Marriott has expanded and enhanced its
Joy - Your Dream Wedding event and planning service with the introduction of a
dedicated weddings web site—JoyWeddingsByMarriott.com.  Brides and grooms-
to-be can now cross the threshold into Marriott’s world of weddings and access
an online resource that provides wedding planning services, a photo gallery of
real weddings, a honeymoon directory, stories from couples who recently tied
the knot at Marriott properties, and a customized search for properties that
match the couple’s criteria.JoyWeddingsByMarriott.com is designed to evoke the emotional and personal
experience of one’s wedding with imagery and sound.  The site opens with a
stylistic view of real weddings depicted in black and white images with
splashes of red and a soft musical backdrop to draw couples into their own
dream of their wedding.  As dream weddings are one of a kind, Marriott’s new
site was created to make them a reality with information on Marriott Certified
Wedding Planners, catering, wedding extras, ceremonies, receptions, honeymoon
suites, hotel room blocks and rehearsal dinners, as well as how to access the
toll-free wedding resource line.
  A honeymoon section highlights top honeymoon destinations, and there is
also an interactive option in which couples can link to information about
specific Marriott and Renaissance properties and request additional details.
Images of venues, wedding cakes and flower arrangements stream across the
photo gallery pages.  And for brides and grooms who want to read actual
wedding tales from couples who took the plunge at a Marriott or Renaissance
hotel, a “stories” section reveals newlyweds’ adventures.
  The new web site is a key part of the lodging industry’s most extensive
wedding service, Joy - Your Dream Wedding.  Earlier this year, Marriott
launched a toll-free resource line, 877-4-OUR-JOY (877-468-7569), where
Marriott wedding specialists are available to answer specific wedding
questions, share trends and protocols, and research appropriate venues and
locations.
  Marriott also has trained 1,700 Certified Wedding Event Planners who can
assist with scheduling and planning details or work directly with the couple’s
outside wedding planner.  Each Marriott Certified Wedding Event Planner passes
a certification course to enhance skills in wedding protocols, etiquette,
culinary and decorating trends, with training ranging from traditions in
ethnic weddings to destination and military weddings.  Marriott Certified
Wedding Event Planners are on-site at Marriott and Renaissance hotels and
resorts throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.
  “With the addition of our dedicated weddings web site to the Joy - Your
Dream Wedding program, brides and grooms can achieve their dream weddings and
honeymoons with the click of a button,” said Robin Uler, senior vice
president, food & beverage, retail services, spas and event management.  “The
web site and toll-free resource line provide easy access to Marriott and
Renaissance Certified Wedding Event Planners who are trained in all aspects of
wedding planning.”
  Members of Marriott Rewards(R), the company’s loyalty program, can earn
points for their wedding by taking advantage of Marriott’s Rewarding Events.
A substantial number of points can be earned based on qualified charges,
including the wedding room block, banquet space, catering, flowers,
audiovisual and staging.  Points can be redeemed for the couple’s honeymoon or
free vacations at more than 2,400 Marriott International hotels worldwide.
Details on Marriott’s Rewarding Events are available at MarriottRewards.com.
  Globally, the number of wedding events at Marriott and Renaissance
properties has grown approximately 10 percent over the past two years.
Annually, weddings and wedding-related business generate property revenues of
approximately $300 million for the company’s full-service hotels.  In
addition, more couples are also traveling to get married, choosing destination
and resort venues that provide unique and sometimes exotic backdrops for
weddings, as well as transforming the event into a vacation for family and
friends.  Marriott offers the most resorts and spas in the lodging industry.
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