BRIDAL UPDATE

MARRYCARIBBEAN BRIDAL UPDATE

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

While the news is constantly about the economic woes we are all mired in, the Wedding & Honeymoon markets seems to be defying all trends. Couples are still getting married, and still spending, even though the spending may be a bit less.

The recent 2008 Wedding Report shows the following:

Year.............................Estimated Weddings
2007.............................2,206,600
2008.............................2,212,923
2009.............................2,219,264

Average number of guests:166

Weddings by Ethnicity
African American................267,068
Asian............................96,124
Hispanic........................331,645

Total Spending
Year..............................Total Spending
2007..............................$28,732.
2008..............................$28,704.
2009..............................$29,614

As you can see thee is a slight reduction in 2008. However expenditure is expected to rise in 2009. This is a market that is truly resilient to market fluctuations, wars and acts of God.

A quick review of the consumers that go to MarryCaribbean.com shows an overwhelming amount with an interest in destination weddings.

Honeymoons
Year.............................Expenditure
2007.............................$3,716.00
2008.............................$3,805.00
2009.............................$3,921.00

Average Spending for Reception
Year.............................Expenditure
2007.............................$7,562.00
2008.............................$7,968.00
2009.............................$8,243.00

If further information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me.

READING HABITS

The new economy has truly defined not only the spending habits but also our method of getting information.

Today's engaged couples overwhelmingly seek out information online thereby creating additional problems for the bridal print industry..less engaged couples picking up the magazine at the newsstand. As we all know, newsstand copies shows the vitality of the product.

"According to Media Life Magazine, an industry newsletter, - consumers cut back on extras during these difficult times to compensate for other necessities. That means fewer impulse buys at the supermarket, like the magazines that line the checkout line."

CREATING PRODUCT AWARENESS

In the past I have recommended using all tools available to help with the marketing of your individual sites. I will again remind you. Do participate in 'chat rooms', Facebook, Twitter etc. If you are pressed for time, please hire a young responsible person for 5 hours per week to keep you out there in cyberspace. It is a very cost effective way to save you time, but expand your web or product offering.

MARRYCARIBBEAN.COM NEWS

I am pleased to announce that MarryCaribbean.com is now a partner with Travelocity.

I will also be a guest speaker at the upcoming Caribbean Bridal Expo in Puerto Rico.

Hope you like the new www.MarryCaribbean.com format. With today's audience you have to constantly stay on the cutting edge.

Attended Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Marketplace in St. Lucia. CHTA is to be commended for the awesome tradeshow and scheduling. Of course it did not hurt that it was held in beautiful St. Lucia.

Stayed at the Bay Gardens Hotel - and could not find a more well trained and nicer staff. I congratulate Ms Berthia Parle on the fantastic selection of Ms. Waltrude Patrick as her General Manager. She was sharp, on the ball, very very gracious and runs a tight ship. I was impressed.

More information and partnership announcements to come.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION FOUNDATION

As Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Foundation, I would like to ask each and everyone of you to contribute to this very important foundation. The main aim of the CTO Foundation is to provide scholarships and study grants to student and industry personnel who are Caribbean Nationals from CTO member countries.

Giving back to the region whee you do business should be a high priority and the return on this investment creates a much more qualified workforce, and of course you become better corporate citizens in the environment in which you do business.

Love Endures All Things, Even A Struggling Economy

To say that 2008 was a difficult year, was truly an understatement. However, one constant seems to be the resilient Wedding & Honeymoon markets. You can imagine my surprise and subsequent confirmation that this market is truly one that defies our present economic downturn when I read the update from Holiday Inn Aruba and Jamaica Resorts, that they were setting Destination Weddings Record.

This information was published December 22, 2008 and is as follows:

"Wedding bells rang at a record pace at the Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica in 2008, as the sister properties combined to host 525 destination weddings throughout the year". It goes on to say: " Love endures all things, even a struggling economy. People have and will continue to get married. With our program enabling brides and grooms to affordably tie the knot in wonderfully unique and memorable ways, we expect this market to remain strong for us into 2009 and beyond." (Raul Villagram, Director of Sales & Marketing)

The research gathered from www.MarryCaribbean.com seems to confirm this. There is an increase in questions as it relates to Destination Weddings more so than just honeymoons. Because of the economy more people are getting married; two can live as cheaply as one, and where one may lose a job the other has health benefits, but of course love trumps all things.

MarryCaribbean.com goal is to be the best single source for wedding and honeymoon planning in the Caribbean. Recent activity for the month of December/January reveals a high interest in the Caribbean. But of course anyone operating in this industry knows that we are in the highest engagement season.