreneurship, and technology.

"American Airlines is committed to meeting the needs of all our customers," Carrancho says. "We are proud to be recognized as the only airline, and only a handful of corporations that have earned a perfect 100 percent score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index every year. Our commitment to equality and fairness is second to none when serving our customers too, and we are delighted to again support LGBT Confex and the International LGBT Business Expo."

Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, said he is looking forward to working with American Airlines to build on their already successful partnership.

"We work very hard with all our sponsors and partners to help them better understand and meet the needs of LGBT people as customers and as employees," Sandoval says. "American Airlines is an ideal fit with our organization’s ethos as they so clearly share a commitment to connecting with LGBT people in ways that support the community and helps their business. It is a win-win that LGBT Confex is delighted to be able to facilitate."

With Latin America and the Caribbean accounting for almost 1 in every 5 American Airlines flights, the decision to support LGBT Confex can be seen as both socially responsible and economically smart.

The latest market data from the world’s largest LGBT market research program - the "Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study" reveal that the global air travel market is big business. The research shows that the top 17 global markets will account for a total of $181 billion in LGBT tourism spend during 2013. Mexico’s LGBT travelers account for $9.2 billion of that total. The LGBT2020 study also shows that a significant number of the most popular destinations for LGBT travel are in the Latin America region - including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mexico City, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta all figuring strongly in LGBT people’s travel plans for 2013.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now noted that it was economically savvy of American Airlines to align itself with the LGBT market.

"Latin America is home to two of the fastest growing LGBT markets - Brazil and Mexico," Johnson says. "To support the leading LGBT event in the region is a really smart business move. LGBT customers are some of the most sought-after travelers in the world. With a preponderance of double-income, no-kids households - and with more countries and states recognizing gay relationships, the opportunities for an airline with the extensive reach of American means their sponsorship of LGBT Confex is on the right side of business as well as being on the right side of history."

LGBT Confex presents their annual flagship event - the 3rd International LGBT Business Expo - over three days from September 5th - 7th, 2013 in Guadalajara, Mexico.