In a session titled Traditions, Trends
& New Inspirations for Destination Weddings, industry
experts gathered to discuss the state of the industry and why
Puerto Rico provides the ideal
getaway for a destination wedding and honeymoon.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico,
Dec. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/
-- Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin
America recently partnered with Wish Upon a Wedding, a
non-profit organization that grants weddings and vow renewals to
couples facing serious illness or life-altering health
circumstances, to bring together top meeting and event experts to
discuss the future of the industry. Combined with an immersive
itinerary exploring the diverse destination wedding offerings of
Marriott International's portfolio in Puerto Rico, the group came together in the
newly renovated ballroom at the San Juan Marriott Resort &
Stellaris Casino. In a panel discussion titled
Traditions, Trends & New Inspirations for Destination
Weddings, these experts uncovered new trends guiding the
industry and shared insights into destination weddings and why an
island like Puerto Rico will be
especially popular in the year ahead.
The panel was moderated by Maya
Jain, Founder of Tyrian Purple Consulting and Wish
Upon a Wedding NY Committee Chair, and included
Tara Consolati, Founder of
Tara Consolati Events and Wish Upon a Wedding NY
Committee Treasurer; Marina
Luri-Clark, Founder of Marina Luri Events;
Courtney Armbrust, Founder of
Meridian Events; Joy Locke,
Founder of LOCKE Projects; Ana
Agosto, owner of Puerto Rican wedding and event
coordination company Ana Agosto Events and Glenmarie
Perez, Social Sales Manager at San Juan Marriott Resort &
Stellaris Casino. Among the key findings were:
Destination Weddings – 25% of a
Billion-Dollar Industry
The global destination wedding market is growing exponentially,
expected to increase from $21.43
billion in 2022 to $64.01
billion by 2026. A full one in four US couples are now
opting for this type of celebration in a trend that shows no sign
of slowing down. This is in part due to a majority of the planned
2022 celebrations being rescheduled events from the last two years
in addition to, couples who became engaged during the pandemic.
Puerto Rico is an especially
popular choice and since it is a US territory, Americans don't even
need to bring passports, exchange currency, or upgrade their cell
phone plans. Couples feel a world away without the hassle that
comes along with getting married in another country.
Weddings for a New
Generation
When it comes to planning a wedding, the members of Generation Z
and even younger Millennials are prioritizing things a bit
differently than their parents did, and understanding what they
care about will help define what comes next for planners and event
specialists. The group was in agreement that in true Gen Z fashion,
the cohort is embracing wedding concepts that are highly
personalized and unique. This is resulting in smaller
ceremonies, an emphasis on conservation and sustainability, and
doing away with a registry altogether and asking for donations to
an organization of the couple's choice as a gift.
- Small Ceremonies
-
- Panelist and industry experts agree that Gen Z is focused on
keeping their weddings close and intimate. In fact, many Gen Zers
would prefer to elope or hold a small ceremonies. This increased
focus on small ceremonies goes hand-in-hand with destination
escapes that allow couples to celebrate their nuptials in paradise
with their closest friends and family.
- Eco-Conscious Decisions
-
- Environmental impacts are important to Gen Z and the panelist
agreed that they have seen an increase in eco-conscious decisions
being made by couples when it comes to prepping and planning their
weddings. The group agreed that a destination wedding that supports
local vendors is a great way to lower the carbon footprint of an
event. Similar to how the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris
Casino partnered with Javier
Martinez, President and Art Director of event design group
AKUA to transform the panel discussion space, properties
should prioritize local event production as a way to not only
support local businesses but align to the same value set as their
customer base.
- Charitable Registries
-
- Similarly, since Gen Z is more socially conscious, they are
acutely aware of the privileges that they have compared to others.
Several of the panelists noted that in the past year, the number of
couples opting for the inclusion of a charity, such as Wish Upon A
Wedding or one of significance to the couple, on their wedding
registry.
Experiential Packages for a New
Generation
The panel discussion led into a further analysis of how
destinations in general and hotels and resorts in particular, can
meet these changing needs. The group placed an emphasis on how
properties need strong vendor ties as they are critically important
to the destination event planning process. They agreed that
proposal packages and experiential guest itineraries can be a great
first step.
- Proposal Packages
-
- For many couples, the proposal can be as much pressure as the
big day and most don't think about bringing in a planner to help
facilitate this type of event. The group recommended that hotels
and resorts should put together a package for couples looking to
pop the question with a local planner. This will take some of the
pressure off of the couple and allow them to make the most of this
event.
- Experiential Guest Itineraries
-
- Many guests who attend destination weddings take the
opportunity to extend the trip into a vacation for themselves.
Experts agreed that hotels and resorts should offer curated and
experiential guest itineraries while planning wedding festivities
with the couple. During the panel, Marina
Luri-Clark, Founder of Marina Luri Events stated,
"Curating suggested itineraries for guests is one of those extra
touches that will make a destination wedding trip go from great to
spectacular." Joy Locke, Founder of
LOCKE Projects added, "We recommend creating a suggested itinerary
rather than a fully scheduled one, so people can still feel free to
see the sites and do the things they may want to do on their
own."
Puerto
Rico – A Domestic Destination
When the question was posed to the group, why get married in
Puerto Rico, Ana Agosto, owner of Puerto Rican wedding
and event coordination company Ana Agosto Events added,
"Destination weddings allow you to spend more time with family and
friends and since the tropical destination is just a domestic
flight away, the island is the perfect domestic destination to
reconnect and celebrate life and love."
- Why Puerto Rico?
-
- The group agreed that Puerto
Rico offered distinct advantages, inclusive of the fact that
travelers from the U.S don't require a passport for entry as well
as the variety of experiences available on island. Whether
travelers are coming to the island for their nuptials or as a
wedding guest, the island welcomes guests to explore some of the
oldest Spanish settlements in the New World, the distinctive
gastronomy of the island, the only tropical rainforest that's part
of the U.S. National Forest Service, and even experiences in one of
the world's bioluminescent bays.
- Top Venues on the Island
-
- The panel was also able to experience first-hand the Marriott
International portfolio on the island including:
-
- San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
-
- The resort allows guests to take advantage of a recent
$20-million renovation, including its
new 7,000 sqft Grand Ballroom and pays homage to the Puerto Rican
landscape, making it the perfect back drop for any celebration or
event. Regardless of the guest desire, a private beachfront
wedding, beautiful sundeck garden ceremony or a big ballroom event,
we have the resort has the perfect option their special day.
- Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
-
- The Reserve is located on the Island's northern shores and
features an array of event spaces and amenities required for
unforgettable celebrations. Top spaces include The Surf Ballroom,
is a large event area with floor to ceiling windows that provide
panoramic views of the beach and Spa Botánico, a luxury sanctuary
set amongst the site's 100-year-old Ficus tree which allows guests
to experience events that are heightened and harmonized by
nature.
- AC Hotel by Marriott San Juan
Condado
-
- Providing flexible and elegant event spaces, this hotel can
offer a reception of up to 200 guests at Bar.C.lona Rooftop,
alongside intimate to large business or social events.
- La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort
-
- The beachfront resort provides over 25,000 square feet of space
and 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, all with one of a kind
ocean and city views. The stunning Perla venue a unique space with
a shell floating amidst ocean waves overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
from every angle.
- As these properties fall under the Marriott International
portfolio, couples who are also Marriott Bonvoy members can
earn points for qualifying meetings and events at eligible hotels
and resorts. Members can earn up to 60,000 points per event on
eligible room, food, beverages and audio/visual charges, while
Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members can earn up to 105,000
points per event.
As a continuation of their partnership with Wish Upon a Wedding,
Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin American will be providing
several auction prizes for the organizations annual gala as well as
continuing to partner with the organization as they work to grant
wishes for couples facing serious illness or life-altering health
circumstances.
For those looking to listen to the full panel discussion, a
recording is available here for download. Additionally a full
breakdown of each Marriott property's event capabilities can be
found here, along with imagery from the on site experience here,
courtesy of Dani Fine Photography.
About Marriott
International
Marriott International, Inc., (NASDAQ: MAR) is based
in Bethesda, Maryland, USA,
and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,200 properties under 30
leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories. Marriott
operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership
resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott
Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more
information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com, and
for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com.
In addition, connect with us on Facebook and
@MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.
About Marriott
Bonvoy®
Marriott Bonvoy®, Marriott International's
award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access
to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and
across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary
brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable
destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at
hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium
home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded
credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences
including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through
partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.
With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of
personalization and contactless experience that allows them to
travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more
information about Marriott Bonvoy,
visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. Download the Marriott app.
Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy
on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Press Contact
US Media Relations
The Brandman Agency
marriott@brandmanagency.com
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