by Paul Heney
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Wed October 24, 2018
Santa Fe features the fifth most same-sex-couple households in the country, but it hasn't found its way onto some queer travelers' must-visit lists as of yet.
We recently spoke with Joanne Hudson, Public Relations Manager for TOURISM Santa Fe, about the dynamic Southwestern city's appeal to the LGBTQ market, and what queer travelers can expect to find upon visiting.
TP: How important is the LGBTQ traveler segment to TOURISM Santa Fe? How do you actively market to these travelers?
JH: The LGBTQ traveler segment is an important component of the mix of visitors we seek to have traveling to Santa Fe. We find that Santa Fe has high appeal among the culturally curious and intellectually inquisitive travelers who are looking for a mix of history, cuisine and creative stimulation.
Many of the LGBTQ travelers fit this description and our paid marketing efforts are designed to appeal more to this psychographic than any traditional demographic-based group. The majority of our efforts that actively promote Santa Fe to LGBTQ travelers are in earned media and owned media efforts.
TP: What specific attractions in and around Santa Fe are particular draws to queer travelers?
JH: The art, cultural and design-focused attractions like Meow Wolf's House of Eternal Return, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Art and the city's 250 art galleries, specifically those on Canyon Road would be of particular draw to many queer travelers. The extraordinary culinary offerings including traditional New Mexican cuisine, Santa Fe Margarita Trail, Santa Fe School of Cooking, and the fine dining found sprinkled downtown and along Canyon Road would also be a major draw.
TP: Santa Fe is one of the U.S. cities with the highest percentage of same-sex-couple households. What do you attribute that to?
JH: In Santa Fe, there is a spirit of inclusion and the whole community seems to let residents be free to be themselves. Also, there is a long history of Santa Fe being a place that was accepting of artists and eccentrics who could live here and have the freedom to be themselves. More recently, Santa Fe had an openly gay Mayor for four years, 2014-2018, and currently a Lesbian Mayor Pro Tem.
TP: Are there specific events in the next year that you'd encourage queer travelers to put on their calendar, as good times to visit Santa Fe?
JH: For those interested in connecting with the western heritage of the southwest, the New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association hosts the Zia Regional Rodeo in Santa Fe each August. There is a Pride on the Plaza event in June each summer. The Summer series of markets and festivals in Santa Fe would also be great events for LGBTQ travelers.
Specifically, the International Folk Art Market in July (7/12-14/19) and the SWAIA Indian Market in August (8/17-18/19). Another great event and time of year to visit Santa Fe is the last week of September for the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta.
TP: If a queer traveler had only 24 hours to spend in your city, what itinerary would you put together for them?
JH: Start with breakfast at Café Pasqual and then a visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Next, walk over to the Santa Fe Plaza and either visit the New Mexico Museum of Art or a landmark like the Loretto Chapel or the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. If there is time before you are hungry for chile again, shop for Native American treasures under the portal at the Palace of the Governors.
Grab lunch at The Shed or La Choza and then head down to Meow Wolf. For the art buyers, they will want to push on and catch a few galleries in the Railyard district to purchase contemporary art, before they close at 5 p.m.
Next, head for happy hour margaritas on the rooftop at La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel's Bell Tower Bar (don't forget to get a stamp in your Santa Fe Margarita Trail passport) and then wander along Canyon Road taking in the sculpture gardens and galleries before a decadent dinner at The Compound or Geronimo.
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