Need to Know Research: Most Travel Advisors Expect Destination Weddings to Return in 2022

According to a recent survey of nearly 300 travel advisors, the destination wedding business has suffered a huge disruption due to COVID-19. Over one-third of respondents (37%) have had clients delay or cancel a destination wedding since the pandemic started. Another third (33%) say their wedding business is down “somewhat” or “significantly.”

“We had nearly all our weddings delayed or canceled in 2020,” said Donna Alkarmi, president of Lone Star Travel in McKinney, Texas. “But, fortunately, most of the ones we rebooked for late summer/early fall 2021 are still taking place. We had three in just the last week, and I have two more in the next three weeks. And one of those was a totally new booking.”

Most of the advisors surveyed (48%) say that they have not seen an increase in new inquiries or bookings in recent weeks, and most do not expect their destination wedding business to make a full return until 2022 — with 20% predicting the first half of 2022 and the same number (20%) the second half of the year. 

Fortunately, most advisors seem well positioned for a return of business. Nearly half of respondents (45%) are satisfied with the information on COVID-19 protocols they are getting from resorts and other suppliers.

“Because I previously vetted the hotels I choose to sell in person, I feel 100% confident in their protocols,” Alkarmi said. “If a hotel I visited did not comply, or just went through the motions, then I will not sell or promote them.”

Most advisors (68%) say flexible cancellation/refund policies are very important to their destination wedding business. And while nearly one-third (31%) of advisors say current destination weddings tend to be smaller than pre-pandemic ceremonies, only 11% have had wedding couples require that all guests be vaccinated.

“As far as I know, none of my couples have made this demand on their guests,” Alkarmi said.