Latest research from Mintel finds a strong propensity to multiple holiday taking among gay consumers. Contrary to popular belief the beach/resort is no more appealing to the gay consumer than any other holiday maker. Concern over discrimination means that the majority of gay people will avoid countries known to be homophobic. Nevertheless, almost a quarter of gay people are not concerned about gay issues while travelling, while just 3% had booked a gay specific holiday. Exclusive research reveals considerably more holiday-taking amongst gay consumers compared with the national average. Some 72% of gay people (based on a sample of 933 adults at the London Mardi Gras) have taken a holiday lasting a week or longer within the previous year (amounting to an estimated 2.7 million holidays per year), compared with 61% of all adults. Gay consumers are not only more inclined towards a higher than average rate of multiple holiday-taking, but as many as 23% had taken at least two holidays, compared with 19% of all adults. More notable however, is the number of gay and bisexual respondents who have taken three or more holidays, amounting to almost a quarter of respondents, compared with 11% of all adults. The beach/resort-type holiday is the main stay of the holiday industry, and the gay market is no different in this respect. However, despite the prevalence of beach/resort holidays in gay-specific resorts, these holidays hold no greater pull to the gay consumer than other holiday makers. Indeed, a quarter of gay consumers had been on a beach/resort holiday last year, this is actually less than the average 29% of all adults. By contrast, city breaks were taken by 23% of gay consumers - much higher than the average 9% of all adults. Some 16% of gay people had encountered some form of discrimination in a hotel or guest-house. This rose to a fifth of lesbian and bisexual women. Those aged between 30 and 44 were most likely to have experienced some form of discrimination - this increased to almost a quarter of 30-34 year olds. Over two-thirds of gay or bisexual men and 70% of gay/bisexual women will not go to a country or resort which is known to be homophobic. According to Jackie Robson, Leisure Consultant, "There are a number of resorts and countries, which have a known record of homophobia which the industry needs to be aware of, thus avoiding possible situations of embarrassment or even danger for gay clients." Gay friendly companies and hotels are important to respondents, but not essential. Around 40% of gay respondents agreed that they were more inclined to book with a gay-friendly travel company, with those respondents over the age of 35 showing the strongest agreement with the statement. Again, the strongest agreement with the statement about the importance of staying in a gay friendly hotel comes from older respondents, an average of 43% of respondents agreed that it was important to stay in a gay friendly hotel. In fact some 22% of gay respondents said they were not concerned with gay issues when travelling. "Gay holiday makers will travel anyway, but they do represent a relatively untapped market. Travel companies showing some form of affinity to this market are much more likely to earn loyalty and thus earn repeat bookings" added Jackie Robson.