Caribbean/Mexico:

PALLADIUM INDIAN WEDDINGDestination "I Do"By Lydia GregoryAfter years of postponements and delays, the wave of destination weddings continues to gain momentum, so we wanted to share a few of our favorite options to get help you get your clients in the mood. Saint Lucia Brings on the Romance “Experts sell more,” ascertains Richard Moss, sr. sales manager for the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, “ so our Romance Course (powered by Recommend) is the way to go. That’s a really good way to understand the landscape and the fact that in Saint Lucia, you have the variety you need. We have independent purveyors, event planners and don’t let me get started on the natural beauty of Saint Lucia. There’s no point in getting married and honeymooning if you’re not taking all those photographs.”When talking destination weddings, Moss brings up the “micro wedding” trend—one of the biggest for 2023. Saint Lucia, with its roster of boutique hotels, is just the place for a small, intimate destination wedding. Moss points to some luxury options that are ideal for takeovers: East Winds, a luxury all-inclusive with only 30 cottages in the heart of a beachfront botanical garden; Ladera Resort, with only 37 suites and villas; and Jade Mountain, with just 29 sanctuaries, “plus if you have kids, a lot of these resorts have an adult section and a family section.”And, in Saint Lucia, adds Moss, couples can get exactly what they want for a customized wedding, not to mention spectacular venues found nowhere else, such as the Pigeon Island National Landmark, 18th-century military ruins that can be transformed into a wedding wonderland. Love, Jamaica Style“Jamaica is known for three powerful things,” says Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica. “Music, food and love. And love is what we do, it’s what we give, it’s the emotion of Jamaica. And of course, Bob Marley immortalized that in the song ‘One Love.’” There’s not much more we can add to that, really, but we’ll try.According to Bartlett, Jamaica has had more weddings, honeymoons and more anniversary celebrations than perhaps any other country in the Caribbean, so it’s no surprise there are resorts specifically created for couples—think the recently opened Sandals Dunn’s River with 260 rooms and suites. And there’s more to come: Jamaica has some 8,000 rooms coming into the pipeline over the next two to five years. In 2023 alone, they expect to unveil the first 1,000 rooms of the 2,000-room Princess Resort Jamaica in Hanover and the 700-room RIU Palace Aquarelle in Falmouth. This in addition to the already extensive offer of villas, beautifully appointed apartments, overwater bungalows and mountaintop cabins.Airlift to the island’s Ian Fleming International Airport is getting an additional boost this year. Frontier just added four more gateways to Montego Bay (Denver, Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas); in October, Southwest is adding new service from Kansas City; and Tampa and Austin are opening up as well. WEDDING COUPLESandals Resorts: Love-Inclusive“At Sandals Resorts, we provide a destination wedding experience like no other, combining the celebration of a lifetime with a luxury all-inclusive vacation for the couples and their guests, and with that being said, every celebration is one-of-a-kind, reflecting their personal taste and style in every way,” says Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, Sandals Resorts’ director of weddings and romance. “We provide a range of styled looks to entice the imaginations of couples, yet by no means do we offer themed decor packages—absolutely everything is customizable.” Keep in mind, Sandals has 17 resorts with endless venues, from an over-the-water chapel or gazebo, to lush gardens and picture-perfect beachfront locations. “We encourage couples to select the destination and resort style that perfectly aligns with the vision for their celebration,” Donaldson-Brown adds. Of note: At Sandals, the more guests the more perks, so large guests lists are not as budget-draining as they might be back home. And: “After the wedding, newlyweds have the option to seamlessly transition into their honeymoon, or as we like to call their ‘WeddingMoon,’ and enjoy the amenities of nearby resorts through our Stay at One, Play at All program, which is immensely popular among honeymooners.”LIVE AQUA TABLELa Coleccion Offers Variety“Mexico being a country of diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality has emerged as one of the top locations for destination weddings,” says Julieta Hernandez, regional director of sales for La Coleccion Resorts by Fiesta Americana. “Those desiring to exchange their vows in some of the most sought-after venues should rely on La Coleccion Resorts by Fiesta Americana to provide the ideal blend of romance experiences and optimum vacation fulfillment.”LA COLECCION QUOTEThis portfolio of resorts offers couples everything from the chic colonial splendor of the rooftop terrace at the Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende to the beachside settings of the Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun or the Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos, where the newly reimagined Imperial Suite can welcome up to 120 guests on its terrace. It also has a private swimming pool and fire pit, and a master suite with jaw-dropping views. The resort is also prepared for grand galas. A special treat: the SOMMA Wine Spa’s Barefoot Experience, which begins with a symbolic grape trampling followed by a foot massage at the spa and ends with a wine tasting experience with the sommelier during dinner under the stars. South Asian Weddings by Palladium“Now more than ever, couples are seeking beautiful destinations where they can host their weddings and we have seen this trend increase particularly amongst South Asian couples,” shares Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, v.p. of sales and marketing for Palladium Hotel Group in the Americas.To ensure your South Asian clients find exactly what they’re looking for to make their wedding dreams come true, the team at Weddings by Palladium has focused on packages created specifically with that market segment in mind. “Every essential element of a South Asian wedding, including the mendhi party, sangeet, byaah and private vivah reception has been carefully incorporated into the celebrations,” says Arizmendi-Stewart. Palladium’s South Asian Weddings Packages also come with extra perks—think private check-in for the group, wedding couple room upgrade and more. Plus, when booking 75 nights or more, the hotels add in free private events. “At Palladium Hotel Group we celebrate and embrace the diversity of guests and couples,” says Arizmendi-Stewart. Contact InformationLa Coleccion Resorts: lacoleccionresorts.com/travelagents Palladium Hotel Group: palladiumconnect.comSaint Lucia Tourism Authority: stlucia.orgSandals Resorts: taportal.sandals.com/landingVisit Jamaica: visitjamaica.com

COVERDISNEY CRUISE LINETable of ContentsEditor's NotesSANDALSSANDALS SPREADAdvisor Speak: Peer Advice — Selling Destination WeddingsTURKISH AIRLINESIndustry Insights: The Caribbean is on a RollHYATT INCLUSIVE COLLECTIONPALLADIUM SPREADCaribbean/Mexico: Endless Love—Sun, Sand & RomanceCaribbean/Mexico: "Destination I Do"SANDALS SCLA COLECCION SCLA COLECCION ADSAINT LUCIA SCSAINT LUCIA ADOnsite Review: Iberostar Selection Playa Mita—Something for EveryoneOnsite Review: Hyatt Ziva & Zilara—The Two Faces of Hyatt in the Mexican CaribbeanSouth Pacific: Tahiti — New Air & Land Booking OptionsCruise: Sail Away—Cruise Lines Celebrate LoveVIRGIN VOYAGES SCVIRGIN VOYAGES ADOnboard Review: MSC Meraviglia RelocatesRECOMMEND EDU HOUSE AD