Angus Praught

Angus Praught, a well-known public business figure in Vancouver, has been actively promoting the Vancouver region and Canada, as gay-friendly travel destinations on the world stage since 1996. In November 1999, Praught registered the URL www.gayvan.com online and in January 2003, launched Gayvan.com Travel Marketing. Gayvan.com offers an LGBT-specific interactive web portal, hotel booking engine, annual print and digital publications, as well as event production and consulting services.

In addition to serving two full two-year terms on the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) Board of Directors, Praught served five years on the Vancouver GLBA Board of Directors. He also partnered in a Vancouver gay hotel and bar, the Royal Hotel, from 1998 – 2001, and was the organizing chairperson for both the February 2000 IGLTA Vancouver Symposium and the May 2004 IGLTA Vancouver Convention. With over 25 years experience in the hospitality and travel industry on senior management levels, he has been a long standing member of regional and international tourism organizations and works closely with Tourism Vancouver as a marketing liaison for the LGBT travel segment. Praught also represents the destination on behalf of Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Tourism Region, at various LGBT-focused events in the USA.

Recipient of Xtra West’s HERO Community Achievement Awards as Business Citizen of the Year, in both the 2002 and 2004, Praught is also the recipient of the Tourism Industry Leadership Award at the Travel Gay Canada conference in October 2012.