Fred Dixon
President and CEO, NYC & Company

The GayCities Innovator of the Year Award goes to Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, for his work welcoming visitors in 2019 to New York City to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Dixon built off the anniversary by bringing the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association convention and World Pride to NYC in 2019. World Pride promises to be the largest worldwide gathering of its kind in history in the birthplace of the equality movement. Dixon is being honored for bringing the community together for a united display of diversity at a time when our community needs it most.

A note from Fred Dixon: "I am deeply humbled to receive the GayCities Innovator award. We invite the world to New York City in 2019 for the "Year of Pride." Next year, our City will host WorldPride—the first time the big event will be held in the United States—to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in our history. New York City welcomes you. Always."