With the web-savvy generation heading to the chapel, the surge in the number of wedding websites comes as no surprise. Surfing aficionados or not, brides have free, personalized, interactive information at their fingertips—from budget-makers to etiquette and honeymoon/wedding destinations.
With limited time, decisions have to be made quickly but more importantly they need a guiding hand to help decipher all the offerings. Travel agents will always be a crucial part of this process and more so now than ever as confusion reigns in the marketplace.
For the agent, no other niche market comes with more commission opportunities, especially if you understand the mindset of this couple. Clearly, honeymoons and destination weddings offer incredible profit-making opportunities.
Selling up to this group is easy because they are primed for the best—they want the memories to last a lifetime and for most brides it is an emotion. Even in a tight economy you still hear words like “splurge,” “spoiled rotten,” “first class” and “it is my day, I want the best.” The Wedding Report recently announced a 22 percent increase in spending in this category.
With destination weddings still on the rise, there are many opportunities to increase your profit margin:
1. Group bookings.
2. Activities for guests.
3. Shopping (work with a local retailer to offer incentives to the wedding party and make it part of the itinerary).
4. Local restaurants (include an evening out at a prearranged venue)
5. Of course, you can also work with the hotel to create a special event before the “big day.”
6. Remind the couple of the importance of a “thank you” breakfast, brunch or dinner for their guests after the wedding.
Recommended Service Provider
The Dominican Republic, with its varied packages and offerings, has been aggressively and successfully promoting itself to this market. The choices here are unlimited and one is obviously drawn to the beauty of this destination, where clients are sure to have a delightful and memorable time.
Watch out for Sunrise Villa and Casa Kimball near Cabrera on the north coast. The villas look out to breathtaking scenery, and have qualified and experienced staff to attend to all guest’s requests. The resident wedding planner will work with you to make everything seamless and ensure personal attention for your clients.
With access to a virtually private beach, and wine cellar, luxuriously appointed air-conditioned suites, spacious outdoor dining, cable TV, movies and high-speed Internet at the clients’ disposal, you will exceed their expectations, and gain their trust that will last your entire careers.
Contact information: [email protected] or [email protected], 809-720-0089. Get in touch with me at [email protected] with queries.