A group of world class bridal experts, travel agents, and regional and national media will arrive in the US Virgin Islands in two weeks’ time for the second annual Bridal Educational Symposium November 18-19, 2014 at the Renaissance Carambola Resort on St. Croix.
The two-day event has attracted close to a dozen journalists from popular US weddings and honeymoons magazines, bridal publications, multicultural print, broadcast and online media outlets as well as Caribbean media to cover the symposium and experience the beauty of St. Croix.
Additionally, the Territory will host a number of travel agents from key US markets to encourage them to send their bridal groups to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The seminars, designed to share best business practices and marketing strategies, will be moderated again by celebrity television host and lifestyle expert, Mar Jennings, who will speak about the huge value of an industry widely regarded as “recession proof”.
“Plans are shaping up nicely for this important symposium,” said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty who said all “roads, waterways and aerial highways” lead to St. Croix for the robust educational forum.
She encouraged local and overseas participants to register as soon as possible to secure their spots for the dynamic sessions. “This symposium features the crème de la crème of the bridal business, and if this market is important to you (or if you want it to be) you will want to be here,” she added.
Speakers include internationally renowned wedding and party planner Colin Cowie; Stephen Lang of Mon Cheri Bridals; Digital Marketing Strategist Susan Black; talk show host Cynthia DeLeonardo; Tatiana Byron of The Wedding Salon; Marley Majcher of The Party Goddess; Brenda O’Neall, President of With This Ring Destination Weddings & Honeymoons; Celebrity Hairstylist Dennis Stockely; and Jacqueline Johnson of Global Bridal Group.com and MarryCaribbean.com.
Local vendors, including entertainers, venues, florists, wedding planners and caterers, will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to both local and visiting future brides.
As an incentive to participants, the Department of Tourism is offering a special package for 2015 brides-to-be, including three-night hotel accommodations, admission to the vendors trade show, symposium registration, airport transfers and ground transportation for site inspections.
One lucky bride will win a complimentary wedding gown of her dreams compliments of Mon Cheri Bridals; while brides who book their wedding within 30 days after the event will receive a $500 wedding certificate eligible for any participating wedding planner.
Registration is open for locals and visitors to St. Croix. For further details, contact Carlotta Luis at caluis@usvitourism.vi call 340 772-0357 or visit www. stcroixweddingsymposium.com.
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Twitter (@USVITourism) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
