TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Destination weddings have not only become a trend but a very profitable contributor to the tourism sector. In the Middle East, people have been focusing on Europe and Asia for their dream wedding destination. TravTalk spoke to some of the popular outbound wedding destination providers to gauge the latest trends.
Alice Gentils, Director of Sales, Monte Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Middle East travellers have a thousand desires to accomplish during their wedding. It is exactly why we love to offer all the magical possibilities of the resort Monte-Carlo SBM. It is all extravaganza, luxury and intimacy, from a family welcome lunch to a flamboyant dinner for 1000 guests with several pop stars! Our guests want to experience the best in life and our resort is the perfect scenery with ballrooms, show venues, gardens, beaches, private lounges and world renowned discotheques.
Anna Gricini, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing Italy Rocco Forte Hotels
All of our Middle Eastern clients, who organise weddings with us, have witnessed an ultimate demonstration of our capacity to offer exceptional service and a truly luxury experience. Outdoor celebrations in our Secret Garden or on the picturesque terrace of our Presidential Suite, the Nijinsky Suite, are the most popular choices, and our menus and flowers are completely tailored to the client’s needs. Starting from the stay in one of our unique signature suites, offering panoramic views and dedicated service, to our couple spa treatments or a romantic dinner in our garden.
Harry Fernandes, General Manager, Assila Hotel
The exquisite design of our ballroom, combining Arabian heritage with the warmth of Europe, attracts Middle East guests to have their weddings at our property. Assila Hotel balances traditional Arabic authentic service with individual flair of European hospitality which makes every wedding an unforgettable event. Some of the popular wedding related requests made by the ME travelers is ladies private wedding, complimentary suite overnight for the bride and groom with late check-out, bridal suite arrangements for pre-function, the full package for the wedding from buffet dinner, welcome drinks and Saudi traditional hospitality.
Valeria Melchiori, Business Development Manager, Hotel Amigo
Hotel Amigo is the perfect venue for Middle East weddings as it offers a unique location in the heart of Brussels right next to the Grande Place. The hotel offers a cozy atmosphere with refined function rooms and exquisite decoration inspired by Olga Polizzi. We are truly committed to create memorable wedding experiences for our Middle East guests. Hotel Amigo in Brussels can create a tailormade destination trip of Belgium including a romantic trip for Brugges and unforgettable dining experiences in Michelin star restaurant or in a magnificent castle in the Wallonia area.
Marco Truffelli, Manager, Verdura Resorts
Verdura Resort is a perfect match for guests from the Middle East wishing to celebrate their weddings, offering an elegant and unique backdrop to stage a traditional, family-oriented celebration. Attention to detail, the art of wrapping our guest into simple luxury, capture the imagination and aspirations of our Middle East guests. ME travellers ask for and appreciate the sense of exclusivity Verdura Resort has to offer. The Rocco Forte Verdura’s team, with its professionalism and personalised service, focuses on staging wonderful and memorable celebrations.
Zulaikha Manik, Executive Director, Sun Siyam Resorts
At Sun Siyam Resorts, Maldives we have experienced a move away from ‘standard’ weddings toward the choice of carrying out the dream wedding even if that entails a bigger budget. Tailored ceremonies and personalised activities for the entire wedding party such as sunset cruises, seven-course dinners on the beach, fireworks etc. In our experience, it is imperative to be able to offer the combination of an exotic location alongside traditional Arabic elements such as Middle Eastern cuisine, absolute privacy and comfort in the form of spacious villas with private pools.
