The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched a new initiative designed to increase awareness and bookings for the territory in the competitive U.S. destination wedding market. The “Test Drive Your Wedding” campaign invites brides-to-be to attend the first-ever U.S.V.I. Bridal Symposium on St. Thomas July 10-11 to research their dream U.S. Virgin Islands wedding location. Attendees who book their destination wedding by Oct. 31, 2013, to take place on St. Croix, St. John or St. Thomas by Oct. 31, 2014, will receive an additional $550 credit to put toward their wedding expenses with approved local suppliers.
"The U.S. destination wedding market is big business. The latest research by The XO Group shows that 350,000 U.S. brides chose to tie the knot away from home, with 39 percent of these brides getting married in the Caribbean," said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "This initiative will ensure that the U.S. Virgin Islands secures a larger slice of destination weddings business for the economic betterment of the territory."
The integrated marketing campaign includes advertising and advertorials in key U.S. bridal outlets, social media engagement, an aggressive media relations program as well as inclusion in DOT marketing initiatives such as the New York City Media Mission April 29 – May 2, and Texas Roadshow May 13 – 19.
Throughout the U.S.V.I. Bridal Symposium participants will learn how to plan a destination wedding in the territory. Scheduled highlights include panel presentations with featured bridal market experts moderated by celebrity host Mar Jennings.
Panelists include blogger Lisa Barr, motivational speaker Simon T. Bailey, event designer Samantha Goldberg, authors Julia and Richard Markel, former Brides editor and now wedding invitation entrepreneur Millie Martini Bratten, romance travel writer Melanie Reffers and the Emily Post Institute’s Anna Post. There will also be a marketplace to meet with the destination’s leading bridal vendors as well as island tours to discover the diverse wedding ceremony and reception locations available.
Wedding service vendors across the territory can apply for complimentary admission to attend the symposium. This includes bakers, wedding ceremony and reception venues, caterers, entertainment providers (bands, disk jockeys), florists, interior designers, photographers, wedding planners, limousine providers, retailers and videographers. Applicants must pre-register with Department of Tourism’s Canika John to be considered at ccjohn@usvitourism.vi or by calling 774-6835 ext. 2249. Future brides from the U.S.V.I. can also apply.
Brides-to-be located in the Continental United States can attend the Symposium by purchasing a special ground-only four night/five day ‘Test Drive Your Wedding’ promotion package. Priced from $550 per person, the package includes:
Three nights’ accommodation, complimentary registration at the four-day U.S.V.I. Bridal Symposium Most meals, including three dinners, round-trip airport transfers, welcome gift bag, $25 shopping certificate as well as site inspections to include ceremony locations, hotels and reception venues on St. Thomas and St. John
Reservations for this package can be booked on VisitUSVI.com, the official Web site of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Use booking code TDYW2013 to access the deal for travel July 9 – 12.
"Through this comprehensive initiative we want to communicate with U.S. brides that getting married in St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas is simple," added Nicholson-Doty. "As a destination, we offer unique efficiencies, being a U.S. territory, yet we are a quintessential Caribbean wedding location with an abundance of settings to ‘tie the knot,’ from historic churches and sugar mill ruins to tropical gardens, dramatic sea overlooks and palm-fringed beaches. Best of all, no passports are required for U.S. Citizens, which makes it easy for wedding guests to attend."
