16-17 Q & A 19/9/08 14:45 Page 17
What’s hot in the weddings & honeymoon market? Three
romance experts give us an insight into the latest trends
TWO-CENTRE TRIPS CYPRUS IS KING MEXICAN MAGIC
JONATHAN MATHILDE JOANNE
BELLAMY ROBERT DEWHURST
Regional sales managing wedding
manager, ITC director, Planet co-ordinator,
Classics Holidays Cosmos Holidays
Q
Which are the most popular
destinations, and why? Q
Which are the most popular
destinations? Q
Which are the most popular
destinations?
A
The Indian Ocean is a firm
favourite. Our top sellers are The A
We have expanded into Gozo
and Mauritius, but Cyprus and A
Long-haul, Mexico is very popular
after we reintroduced Mexican
Residence in Mauritius and Taj Exotica Greece continue to perform well for weddings for 2008/09 – the Moon
Resort & Spa in the Maldives. weddings. Rhodes and Santorini are Palace is especially popular and we
good, and Cyprus is popular as the intend to expand the programme. For
Q
Which destinations and type paperwork and formalities are in short-haul, Cyprus is very good value
of wedding & honeymoon English. It also has biggest choice of for money and it’s popular with couples
packages are becoming popular? luxury hotels with wedding venues. travelling with guests. We have just
A
Two-centre holidays – it makes introduced several more resorts, includ-
perfect sense to break a long
journey with a stopover. Clients may Q
What type of packages ing vow renewals in the Maldives.
are becoming popular?
even wish to spend a whole week at
each destination for a complete holiday A
We are using more yachts – not
just for wedding venues but Q
What are the main challenges
facing the market?
of contrasts. Popular combinations also for stunning receptions, with
include the Maldives and Dubai, South dancing under a canopy of stars. A
Some couples use independent
wedding companies where cus-
Africa and Mauritius, or Caribbean tomers can book online or direct with
twin-centres such as Barbados and
the Grenadines. Q
What challenges are hotels. But they do not have a specialist
facing the market ? UK based weddings department with
Q
What tips can you give to A
Prices are going up – hotels expertise in the legal requirements and
have started to charge for more paperwork for individual destinations.
agents who are not familiar facilities that in the past they were
with selling W&H packages? happy to provide free. They are also
A
Research the romance market and asking for non-refundable deposits. Q
What tips can you give agents
unfamiliar with selling that
what packages hotels offer. Our type of package?
romance brochure includes unique sell-
ing points for the resorts. Our in-house Q
What tips would you give
agents who do not sell A
Check the legal requirements and
that there is adequate time to
concierge team arrange the finer points many weddings? arrange the wedding, and if any extras
of romantic holidays – working with the will need to be paid by the customers in
hotels to arrange weddings, romantic A
Ask the clients to describe their
perfect day in as much detail as resort. There are many details that need
private dining experiences and other lit- possible, then let us know and we to be checked beforehand. They need
tle details. Agents also need to become will organise it. The more informa- detailed wedding and hotel product
more pro-active – attend local wedding tion they can get, the better! knowledge, and a good awareness of
fairs and create partnerships with local facilities and activities at hotels.
florists and wedding dress companies.
Q
What training do you offer to
improve agents’ knowledge?
Q
What training do you offer to Q
What training do you offer to
improve agents’ knowledge?
improve agents’ knowledge? A
We provide a brochure that is a
sales manual, and we talk to all
A
We take our preferred hotel part- agents for as long as they need. Don’t A
We recently ran fam trips to
popular wedding destinations such
ners out to meet and train agents risk booking a wedding over the as Florida, Cancun and Kenya. Bookings
on destinations and products. This internet – you don’t know what will to Kenya are returning to normal after
allows agents to ask them questions. happen when they get there. the recent political difficulties.
hotels have started to charge for more facilities
that in the past would have been provided free
17
TTG Knowledge WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS September 2008
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