Seattle, Washington - Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is one of the most successful airlines in the United States. A recent study commissioned by Alaska Airlines investigates the importance of the LGBT market for this success.

Here are some of the results presented at last week's Community Marketing & Insight marketing conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

For Alaska Airlines, most LGBT travelers are between 25-45 years old, make more than $100,000 USD a year, are college educated, travel 3-4 times a year, and are active, health-conscious, entertainment seekers.

LGBT travelers spend 33% more than their heterosexual counterpart. They are 13 times likely to take more than 9 trips per year. Gays and lesbians take 4-6 leisure trips per year, compared to 1- 2 trips for the average U.S. traveler.

Alaska Airlines is focusing on it's outbound market from Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego to key destinations including Palm Springs, Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta. Alaska Airlines thinks LGBT travelers are a natural fit to support these key destinations.

6.2% of all travelers from San Francisco are LGBT, 4.8% from Seattle, 4.6% from Los Angeles.

Alaska Airlines states on their LGBT website: "Who you fall in love with is not your choice. How you fly with them is." #Flywithpride Passengers booking on this website were able to get a 10% discount. The reason: "The LGBT community has come so far. Let us fly you the rest of the way."

Another creative advertisement promoting a $199 USD one way air fare to Puerto Vallarta says: "We'd like to be your domestic partner. International, too."

Alaska's integrated approach to attract LGBT travelers is paying off. It included editorial partnerships, event/ community engagement and social media outreach.

Alaska Airlines engaged potential clients in real time. Advertising "equality for every seat" and the "pride discount" was a success.

It did work. After introducing the Gay Travel Page on Alaska Airlines the increase in LGBT business was amazing. Between February 1 through September 30 it was 2096 percent.

When Alaska Airlines offered discounts to Gay Pride, one travelers said: "Aside from the fact that it's always lovely to see a nice gesture of inclusion and support, it's just fun when a business does anything that gives internet cranks the chance to rail about so-called "discrimination for straights" So thanks, Alaska Airlines, for the travel discount - and for the bonus opportunities to chortle at the people on Twitter musing that they "Don't know how long god's patience will continue."

Alaska Airlines stressed: "However, these airfare deals are available to everyone and being gay is not a requirement. Just purchase tickets on the weekend when a Gay Pride occurs."