Wedding Travel Still On a Positive Note

June 10, 2009

While travelers have cut back on expenditures this year, the wedding travel business continues to remain one of the high points in what otherwise would be a gloomy season, profit-wise for hotels. Brides and grooms may be cutting back on the size of a wedding or amenities, but for the most part, they are continuing to get married–and that, say hotel managers, is what’s driving a large portion the summer business this year.

We’ve been out investigation the destinations, and found in Temecula, Calif. that weddings are especially strong. Pechanga Casino / Resort even built a beautiful wedding courtyard overlooking the casino’s new Journey Golf Course, ranked one of the top 4 in the nation since it opened in late 2008.

The city isn’t necessarily typical of the market overall, but does reflect trends, we learned, while visiting wineries in the region.  Trading down, but not trading you was the general trend for weddings. Spending less, having the wedding at affordable venues, and downsizing the guest list were a few strategies observed at Temecula Creek Inn, one of the most popular wedding venues in the Southern California wine country region.