Florence, Italy, will host the top wedding planners from around the world in 2016. The annual Destination wedding Planners Congress (DWP Congress), dubbed as “the ONLY business focused platform for destination weddings,” is a by-invitation only arena for illustrious and eminent wedding professionals from across the world.
DWP Congress, organized by Dubai based QnA International, has cemented its position as the Best Congress in the World for promoting Destination Wedding Tourism.
With a strong start in Athens, Greece in 2014 and a terrific response in Mauritius 2015, every year the extraordinary brand of DWP Congress moves to an exotic new location and brings together “crème de la crème ” wedding planners from over 50 countries to meet with Luxury Suppliers, such as five star and boutique hotels and venues, DMCs, tourism boards and premium partners such as photographers, jewelers, florists, caterers, wedding décor, couture designers, furniture rentals, wine and Spirits providers amongst other prominent wedding suppliers, in a powerful business driven environment. There is no other event in the world that brings together such a diverse and multicultural portfolio of wedding professionals who are some of the finest planners and service providers.
Commenting on Firenze’s bid, Ackash Jain, director, QnA International said, “Firenze Convention Bureau showed a great understanding and support for the unique concept of the DWP Congress and provided a competitive bid to bring the congress to their city in 2016. The quality of Firenze’s bid was excellent and reflected the commitment of all the local stakeholders. I would like to congratulate Firenze Convention Bureau (FCB) for emerging victorious as the strongest contender for 2016. We really look forward to bringing the world’s leading wedding planners to the breathtaking city of Firenze next year”
Florence, known to many as the birth place of Italian Renaissance, is considered one of the finest wedding destinations in the world. Its old, charming palace hotels offer a setting of a different kind– where modern love mingle with past romances to offer a most dreamy, dramatic and enchanting environment. This city has created a buzz having hosted weddings of celebrities like Kanye West and Kim Kardashian; Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Wilkerson; daughter of Indian tycoon- Jindals, to name a few.
“We are extremely happy for this achievement and proud to bag this opportunity for our city. Florence and Tuscany are already very popular and leading Italian destinations for International Weddings (42 percent of the Global wedding market share is in Tuscany, and 19 percent in Florence), but we know that the competition is very stiff and it comes from all over the World. Florence is the perfect destination for weddings, because of its location, in the heart of Tuscany and Italy, and because of the magnificent and outstanding Palaces and Villas, as well as the landscapes, scenarios and terraces. We believe that the ‘best of the best’ Wedding Planners will have the same inspiration coming here, with the possibility to create even more unique weddings for their clients, in Florence. We would like to meet and have networking opportunities with all the most important wedding planners of the world. Sharing experiences and ideas it is always the basis for the individual growth, and we believed that we could not miss such a great opportunity,” said Carlotta Ferrari, director, Firenze Convention Bureau.
There is a definite surge and a very noticeable trend in destination weddings. Thanks to the increase in literacy and wealth, more and more well-traveled couples are opting for destination weddings owing to its convenience, and refreshing change in settings. Florence understands this need in the market and there couldn’t be a more powerful medium than DWP Congress, for this city to position itself as a top destination for weddings in the world.
Carlotta Ferrari added, “We are certainly proud to win the bid, and are excited for the potential that this Congress brings. It is a very positive and exhilarating feeling to be associated with a concept so large scale and international. By hosting the attendees of DWP Congress, we are pleased to be able to show what the city has to offer to wedding planners who are highly influential in determining where their client’s next destination wedding will take place.”
For the next DWP 2016 in Florence, the Congress is gearing up for hosting the glitterati in the wedding industry from over 55 countries. What stands apart is the Exclusivity of the Congress. Not open to the public and its ‘by-invite’ only nature makes it a desired by everyone, but not available to all. Besides progressive keynotes and engaging panel discussions, the Congress also features a boutique exhibition which gives an opportunity to showcase the wedding services.
The Congress has a rich history with the attendance of the Crème de la crème of wedding planning in previous editions, including American “eventiste” Marcy Blum, whose impressive portfolio includes the weddings of American Professional Basketball player LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Yoshitaka Nojiri from Japan – As the owner of Asia’s biggest wedding company, number one in Japan, his company organizes 17,000 weddings every year all over the world, Sarah Haywood from UK – She is the go-to International commentator for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. Mohomed morani from India- His eminent clientele ranges from Mittals from London (World’s most expensive wedding USD 76 million), Ziad Raphael Nassar from Lebanon – he is the creator of over 100 weddings for royalty across the Arab world, including 50 Saudi royal weddings, Vandana Mohan – one of India’s top wedding planner. Her past clients include celebrities Katy Perry and Russell Brand.
Florence has already upped its game and ranking as a desired destination for weddings by leveraging the credibility and brand of DWP Congress. There is an incredible vibe for the DWP Congress and a very positive image for the brand. On April 11-13, 2016, the Congress in Florence will open doors to the celebrity planners, high-end wedding suppliers enabling them to explore countless possibilities in destination weddings.
