To help position the territory as a premier wedding destination and boost bookings in the lucrative nuptial travel segment, the Tourism Department is hosting a four-day bridal symposium which started Tuesday and wraps up Friday.
“The weddings and honeymoon market is big business for the USVI and has great growth potential as the trend for destination weddings continues to rise,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty in a press release issued Thursday.
“We are thrilled to host this symposium and showcase our diverse product while providing the opportunity for local wedding professionals to connect with industry suppliers and influencers,” she said.
Following a welcome reception and property tour hosted by the Ritz Carlton-St. Thomas on Tuesday, Doty opened the conference Wednesday at Sugar Bay Resort & Spa with a preview of the destination’s soon-to-be-released promotional weddings video.
Addressing the group of more than 60 visiting journalists, wedding experts, travel agents specializing in destination weddings as well as local wedding industry professionals, Doty highlighted what makes the territory the ideal destination for weddings and honeymoons.
The Wednesday seminars were moderated by celebrity television host Mar Jennings. The seminars included Top Trends That Are Revolutionizing the Wedding Business, presented by former Bride’s Magazine executive Millie Martini Bratten, Wedding Planning Secrets presented by celebrity wedding planner Samantha Goldberg, and Bridal Market Overview presented by Jacqueline Johnson of Global Bridal Group and MarryCaribbean.com.
At the conclusion of the seminars, those attending met with local wedding planners, photographers, tour operators and hoteliers at a mini-trade show set up in an adjacent meeting room. Tourism also organized an afternoon island tour with stops at popular wedding venues, beaches, botanical gardens, houses of worship and hotels.
Thursday’s activities included site inspections on St. John and seminars on Getting the Most out of Bridal Shows presented by Julia and Richard Markel of The Association of Wedding Professionals International; Emily’s Post Wedding Etiquette presented by Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute; Making a Destination Wedding a Seamless Event presented by Brenda O’Neale, founder and president of With This Ring Destination Weddings and Travel Agency; and Releasing Your Brilliance, presented by renowned motivational speaker Simon T. Bailey.
Additionally potential brides and grooms will learn about the territory as a result of anticipated media coverage provided by visiting media from Kentucky Bride, 201 Brides, Weddings by Socialites blog and Elizabeth Anne Designs Blog.
Those who attended agreed participating in the symposium has been beneficial.
“The USVI Bridal Symposium has been by far one of the best educational experiences for travel consultants in the destination weddings and honeymoon market,” said Cheryl Jones of Lez Go Travel in Atlanta.
A second Bridal Symposium is planned for St. Croix in 2014.
