The Slow Rise of the Gay Hotel Chain

At last count over 20 major mainstream hotel chain are now enticing gay travelers through marketing efforts.

Man Around Town, the largest gay hotelier in the world, has Club Tucanes, the largest selection of the accommodations for the gay community of Canaria. It's surrounded by gay bars, gay-owned restaurants, and islands catering to this part of the population.

Resort facilities include the only exclusively gay and lesbian complex located directly opposite the Yumbo Centre Club Tucanes Playa del Ingles offers spacious accommodations set in landscaped gardens

And formerly known as Los Robles & Beach Boy Bungalows, the complex that is now called Club Tucanes Maspalomas has a well-established history on the gay scene in Gran Canaria.

The resort's 21 bungalows lead away from either side of the pool so you're never too far away from the buffet.

To book any of these resorts, access manaround.com on the web.

Big Ruby's, the second largest gay hotelier in the world in Key West, FL, boasts a full free breakfast, free local calls, heated pools, hot tub, and fitness center.

There are even lesbian hotels outside the U.S.

Voted Best B & B in 2002 by a magazine, lesbian owned and run Lake District Hotel in Windermere (Southview) offers luxury refinements and is "straight friendly." For more information, email southviewhotel@aol.com.

The Georgian House Saxmundham allows you to explore Suffolk and its Heritage Coastline from their Grade II listed guesthouse. Address is 6 South Entrance, Saxmundham, IP17, 1AY, Suffolk.

The Knoll near Newby Bridge, is an award-winning five diamond rated hotel in a Victorian country house set in its own grounds and surrounded by wooded countryside at the southern tip of Lake Windermere. Telephone number is 015395 31347.

They were featured in the Which? Guide to Good B & B's and were chosen for the ‘Editors' Top 20 List' in the 2004 Guide. It is a non-smoking hotel with superb food.

The house has eight large ensuite bedrooms which have all been recently refurbished with new furniture. The dining room has an original cast iron fireplace.