Recommend June 2013 - (Page 37)

Med Wedding package, an Eco-Chic Wedding package, and a slew of Decor packages. What’s in it for you? All packages are commissionable, and all you have to take care of is the travel portion. imaginevip.com or clubmedta.com FIESTA AMERICANA GRAND Why Fiesta Americana Grand for the big day? “Our two beach resorts— Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa and Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf Resort & Spa—are ideal for destination weddings and honeymoons. They offer picturesque locales, unparalleled customer service, award-winning restaurants, innovative spas, plush guestrooms, ample indoor and outdoor event space, and an expert weddings staff,” says Juan Basurto, Posadas PR manager. There are only two choices here—one on each coast—but a range of wedding packages, including the Divine Vow Renewal Ceremony package at the Los Cabos property (for up to 20 people; $1,562) and a Mayan Ceremony at the Cancun resort. The soon-to-be-betrothed can expect everything from gemstone-inspired treatments at Gem Spa to ice-breaking activities for guests, including bonding during the rituals of the vendimia, the Spanish wine harvest, which includes a traditional grape stomp and a relaxing reﬂexology massage. ﬁestamericanagrand.com or ﬁestamericanagrand.com/en/travel-agencies IBEROSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS Why Iberostar for the big day? “Iberostar Hotels & Resorts understands how weddings are one of the most important times in a person’s life and aims to make the wedding planning process both easy, yet individualized. One very unique feature, which is a key selling point, is that Iberostar understands how special a wedding is to the couple and has a policy to only book one wedding per day at each hotel,” says John Long, v.p. of sales and marketing, Iberostar. With hotels in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, as well as Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya (and soon in Riviera Nayarit) in Mexico, Iberostar delivers the same three wedding packages—travel agents receive 10 percent commission—at all hotels/destinations, making it a seamless experience for your clients no matter which destination they choose. This program, which launched last December, encompasses the Star Wedding package ($999), with the services of an onsite wedding specialist, bouquet, and wedding dinner, among other offerings; the Silver Star Wedding ($1,699), which adds on ﬂoral centerpieces, 10 percent discount on spa services and other goodies; and the full-throttle Gold Star Wedding ($2,499), which throws in a romantic dinner on the beach, room upgrade, hairstyle for the bride, live music during the reception…in other words, a one-stop shop for a picture-perfect wedding. They also offer a la carte weddings where couples can choose from a variety of items that are priced separately (minimum spent $750). iberostar.com/en/weddings or iberostar.com/en/travel-agents-hotels KARISMA HOTELS & RESORTS Why Karisma for the big day? “Couples who choose to tie the knot at any Karisma-branded property are supported by an entire dedicated wedding team—not just one wedding coordinator—including staff throughout all areas of the hotels and resorts that cater speciﬁcally to weddings, offsite and onsite coordinators, a destination wedding manager, and wedding director,” says Faith Wishnie, director of wedding services, Karisma Hotels & Resorts. Known as the Gourmet Inclusive brand, Karisma Hotels & Resorts— umbrella company to El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels, Azul Hotels & Villas, and the recently opened all-suite Generations Resorts by Karisma (Generations Maroma opens this month)—offers a variety of competitive wedding packages as well as romantic wedding venues, including beachfront locations, wedding chapels, and Sky Weddings, which take place on a private rooftop terrace with glorious views, especially at sunset. Brides and grooms will embrace Karisma’s Bride’s Dress Rehearsal program, which are conducted once a month and allow couples to experience the resorts and wedding venues, meet the team of wedding staff and vendors, and learn all about the bridal services, including cake and menu tastings. Karisma doesn’t just work with travel agents, they embrace them. If you’re a Loyal Agent you can get the 4-1-1 on the Bride’s Dress Rehearsal via the new online webinar, and learn how to turn a wedding booking into top-notch commission. karismahotels.com/weddingsromance or karismahotels.com/travelagents THE LUXURY COLLECTION HACIENDAS Why book The Luxury Collection Haciendas for the big day? “To get married in an authentic place with history like the Haciendas is a unique experience with personal details and unforgettable memories not only for the couple but also for the guests. The Haciendas offer incredible locations for weddings with ancient architecture and gardens, and friendly service in a relaxed environment. The hotels provide an idyllic Mexican wedding location full of history and stories, surrounded by nature and involved by the context of the ancient Mayan culture,” says Trip Barrett, v.p. of marketing, Starwood Latin America. With ﬁve haciendas in Mexico—in Yucatan and Campeche—couples looking to immerse themselves in a traditional Mexican ambiance can’t go wrong. Each wedding at the Haciendas is designed according to the wishes, tastes and the couple’s needs: Think of a “cenote” cave type venue behind the vestiges of a machinery room, or a location beneath the arches of an ancient chapel today maintained as it was found. Hacienda San Jose specializes in traditional Mayan weddings, while at Hacienda Uayamon, couples can say, “I do” in an old chapel. Special touches during the ceremony include walking along a path lit with candles, enjoying a Yucatan specialty dinner on an exclusive table decorated with indigenous leaves and local ﬂowers, surrounded by the light of torches and candles, or even a cleansing ceremony before the beginning of the event. There’s a special wedding department that’s on hand to coordinate all event details and they can provide a recommended suppliers catalog to help organize the wedding. thehaciendas.com or starwoodpro.com OCCIDENTAL RESORTS & SPAS Why book Occidental for the big day? "If we can focus on our resorts in Mexico, speciﬁcally Occidental Grand Xcaret, I think we have something very unique to offer. Here, couples can get married oceanside with authentic Mayan Ruins in the background. We are located adjacent to and have a very close relationship with Xcaret and that gives our guests additional access to unique wedding locations available throughout the park. We also offer authentic Mayan ➤ june 2013 37 35-41 MX CB Powerhouses.indd 37 5/22/13 7:40 AM http://www.imaginevip.com http://www.clubmedta.com http://www.karismahotels.com/weddingsromance http://www.karismahotels.com/travelagents http://www.fiestamericanagrand.com http://www.fiestamericanagrand.com/en/travel-agencies http://www.thehaciendas.com http://www.starwoodpro.com http://www.iberostar.com/en/weddings http://www.iberostar.com/en/travel-agents-hotels

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2013

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Wedding Bells with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Impressions Plans Perfect Destination Weddings
Royal Clipper's Sail-Away Honeymoon
North American Nuptials
An Ode to Romance
Exchanging Vows in Mexico
Mexico's Honeymoon Retreats
Destination Wedding Powerhouses: A Marriage Made in Heaven
A Destination Wedding for Every Taste
Beach Blanket Bliss
Wonders-of-the-World Honeymoons
Paradise Found
Honeymooning in Ultimate Bliss
A European Rendezvous

Recommend June 2013