Olivia Travel is a travel company that sells cruises and resort vacations marketed towards lesbian customers.[1] It was founded by Judy Dlugacz in 1973 as a women's record label, Olivia Records. It offered its first all-woman cruise in 1990 and remains the only company in the world offering cruises catering just to lesbians. Like its parent company, Olivia takes its name from the heroine of a pulp novel by Dorothy Bussy who fell in love with her headmistress at a French boarding school.
 | |
| Company type | Travel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Judy Dlugacz |
| Headquarters | , |
| Revenue | $25 million (2007) |
| Website | www.olivia.com |
Endorsement
editThe company has attracted attention due to endorsements from lesbian celebrities, such as golfer Rosie Jones (who was the first professional athlete in America to endorse a gay-oriented company)[2] tennis player Martina Navratilova and basketball player Sheryl Swoopes. Entertainers who have performed on Olivia cruises include the Indigo Girls and Margaret Cho.[3]
The company was involved in mild controversy in 1998 when its attempt to buy an ad on the sitcom Ellen's anticipated "coming out" episode was rejected by ABC.[4]
See also
edit- Gay marketing
- List of gay resort areas
- R Family Vacations for LGBT families.
- Racquet Club of Palm Springs – a defunct tennis club now owned by Olivia Communities
References
edit- ^ "Meet the Most Popular Travel Company You Probably Didn't Know Existed". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- ^ Whitley, David (2004-03-24). "Jones' endorsement could further national debate on gay issues". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ Saracevic, Alan T. (2005-10-30). "Swoopes' revelation pays off". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "Ad declined for Ellen". Kentucky New Era. 1997-04-11.
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