The Experiential Checklist: Honeymoons and Destination Weddings - The Travel Institute

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Directions:

To earn your Certified Honeymoons and Destination Weddings Specialist designation, you must complete a minimum of five (5) items on the checklist within the past three years, unless otherwise indicated. Check the relevant items (no minimum or maximum required per category) and provide information or supporting documentation as requested for each item. Submit your completed checklist and additional documentation to The Travel Institute.

Community and Industry Involvement

1. Research businesses in your local community that target the bridal and honeymoon market. Write and attach a one-page report describing the event, the date it was held, and three positive outcomes of your attendance at the event.

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2. Promote honeymoons or destination weddings within your community (e.g., have an open house at a local bridal shop, provide honeymoon promotions, write a column for a local publication). Write and attach a one-page report describing the types of activities, dates, and three positive outcomes of your efforts.

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3. Attend a convention, trade show, or other workshop related to honeymoons or destination weddings. Write and attach a one-page report describing the event, the date it was held, and three positive outcomes of your attendance at the event.

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4. Create a calendar of upcoming bridal/wedding shows. Attach the calendar.

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Destination and Supplier Research

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5. Earn a Destination Specialist designation for a popular honeymoon destination. Write and attach a one-page report listing the name of the destination course, date of completion, and 10 reasons why honeymooners choose to travel to this destination.

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6. Participate in a honeymoon-related FAM or independent trip (e.g., cruise, destination visit, hotel inspection. Write and attach a one-page report describing the trip, sponsor (if any), date, and 10 things you learned about honeymoons and destination weddings.

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7. Interview three tour operators, resorts, or cruise lines that you have identified as current or potential preferred suppliers for your honeymoon clientele. Write and attach a one-page report describing each supplier’s products, services, and marketing materials geared toward honeymooners.

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8. Contact three government tourism boards representing international destinations that actively market to honeymooners. Write and attach a one-page report on how they market, what materials they offer, and who their local contacts are (e.g., resorts, inbound tour operators).

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9. Create an evaluation form for site inspections of hotels or resorts that cater to the honeymoon and destination wedding market. Attach the form.

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10. Research 10 top destination wedding locations and create a reference list of legal requirements for weddings in each destination. Attach the reference list.

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Travel Planning

11. Plan a two-week trip for a couple who wants to go to Europe on their honeymoon. Attach a written itinerary including appropriate destinations and accommodations, activities, and sites of interest to honeymooners, and any special honeymoon “extras.”

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12. Plan a destination wedding for a couple and 20 guests traveling to an island destination. Write and attach a one-page report describing your research process and results, including how you selected the destination and accommodations, arranged details of the wedding and honeymoon, and made travel arrangements for the entire party.

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13. Create a honeymoon planning checklist for a prospective bride and groom. Attach the checklist.

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14. Get a letter of recommendation from a couple for whom you planned a successful honeymoon or destination wedding. Attach the letter.

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Reading and Reference

15. Be a current subscriber of a bridal publication (e.g., Brides Magazine, Bridal Guide). Provide the publication name and subscriber-since date.

Marketing

16. Write a marketing and sales plan for your honeymoon specialty. Attach the one-page plan.

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17. Develop a honeymoon section for your website. Provide the link to the page(s).

18. Exhibit at a major wedding/bridal show. Attach a one-page report describing why you chose the show, how you planned and managed your display, and what actions you took to follow up on leads generated at the show.

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19. Host an event promoting honeymoons and destination weddings (presentation, cocktail party, honeymoon night, etc.). Write and attach a one-page report describing the event, the date it was held, and three positive outcomes.

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20. Create a comprehensive packet of useful information for a honeymoon couple (and any guests), which may include travel documents, a hotel or cruise brochure, destination information, wedding information, and so on. Attach the packet.

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21. Place an ad in a bridal publication or other media outlet targeted to honeymooners. Attach a copy of the ad; note the date and name of the publication or media outlet.

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22. Conduct a direct-mail campaign using a database or e-mail list targeted to honeymooners. Write and attach a one-page report describing the date, purpose, audience, distribution, and results of the campaign; include a copy of the piece that was mailed.

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23. Send a news release to a local publication, promoting your agency’s honeymoon specialty, including your bio, qualifications, and suggestions for travel. Attach the news release.

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Other Honeymoons and/or Destination Wedding Travel Experience

24. Describe a honeymoons or destination weddings-focused experience. Write and attach a one-page report describing this experience and how it positively affects your honeymoons and/or destination weddings travel business.

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Click the Submit Button to send your completed checklist and additional documentation to The Travel Institute.

You will be notified by email when the checklist has been approved and your Certified Specialist has been awarded.