Weddings & Honeymoons Media’s World Travel Market Highlights

World Travel Market is the world’s biggest annual travel trade show, boasting over 40,000 of the most influential names in travel. Weddings & Honeymoons Media were thrilled to attend again this year at London's Excel Centre, to meet with exhibitors from around the world and to explore the latest in romance travel. Head to our Tiktok @weddingshoneymoonmag for real-time WTM content and read on to find out about what we got up to over the three-day action-packed event…

Setting Sail with the Cayman Islands

Image of the Cayman Islands Tourism event en route to WTM on a historic Thames barge

On the first morning of WTM London, Destinations Editor Emily joined the Cayman Islands for a scenic voyage along the River Thames with Cayman Islands Tourism. Bringing the sunshine to a crisp November morning, the select group of media sailed under the iconic Tower Bridge on a historic coal clipper, accompanied by Caymanian cocktails, music and a breakfast presentation.

Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, shared the latest news and announcements for the destination onboard, including the recent fifth direct flight with British Airways from London Heathrow to Grand Cayman, the hottest hotel openings in 2024 and her favourite seabound activities including kayaking among bioluminescent waters.

Located south of Miami, the trio of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac islands make up the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. Perfect for adventurous travellers, nature lovers, diving enthusiasts and those looking to relax and unwind on world-class beaches, there’s as much thrill as there is chill in this beautiful part of the world. It is certainly a destination to put on your honeymoon radar for 2024! visitcaymanislands.com/en-us

Witnessing The Collaboration Between Two Middle Eastern Destinations

Image of Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Dr. Hashil Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, signing an MoU agreement at WTM. 

On day two of the World Travel Market, Weddings & Honeymoons Media was delighted to watch the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue cross-destination tourism between the Musandam Governorate, Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. This first-of-its-kind partnership is an exciting moment for honeymooners, enabling travellers to visit both Middle Eastern destinations more easily in one trip through favourable visa arrangements, joint tourism packages and more.

To celebrate the new dual destination tourism collaboration, our Destinations Editor attended an immersive six-course dinner with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTA) at Kitchen Theory in central London, to learn more about the fascinating ‘nature Emirate’. The cultural culinary experience by Chef Jozef Youssef and his team evoked all of the senses on an interactive table, with dishes that journeyed through the Arabian Gulf, the desert and the lush Hajar mountain landscapes of Ras Al Khaimah.

Along the way, Raki Philips, the CEO of RAKTA presented to us, showcasing the Emirate's unique features, including multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, the only pearl farm in the UAE, the longest toboggan ride in the region and the world’s longest zipline. If you’re looking to jet-set-go in 2024, Ras Al Khaimah is going to be huge for adventure-seeking couples. visitrasalkhaimah.com

Attending Boutiques in Sri Lanka's Luxury Accommodation Guide 2024 Launch

Image of the Boutiques in Sri Lanka Luxury Accommodation Guide 2024

World Travel Market ended in style with the exclusive launch of the Boutiques in Sri Lanka Luxury Accommodation Guide 2024 in central London. Set against the grand backdrop of the Sri Lankan High Commission, attendees enjoyed an evening filled with traditional Sri Lankan music and cuisine alongside the presentation of the eighth annual guide by Druvi Gunasekara. Listing over 800 properties across the beautiful tear-drop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean, the guide's directory provides endless inspiration for spectacular weddings and honeymoons in Sri Lanka. 

In the guide, the concept of a boutique hotel is described as ‘small, intimate, quaint and upscale’ and ‘staying true to the local culture, individuality and personalised service throughout the stay’. Boutique hotels stand apart as a unique, memorable and more sustainable way to experience travel, where guests feel like they have entered an exquisite home-from-home with all the luxury amenities they could wish for. 

This year, Boutiques in Sri Lanka marked its 10-year anniversary as the go-to platform for boutique luxury hotels across the island. Over the last decade, Druvi has supported this fast-growing category of accommodation and has individually inspected every property listed in the guide. The 2024 edition has a particular focus on villas and wellness, so those seeking space and serenity in Sri Lanka will be spoilt for choice! boutiquesinsrilanka.com.