In March the co-founders of LGBT magazine ManAboutWorld – Billy Kolber and Ed Salvato – flew from the US to conduct a company-wide “sensitivity training” day with Uniworld, as part of a 10-day sales conference.

All onboard crew across the fleet – from the captain and housekeeping staff to the waiters and sales teams all over the globe – were enrolled in the event, where they learnt how to “be aware and sensitive”. It featured a combination of presentations and practical sessions.

Kathryn Beadle, UK managing director of Uniworld, which is currently the only river cruise line to be a member of the The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, told TTG: “We have always been very inclusive and proactive [around LGBT issues] anyway, but we have formalised that now.

“This training was to make sure we not only treat our guests correctly but also that we treat our colleagues right internally.”

She continued: “We are making sure that LGBT sensitivity is all-inclusive in everything that we do. LGBT training has become part of our process; it has always been talked about and evaluated, but it is in our DNA as a business now.”

Beadle added that as well as training, Uniworld takes its content “very seriously” with regards to the LGBT market. She said: “It is not just about the training, it is also about doing things that other companies don’t do. In our photography you will find images and videos of same-sex couples, which is important.

“I was talking to an agent last year and she said we were one of the very few companies that could offer same-sex imagery for their website. Everything we do as a company has an inclusive approach and LGBT sensitivity is in our thoughts at all times now.”