p16 columnist Apr17 15/4/09 14:46 Page 16
news comment
ttglive.com
Amanda Wills Virgin Holidays
“Travellers are saying ‘I do’
– add the weddings and
honeymoons market to those
areas still holding their own”
A
s the economy stalls, booking it’s a blessing (can’t help myself sometimes) to
windows emerge and the relentless the happy couple too. Weddingmoons are
“economic predictor” consumer cheaper: a standard wedding package on one
press frankly does nothing to aid a of the Caribbean Islands including ceremony,
positive mindset, I’m pleased to report that registrar fees, marriage licence and certificate,
romance at least isn’t dead. a wedding co-ordinator, decorated venue and a
As four very special boys from my home city bottle of bubbly can cost as little as £400.
once said, “Money can’t buy me love” – and Sometimes these kinds of packages are
travellers, it seems, are saying a credit-crunch thrown in if the couple stay more than 10
defying “I do”. Yes, add the weddings and nights, which considering it’s a wedding and a
honeymoons market to those areas still honeymoon isn’t a great leap, is it?
holding their own. Compare this to the standard £375 fee
It makes sense: all that belt-tightening at Chelsea registry office, just to enter
and staying in provides the setting for a the building, throw a bit of confetti and
return to the cost-free values of family, take your chances with the weather. A
friends and… lurve. no-brainer really.
At the same time, market intelligence Research specialist Mintel thinks so
sources are confirming that the two- too: “Going forward, weddings abroad,
week break remains top of spending often being cheaper than their UK equiv-
intentions. Why wouldn’t you then alents, will see growth hold up, albeit at
incorporate a big event and take it a slower rate than originally predicted.”
on location? And customers are As a market leader in the Caribbean
doing just that; here at Virgin with a stand-alone weddings brochure,
Holidays we call it the rise of we’ve certainly seen this trend.
the “weddingmoon”. I’ve just returned from Barbados,
Weddings abroad bring back attending guess what? A wedding. For
the possibility of a longer booking guests it was a chance to toast the
window – when we get married, we set a happy couple, catch up with old friends in
date. Yes, the loved-up brigade are stalwarts warm climes and squeeze in a good-value
of that endangered species, the early booker. Caribbean break all at the same time.
There’s a necessity to pre-book, giving those Bring on the overseas wedding, business
invited ample notice that vows will be booster for us all during lean times. I’d
exchanged on a beach. All aisles (sorry) lead like to say “I do” to this trend.
to an advance, high-spend group booking.
Romance being alive and well is the bone Amanda Wills is managing director
thrown to the industry during tough times, and of Virgin Holidays
16 17.04.2009
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