Royal Grand Resorts officially opened its doors in July 2026, entering the hospitality market with a focused purpose: delivering premium resort experiences designed for gay male travelers. The brand offers upscale, welcoming environments that prioritize authenticity, community, and quality without ultra-luxury price points, making elevated gay travel more accessible.
Market Opportunity: A $218 Billion Segment
The global LGBTQ+ travel market was valued at approximately $218 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 15% through 2030, according to Coherent Market Insights and the UNWTO. Gay and bisexual men represent the highest-spending sub-segment, with above-average trip frequency and per-trip spend compared to heterosexual travelers and other LGBTQ+ groups, as reported by Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) in their 2023 Annual LGBTQ+ Tourism & Hospitality Report.
LGBTQ+ travelers take more international trips per year on average than non-LGBTQ+ travelers in the same income bracket, a pattern consistent across CMI's research for over a decade. The United States alone accounts for an estimated $100+ billion in LGBTQ+ travel spending annually, with gay men representing the largest share, based on estimates from the National LGBTQ Task Force and Out Now Global.
Traveler Preferences: Inclusion Is Non-Negotiable
Over 80% of LGBTQ+ travelers say a destination's LGBTQ+-friendliness is a significant factor in their travel decisions, according to a 2021 IGLTA/UNWTO report. Additionally, 72% of LGBTQ+ travelers research a destination's legal protections and social climate before booking, a figure that rises among older and higher-income travelers, per CMI's 2023 report.
Gay travelers strongly prefer destinations and properties with visible, year-round LGBTQ+ inclusion. Properties perceived as engaging only during Pride events are consistently rated lower on trust and loyalty metrics, according to Out Now Global's LGBT2020 Research Programme.
Royal Grand Resorts' Approach
Royal Grand Resorts aims to fill a gap in the market by creating spaces that are authentically inclusive and cater specifically to gay men's preferences for community, quality, and design. The brand's launch is backed by independent research from CMI, IGLTA, Out Now Global, MMGY Global, and UNWTO, all pointing to a large, loyal, underserved, and rapidly evolving market.
Costa Rica emerges as a standout destination that aligns perfectly with what today's gay traveler is seeking, according to the company. The brand plans to expand to other destinations based on traveler demand and market research.
