Sally and Mandy Whitewoods are excited about their event being name-dropped by Lonely Planet. Gay Ski Week’s organisers are delighted to have been listed among the reasons New Zealand has been ranked the second most gay-friendly place in the world. Lonely Planet has put New Zealand behind only Copenhagen on the list, pointing to our nation’s inclusive and progressive behaviour toward the LGBTQ community. It says Queenstown’s Gay Ski Week "has become a perennial favourite on the queer calendar," something which has delighted its organisers Sally and Mandy Whitewoods. “I am so excited,” Sally Whitewoods tells GayNZ.com. “This is far more than I could have imagined but obviously very happy about it.” The couple, who are expat Brits, took over the running of Gay Ski Week in 2011. Sally Whitewoods says she'd have loved Lonely Planet to have ranked New Zealand the most gay-friendly place in the world, but says second place is outstanding. “I adore New Zealand and I think all those that visit love it too.” She thinks the Lonely Planet exposure will have an impact on gay tourists coming to New Zealand. “Whether you use it or not, people still need advice on where to go and what to see so I think this will have a direct knock on with tourism in New Zealand.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd October 2014 - 1:21pm