Untamed Escapes has announced it has officially received the Welcome with Pride accreditation, becoming the first Australian tour operator to achieve this significant recognition.
The Welcome with Pride program is designed specifically for the LGBTIQ+ community and highlights tourism businesses committed to creating safe, inclusive, and genuinely welcoming experiences for all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The training is backed by research from over 1,000 LGBTIQ+ travellers and is designed to help tourism operators provide consistently inclusive and high-value experiences.
“I was shocked by some of the statistics shared, such as 60% of LGBTIQ+ travellers hiding their identity while travelling in Australia. We immediately knew we had a responsibility to do better,” Untamed Escapes business development & marketing manager, Anna Heaton, said.
Since then, the Untamed Escapes team has embraced the initiative across the business. Almost the whole team, including management and guides, have completed the training, and the team has made operational changes to embed more inclusive language and practices throughout the guest experience. The training has also been incorporated into the onboarding process for all new team members.
Director Craig “Hassie” Haslam emphasised the importance of the investment. As a company dedicated to showcasing the richness and diversity of Australia, it’s our responsibility to ensure that every traveller feels welcomed and respected. Language and communication matter, and we want everyone to enjoy the experience equally.
Untamed Escapes encourages industry peers to consider the Welcome with Pride training to create a more inclusive and welcoming Australian tourism landscape for domestic and international visitors.
This accreditation is closely aligned with Untamed Escapes’ Roadmap to Regeneration, particularly the pillar of Culture & Inclusion. Inclusivity remains a core value as the company continues to innovate in regenerative and transformative travel.
The Welcome With Pride training and accreditation has been an extremely valuable process,” Heaton added. “It represents our ongoing commitment to inclusion, connection, and authenticity. We want every traveller to be able to escape, connect and be their whole self when they travel with us.”
