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Florence bowls over competitors to host 3rd Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress in 2016

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UAE- based congress organizer QnA International gears up to welcome world’s most influential wedding planners in Firenze

Wedding Planner(Dubai, 5thAugust) – Florence beat out a host of competing countries to secure the coveted title of Host to some of the world’s most elite wedding planners at the annual Destination wedding Planners Congress (DWP Congress). The Congress has been dubbed as “The only business focused platform for destination weddings”, and is an exclusive arena for illustrious wedding professionals.

With a concrete reputation as a coveted brand, DWP Congress organized by Dubai based QnA International, has cemented its position as the Best Congress in the World for promoting Destination Wedding Tourism. With a strong start in Athens, Greece in 2014 and a terrific response in Mauritius 2015, every year the extraordinary brand of DWP Congress moves to an exotic new location and brings together “crème de la crème ” wedding planners from over 50 countries to meet with Luxury Suppliers such  as five star and boutique hotels and venues, DMCs, tourism boards and premium partners such as photographers, jewelers, florists, caterers, wedding décor, couture designers, furniture rentals, wine and spirits providers amongst other prominent wedding suppliers, in a dynamic business- driven environment. There is no other event in the world that brings together such a diverse and multicultural portfolio of wedding professionals who are some of the finest planners and service providers.

Commenting on Firenze’s bid, Ackash Jain, Director, QnA International, said “Firenze Convention Bureau showed a great understanding and support for the unique concept of the DWP Congress and provided a competitive bid to bring the congress to their city in 2016. The quality of Firenze’s bid was excellent and reflected the commitment of all the local stakeholders. I would like to congratulate Firenze Convention Bureau (FCB) for emerging victorious as the strongest contender for 2016. We really look forward to bringing the world’s leading wedding planners to the breathtaking city of Firenze next year.”

Florence, known to many as the birth place of the Italian Renaissance era, is considered one of the finest wedding destinations in the world. Its old, charming palace hotels offer a setting of a different kind– where modern love mingles with past romances to offer a uniquely dreamy, dramatic and enchanting environment. This city has created a buzz having hosted weddings of celebrities like Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Wilkerson, daughter of Indian tycoon- Jindals, to name a few.

“We are extremely happy for this achievement and proud to bag this opportunity for our city. Florence and Tuscany are already very popular and leading Italian destinations for International Weddings (42% of the Global wedding market share is in Tuscany, and 19% in Florence), but we know that the competition is very stiff and it comes from all over the World,” said Leonardo Visani, Congress Developer at Firenze Convention Bureau, adding, “Florence is the perfect destination for weddings, because of its location, in the heart of Tuscany and Italy, and because of the magnificent palaces and villas, as well as the landscapes, scenarios and terraces.

We believe that the ‘best of the best’ Wedding Planners will have the same inspiration coming here, with the possibility to create even more unique weddings for their clients, in Florence.”

He added that they plan on meeting and networking all the most important wedding planners of the world, and hope to trade ideas and experiences in the industry. “Cultivating (these kind of relationships) is the basis for individual growth, and we believe that we could not miss such a great opportunity,” he enthused.

“We are extremely happy for this achievement and proud to bag this opportunity for our city,” said Carlotta Ferrari, Director of Firenze Convention Bureau. “Florence and Tuscany are already very popular and leading Italian destinations for International Weddings (42% of the Global wedding market share is in Tuscany, and 19% in Florence), but we know that the competition is very stiff and it comes from all over the world,” she added. “Florence is the perfect destination for weddings, because of its idyllic location in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, and because of the magnificent and outstanding palaces and villas, as well as the landscapes, scenarios and terraces. We believe that the ‘best of the best’ Wedding Planners will have the same inspiration coming here with the possibility to create even more unique weddings for their clients in Florence. We would like to meet and have networking opportunities with all the most important wedding planners of the world. Sharing experiences and ideas it is always the basis for the individual growth, and we believed that we could not miss such a great opportunity,” she noted.

“Furthermore, there is a definite surge and a very noticeable trend in destination weddings. Thanks to the increase in literacy and wealth, an increasing amount of well -travelled couples are opting for destination weddings owing to its convenience and refreshing change in settings. Florence understands this need in the market and there couldn’t be a more powerful medium than DWP Congress, for this city to position itself as a top destination for weddings in the world,” she said. “We are certainly proud to win the bid, and are excited for the potential that this Congress brings. It is a very positive and exhilarating feeling to be associated with a concept so large scale and international. By hosting the attendees of DWP Congress, we are pleased to be able to show what the city has to offer to wedding planners who are highly influential in determining where their client’s next destination wedding will take place.”

For the next DWP 2016 in Florence, the Congress is gearing up for hosting the glitterati in the wedding industry from over 55 countries. What stands out is the exclusivity of the Congress. Not open to the public and its ‘by-invite’ only nature makes it a desired by everyone, but not available to all. Besides progressive keynotes and engaging panel discussions, the Congress also features a boutique exhibition which gives an opportunity to showcase the wedding services.

The Congress has a rich history with the attendance of the Crème de la crème of wedding planning in previous editions, including American “eventiste” Marcy Blum, whose impressive portfolio includes the weddings of American Professional Basketball player LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Yoshitaka Nojiri from Japan (as the owner of Asia’s biggest wedding company, number one in Japan, his company organizes 17,000 weddings every year all over the world), Sarah Haywoodfrom UK  (she is the go-to international commentator for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011), Mohomed Morani from India (his eminent clientele ranges from Mittals from London, and he hosted the world’s most expensive wedding which costs USD 76 million), Ziad Raphael Nassar from Lebanon (he is the creator of over 100 weddings for royalty across the Arab world, including 50 Saudi royal weddings), and Vandana Mohan (one of India’s top wedding planners whose  past clients include celebrities Katy Perry and Russell Brand).

Florence has already upped its game and ranking as a desired destination for weddings by leveraging the credibility and brand of DWP Congress. There is an incredible vibe for the DWP Congress and a very positive image for the brand. On 11-13thApril 2016, the Congress in Florence will open doors to its list of celebrity planners and high-end wedding suppliers, enabling them to explore countless possibilities for modern-day destination weddings.

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