16-17 Q & A 19/9/08 14:44 Page 16
In-depth Knowledge
Double booking: Sonia
Benn sees the rise of
the weddingmoon
Q
Which are the most popular “Weddingmoons” are
destinations at the moment? becoming more popular
– more clients are marrying
A
Our most popular wedding abroad and travelling to
destinations are the Caribbean a second destination to
islands of Barbados, St Lucia celebrate their honeymoon.
and Antigua, followed by Jamaica. This way they can qualify for
Florida and Las Vegas are also very honeymoon offers at their
popular and the Indian Ocean islands second hotel – these can
of Mauritius and Sri Lanka are include upgrades or discounts
up-and-coming hot spots. up to £1,000 per week for the
bride. South Africa/Mauritius
Q
Which accommodation and Sri Lanka/Maldives are
options are favourite popular combinations for
choices for your clients? weddingmoons.
A
Our customers often prefer to
book established hotel resorts
that have an excellent reputa-
tion and are known in the UK market
Q
What new products
are you launching?
for weddings. Some hotels cater for
exclusive adult-only ceremonies,
whereas larger child-friendly resorts
A
We’ve introduced 31
new venues in our
2009 weddings
are perfect for lavish family affairs. brochure, and five new
Popular hotel groups include Sandals destinations: Costa Rica,
and Beaches Resorts, Almond Resorts in the Cook Islands,
Barbados and St Lucia, Elegant Resorts, Zanzibar, Tortola and
Rendevous and Jolly Beach Resort. the Grenadines.
Florida offers a vast range of wedding We have also
venues including colonial mansions, increased the range of
intimate chapels and theme parks. It’s same-sex commitment
an affordable, convenient destination. ceremonies. As well as
same-sex ceremonies in
Q
What type of packages are New York and Miami,
increasingly popular? we offer Disney’s Fairy
Tale Commitment
Q
&
A
As more and more weddings Ceremonies in Orlando and
are second or subsequent same-sex weddings in Canada
weddings, we’re finding people – both new for 2009.
are looking for something different to A
the traditional white wedding. In
addition to more traditional venues,
we offer botanical gardens and spice
Q
What training are you
offering to agents to
improve their knowledge?
plantations, ranches, historic sites
including old colonial buildings, hot air
balloons and catamaran ceremonies,
A
Virgin Holidays launched a Sonia Benn is product
new V Learning agent training
programme in August 2007,
manager for Virgin
weddings with elephants and locations with modules designed to be both agent Holidays Weddings
at game reserves and ranches. and customer facing – so the agent can
Popular locations include the Grand use the modules with customers as a
Canyon, Niagara Falls, Table Mountain selling tool. The “best for” page is
and Sydney Opera House, and New extremely useful for recommending
York landmarks such as Grand Central certain hotels to customers with specific
Station and Brooklyn Bridge. holiday needs. www.vhols4agents.com
16
TTG Knowledge WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS September 2008
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43