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Weddings & Honeymoons market focus
Trade views
Weddings and
honeymoons
play a vital part in our UK
business strategy. Our hotels
have seen a significant
increase in wedding parties this year. By
merging the budgets, the wedding couple
are able to afford a far more glamorous
destination and accommodation than might
otherwise be possible.”
Colin Pegler, managing director,
Resort Marketing International
Most of our
weddings take
place in Kenya and the
average party size is six to 10
people, so it is good business K
uoni
for the trade. South Africa is a good option Traditional favourites such as the Indian Ocean and Caribbean will always be popular with honeymooners
for same-sex blessings.”
Louise Newton, marketing manager, Somak because of the recession, as it offers great popular for honeymoons include Costa Rica,
value and so much variety – you can get Sri Lanka, Borneo and Cuba. “We are noticing
Our split between married on top of Table Mountain, have a growing requests for more off-the-beaten
“expensive” sunrise dune wedding in Namibia, a ceremony track destinations such as Madagascar, China
weddings and “budget” at Victoria Falls or a safari wedding in Kenya.” and Indonesia,” adds Hutchinson.
weddings is now 50-50. For most couples, a honeymoon is the
Prior to the credit squeeze, TRIP OF A LIFETIME holiday they will remember for ever and
it was 70-30.” The traditional favourites of the Caribbean and nothing is going to stop them splashing out.
Mathilde Robert, managing director, Indian Ocean will always be popular with If anything, they can currently take their
Planet Holidays honeymooners. But the trend towards pick of the world’s best hotels, which are
something different is driven by couples who offering more competitive rates during the
Clients are booking see this as the opportunity to make those trips credit crunch. ■
higher-end hotels, they have been longing to do together.
which has boosted average Imaginative Traveller’s marketing manager,
spend by 20%. Guest Heidi Hutchinson, says: “In our experience,
WIN ONE OF FOUR PAIRS OF TICKETS
TO THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW
numbers have fallen slightly, gone are the days of Caribbean beach holidays
To enter, email your answer to this question by the
but our overall bookings have risen by 50%. in an all-inclusive resort, as honeymooners
end of Tuesday, September 29 to klawrey@ttglive.com
New York and Orlando have held up very well these days opt to walk the Great Wall of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s wife is a professional
considering the drop in exchange rates.” China, visit orang-utans in jungles, canoe in
wedding planner. What’s her name?
the Amazon and see some of the sights that
Tickets can be used at Earls Court, London, on
Mark Bell, managing director,
October 2-4, 2009 or at Birmingham NEC, on
White Sand Weddings may not be around for ever.”
October 9-11, depending on your preference.
She says destinations that continue to be
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