‘Clooney effect’ encourages overseas weddings
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Couples-to-be have been inspired by George Clooney’s nuptials to opt for an overseas wedding, according to Kuoni.
The tour operator, which launched its wedding collection 20 years ago, said it has seen a 20% increase in enquiries for Venice since Clooney married Amal Alamuddin in Venice last year.
And while the Maldives is still the run-away favourite destination for honeymoons, the operator is finding more honeymooners are looking for adventurous destinations and experiences.
Favourites now also include the UAE, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Mauritius with Mexico now also in its top 10 honeymoon destinations.
Spend has also picked up, reaching £5, 743 per booking, up from £4, 548 five years ago.
“Weddings and honeymoons account for a large share of our business, so we’re in a strong position to see trends in the market. In a generation we’ve seen a real shift – from relatively straightforward fly and flop holidays to a single destination to more multi-centre trips. Today, couples really want to push the boat out for something extra special, it’s not just about where they go, but how they book,” said Derek Jones, managing director of Kuoni UK.
He added: “Couples are looking for the wow factor, more stimulation and greater interaction with their locale in an authentic, non-touristy way. Their expectations for food, décor, spas, activities and excursions are all higher than ever before.”
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