Destinations: Top Wedding Sites
by John Hawks

article continued

Given that distance and the mention of "overnight accommodations," many home-based agents understandably see dollar signs in this popular niche!

Along with the usual suspects - the Caribbean, Mexico, Las Vegas, and Disney - consider these up-and-coming destinations identified in recent surveys as emerging locales for wedding trips:

Belize: This former British colony in Central America offers a perfect combination of unspoiled beaches and eco-friendly resorts that will appeal to more engaged couples these days. It's a short flight for wedding party members on a budget. And, Belize features a wide range of small resorts that cater to wedding groups, with diverse activities from diving and snorkeling to rainforest hikes and spa visits that will keep everyone happy.

Argentina and Brazil: Latin America presents many affordable destinations like Brazil for U.S. couples dealing with exchange-rate shock as they plan their weddings outside American borders. You can opt for tropical oases like Salvador, Brazil, that will appeal to younger wedding parties, or more upscale regions such as Argentina's wine country for a ceremony in Mendoza featuring locally produced wines at the reception.

Australia and New Zealand: Even in today's tough economy, you will encounter clients who focus more on the experience of their wedding than the bottom-line budget. They won't think twice about planning their nuptials in a major metropolitan setting such as Sydney, Australia, or Auckland, New Zealand. With careful planning, you can also recommend ceremonies on the beach or in the rainforest on Hayman Island in the heart of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Don't forget to apply the current trend toward "green travel" to your destination wedding clients. With a little research, you can plan a wedding trip to many of the traditional ecotourism destinations you've promoted in the past, from Costa Rica to the heart of Africa.

And, of course, many cruise lines continue doing a very brisk business in promoting onboard and in-port ceremonies for engaged couples. Cruises can be the perfect solution for blended families that need to plan activities beyond the actual ceremony for everyone from young kids to seniors traveling with the bride and groom. And, they're a big help in keeping destination wedding trips within a strict budget.

For 2009, don't make the mistake of "downselling" your clients who want to plan a destination wedding. Despite the odds, many couples still view these trips as their one-and-only wedding of a lifetime, so offer them numerous travel options and let them apply the brakes if the costs begin to exceed their grasps. At the same time, recommend a wider range of destinations and travel ideas that will be within the range of their entire wedding party.

It pays to have expert help, if you're new in this travel industry arena. Destination Weddings - an OSSN supplier member! - offers turnkey marketing programs for OSSN members seeking to tap into this niche market or expand their current wedding travel sales.

(Credits: Lee Jordan; Jason Hutchens; Bidgee; Perin)