I counted John Tanzella among my friends since his move to #PalmSprings prior to the IGLTA 2025 conference. Clark Massad put it best: We never know what lies ahead and we should savor every moment.
Those of us fortunate to be in the travel trade are a lucky bunch. We get to travel, taste and experience other cultures as well as discover our own. It’s not lost on me that it’s a gift to be working in LGBTQ+ media and having the opportunity to work with this great group of people.
John’s loss will remain with us; the organization will persevere. And John’s impact will be a lasting legacy.
Here’s the statement from IGLTA Board Chair Meg Ten Eyck:
We are deeply saddened to share the news that our President/CEO John Tanzella passed away yesterday after an extended illness. For 20 years, John led IGLTA with compassion, vision, and enormous heart.
His unwavering commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ travel steered IGLTA to become the well-respected international organization that you are part of today; his generosity of spirit was the key driver in creating our philanthropic IGLTA Foundation.
At IGLTA, we often refer to our global community as family, and John truly made that a reality. He built a deeply connected team that has been leading the association alongside a passionate board of directors during his absence. We will ensure that the association he loved so much continues to grow and thrive.
IGLTA VP-Finance Tony Warner (he/him), who has overseen the association’s finances for 16 years, will move into the position of Interim CEO to keep the organization on its successful path.
We are grateful that you are part of our network, and we are here for you today and every day. Now more than ever, we need to remain united in our dedication to making the world more welcoming for everyone.
For those wishing to make a donation in his memory, we kindly request that you contribute to the IGLTA Foundation, where we are establishing a John Tanzella Fellowship Fund in his honor. He was so proud of helping LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in emerging destinations on their journey to leadership.