2017 Winners

And the winners of 2017’s “Best of GayCities” awards are…

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The 2017 Best of GayCities awards received more than 48,000 votes this year, deciding your favorite travel destinations, social media travelers, bars/clubs, and travel icons. With so many fabulous destinations and social media content creators around the world, the competition was stiff.

In early November, we announced the more than 60 nominees during a special reception hosted in downtown San Francisco. Over 150 VIP attendees gathered to celebrate and honor the 2017 Travel Innovator Award presented to Joe D’Alessandro, CEO of San Francisco Travel, for his leadership and commitment to welcoming LGBTQ travelers to San Francisco from across the globe.

“We are thrilled and honored with this recognition,” D’Alessandro remarked, “It clearly demonstrates that San Francisco continues to be a preferred destination for LGBTQ travelers.”

San Francisco was honored as the Most Welcoming City, the Nomadic Boys took home the Travel Instagrammer award, and the (often-shirtless) Davey Wavey took home the Gold for Travel YouTuber.

“I’m thrilled to accept the 2017 Best of GayCities ‘Travel YouTuber’ Award!” Davey Wavey said upon learning of his win. “It feels silly being honored for doing something that you love doing, but I’m grateful for everyone who has been a part of this journey.”

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Davey Wavey at the 2016 “Best of GayCities” awards reception in Las Vegas.

Scott Gatz, CEO of Q.Digital (which manages GayCities), attributes the contributions of GayCities readers as that reason that GayCities has become “the number one LGBTQ site and mobile app to discover where to go and what to see all over the world.” Gatz also added that “it’s only fitting that our members picked such spectacular destinations for this year’s winners.”

New Orleans was named most popular Festival Destination. Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, the city’s leisure travel promotion organization, commented, “Mardi Gras remains the most authentic of New Orleans’ 137 annual festivals and always delivers a visit packed with memorable moments filled with passion and excitement.”

The 13 categories recognize nominees with Gold, Silver, and Bronze honors. See the complete list of the Best of 2017 winners below.

Most Welcoming City — San Francisco

City That Makes You Happy — Key West

Travel Instagrammer — Nomadic Boys (@nomadicboys)

Foodie Paradise — San Francisco

Fun in the Sun — Provincetown

Bar/Club — Eagle Bar (San Francisco)

Travel YouTuber — Davey Wavey

Hotel Experience — Axel Hotel (Barcelona)

Singles Scene  Fort Lauderdale

Romantic Getaway — Paris

Festival Destination — Mardi Gras (New Orleans)

Best Gayborhood (tie) — Boystown (Chicago) & West Hollywood

Inaugural “GayCities Icon” Armistead Maupin (Author)

GayCities Travel Innovator Award — Joe D’Alessandro (CEO, San Francisco Travel)

For more information on the awards and nominees, please visit: https://www.gaycities.com/best-of-2017

 

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