From an urban resort in New York City with a 5,000 square feet spa, to a rooftop pool and bar in Barcelona or an unbeatable location between the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest in Australia, the world of gay and gay-friendly hotels and accommodation offers far more than you may realize.

From retail to real estate, today's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers are in the unique position where flexing their spending power means they can help encourage companies to become gay-friendly and even have the power to help some firms stay in business. Or not.

While some genuinely support the LGBT community, more businesses are understanding that investment translates to serious influence.

Cue the courting of the LGBT consumer.

While it's sweet that 'straight' hotels are making the effort to look after their gay guests, many still remain woefully clueless on what really makes a queer traveller tick.

Thankfully, now you can bed down in accomodation where the staff will not only point you to the nearest gay club, but also know Madonna's back catalogue better than the Material Girl herself.

With over 600 members, the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in the Miami-Dade region is one of the few commercial LGBT organizations of its kind in the US.

Steve Adkins has been CEO and president since 2005, successfully steering the growth of the Chamber to become one of the leading business and tourism advocates in South Florida.

Originally from San Diego, Adkins moved to Miami in 1999 and now sees it as his adopted home.

A gay Olympic sports event is reaching out to LGBT youth in London as part of its week-long festivities in the UK capital.

As well as holding a youth day on Tuesday (7 August), Pride House is inviting groups for gay youngsters to take part in a ten-pin bowling event and a workshop on the theme of their vision for themselves and society by the Olympics in 2018.

Mark Delacour of the LGBT Consortium has been involved in the current Pride House scheme for several months.

While World Pride in London may not be what everyone was hoping for, Toronto means business.

According to organizers, Pride Toronto has been planning their World Pride festival for four years - taking place in 2014.

Canadian stars Corey Hart and Deborah Cox will perform on London’s stage this Saturday (7 July) to officially preview the event.

Pride Toronto co-chair Luke Amona said: ‘What better way for Pride Toronto to show its Canadian support than with these two incredible Canadian superstars.’

Pride London bosses have told marchers joining World Pride’s procession through the streets of the British capital that, while they aren’t allowed cars, busses, or floats, they can use shopping trolleys.

Bikes, roller skates and non-motorized scooters are also permitted.

Just last week event bosses had to scale back the parade on 7 July, banning floats, cars and busses after a cash-flow crisis left them unable to afford full safety and crowd-control measures.

Pride London bosses have confirmed they have axed the cars and floats from the World Pride parade on 7 July.

The event will now be a ‘procession’ they say with ‘walking groups only’ and will start earlier at 11am due to the organizers 'cash crisis'.

The decision comes after an emergency all-agency meeting at City Hall.

More than 4.5 million revellers are due to descend on Sao Paulo for the Brazilian megacity's annual gay pride celebrations.

The city, which was voted one of the world's most LGBT friendly destinations in a Gaycities.com poll, ahead of London and Madrid, will host its 16th pride event between 7 June and 11 June.

The march, which will travel two and a half miles down the central Avenida Paulista, promises a carnival of colors, music and dance.