Destination weddings have exploded into a $16 billion dollar industry. It’s time to mine this booming sector, and travel PR firms assert that the key is awareness and publicity. On average, couples spend $20,000 for a smaller destination wedding in a luxury resort and many lovebirds have a budget that is upwards of $100,000. Using PR, you can get maximum exposure for your property and attract more of this lucrative business.
For hotel executives looking to capture a greater portion of this market, the key is getting high-quality, high-resolution photography that your PR agency can maximize in the media, as well as on your Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. These channels are where brides are looking these days for destination weddings. Magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Vogue, and Destination Weddings and Honeymoons are also very selective about image-rich content to feature online and in print. If you make a concerted effort on this front you are sure to gain business.
Here are five trends to watch and highlight at your property as weddings become more lavish than ever before.
- Traditional is Out, Imaginative is In
Poolside chic or barefoot beachy are in, so gone are the days of stiff, formal setting. For rehearsal dinners, it is casual resort wear for the ladies and polo shirts for the guys, and the Champagne is already flowing. This is all shared on the couple’s posts on Facebook and Instagram. When the location is in the caption, the resort gets a plug.
- Cuisine Goes Communal, But Elegant
Couples are more demanding of chefs to come up with unique and appealing feasts for the wedding dinner itself. Everything from tapas to tasting menus with matching wines is popular. With the popularity of family-style restaurants and renewed importance of everyone dining together as a whole, planners have seen an influx of requests for long tables. High-tops and furniture arrangements designed to boost informal flow and mingling. The cuisine can be promoted through the cuisine publications like Saveur, and the wedding magazines like Elegant Bride give food presentation a lot of play as well, so get those pictures before they fly out to the table.
- Spa-ing for Ladies and Gents
The entire wedding party will definitely seeks some pampering after traveling to the destination, so it is in the interest of the hotel to reach out beforehand and schedule these treatments. Put your best foot forward with over-the-top, intimate set-ups, for the engaged couple. They will want relaxation before the big day and on the day after. Indigenous is everything, so make sure to use organic and local ingredients. The spa rituals can be promoted through a range of media outlets from Organic Spa magazine to Cosmo.
- DIY is King
With the advent of DIY wedding clients, there is an increased demand for home-made, which means locally made, decorations that will give a personal and rustic feel. Couples, and their Moms and Dads are driven to put their own personal stamp on their special day, so give them wide berth, and work with them in promoting on Facebook and other social media channels.
- Wine Tastings and Bespoke Spirits
The foodie culture permeates young couples today, and they are very involved in selecting the specific brands of spirits, wines and beers to be served to their guests. They will even go so far as do a private label to commemorate the occasion.
In setting goals for your media exposure, it helps to balance the weddings business with your other revenue drivers. Certainly booking a wedding that takes over your entire property is going to bring in substantial funds. But, keep in mind promoting it in shoulder seasons as ways to augment your bookings from individual and other group travel. Direction given to your PR agency will enable you to best use your promotional dollars wisely.