Panda Travel — one of Hawai'i's oldest and largest travel agencies — has launched www.HawaiiGayTravel.com, a travel-booking site that caters to the gay and lesbian community.

The site offers hotel and activity packages, airfare and other travel services as well as a long list of travel tools, officials said.

"We developed this site in collaboration with travel agents, product managers and editors from within the gay and lesbian community," said Michael Person, director of online marketing for Panda Travel Inc.

"The content and offerings on the site are in sync with the feedback and input we got from those expert advisers," he said. "We have extensively researched the packages and attractions featured on the site to be sure we are offering the best, most reliable information for the gay and lesbian community."

Person said the site is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association and offers customers the experience of Panda's Hawai'i-based travel agents.

On www.HawaiiGayTravel.com, customers also have access to a Hawai'i travel blog where they can learn about insider tips, hotel deals, community attractions and activities.

Panda Travel was founded in 1978, when Pan Tours Hawaii began wholesaling tickets to various agencies throughout the state. In 1981, the company's retail outlet was created.

The company has grown to four retail agencies, a staff of 120 employees and ticketing for more than a million passengers a year.