Purple Roofs was an LGBTQ+ travel directory launched in 1998 to help travelers find welcoming places and services that understood the concerns of LGBTQ+ visitors. At its height, the site listed more than 5,000 accommodations, travel agents, and tour operators across over 50 countries, connecting travelers with businesses and organizations serving the community. The directory’s founders described it as a project built to make it easier for LGBTQ+ people to discover friendly places to stay and plan travel with greater confidence.

Purple Roofs worked with listed clients and welcomed visitors for many years, becoming one of the leading queer travel directories of its time. The founders ultimately decided to close the site after changes by major internet companies made it increasingly difficult to attract visitors and direct traffic to listed businesses. They said those companies displayed website information without compensation and no longer sent visitors through to Purple Roofs.

Although the directory has shut down, its history reflects an effort to support inclusive travel and community-focused businesses