The Marketplace was introduced to the day’s agenda following feedback from delegates at previous TTG LGBT conferences who requested more time to network with companies targeting the LGBT market.

It will feature up to 10 suppliers, who will also sponsor the first Travel Pride, which will follow the conference. Both events will take place at The Roof Gardens in Kensington, London on July 3.

Kuoni’s head of communications Rachel O’Reilly said: “We’ve been really impressed with how TTG has driven the conversation around LGBT issues and we wanted to give this event our full support.

“We’ve found previous TTG LGBT events to be inspiring and were central to us creating our own direction to support LGBT travellers, so we are looking forward to this year’s event. Extending the conference to include Travel Pride sounds like a great idea and an opportunity to bring an element of fun and festivities to the occasion.”

A Jet2holidays spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be attending.

The conference has grown in strength year-on-year and we look forward to taking part in this event, which really leads the way in encouraging diversity and inclusion in our industry.”

Jan Kemmerling, deputy director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, added: “Illinois is delighted to be a sponsor of the inaugural Travel Pride event in July. We are very committed to the LGBT market with a comprehensive, international advertising campaign that includes TV, print and digital.

“In May we will host a fam to the state for LGBT media from the UK and German markets and our sponsorship of Travel Pride will allow us to engage directly with the travel LGBT market.”