Participants Hail Love Caribbean Jamaica Edition 2026 as Resounding Success for Regional Wedding Tourism
NEGRIL, JAMAICA — Participants, exhibitors, and tourism stakeholders are hailing the successful staging of the Love Caribbean – Jamaica Edition 2026 conference at Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover as a major success for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean romance travel industry.
The sold-out four-day conference, organized by the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals (IADWP), brought together wedding planners, romance travel advisors, photographers, tourism stakeholders, venues, and luxury wedding suppliers from across the Caribbean, North America, and other international markets.
The conference, which was held between May 11 to 14, highlighted Jamaica’s growing role in destination weddings, luxury celebrations, honeymoon travel, and romance tourism. Exhibitors and delegates described the response to the conference as exceptional, noting the high level of networking, business engagement, and international exposure generated throughout the event.
Monique McLennon, Wedding Sales Executive with Hyatt Inclusive Collection – Hyatt Ziva/Zilara in Montego Bay, gushed about the conference, describing it as professionally executed and beneficial for industry networking.
“It was a very well-thought-out event and properly planned. I must commend the weddings manager here on property because I think she did a phenomenal job. This conference has been a really good experience – meeting travel partners and other players within the industry,” McLennon said.
Aliah Maginley, Sales and Marketing Officer Southeast at the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, praised the conference and the regional focus on Caribbean romance tourism, noting that the conference was a perfect means of promoting her country’s destination wedding offerings.
“I think it is a beautiful way of showcasing the love for the Caribbean and showing just how romantic the Caribbean is. The people here have been amazing, especially at Princess Grand. Antigua is known for its 366 beaches and we are highly rated for destination weddings, honeymoons, and romance travel, so we wanted to encourage more people to come to Antigua and experience what we are all about,” she explained.
Her Jamaican compatriot Neville Spence of Island Dream Tour said the conference exceeded his expectations.
“My experience at the Love Caribbean conference has been exceptional and marvelous. The level of networking for someone in the business that I am in is something I never imagined. To walk into a room and sit down talking and networking with some of the best travel agents who specialize in weddings is something very big for a small company,” Spence said.
Spence added that the conference reinforced the importance of collaboration and networking for small tourism operators.
“This conference has proven to me that networking for small businesses is one of the best policies. Teaming up with Love Caribbean has opened my eyes to the wider world in travel,” he added.
Among the overseas delegates attending the conference was Maria Orani, Meetings Manager for ProColombia, who visited Jamaica for the first time during the event.
Orani said arriving in Jamaica reminded her of San Andrés, Colombia.
“We work very closely with the IADWP on strategies around the romance industry, so we attend as many of these events as possible. In Jamaica, we have connected with many wedding planners from different markets, especially the United States, which is very important for Colombia. There are also new planners we want to introduce to what Colombia has to offer,” Orani explained.
The conference reached full capacity ahead of the event, with the IADWP announcing that the Jamaica edition had officially sold out.
Throughout the conference, delegates participated in educational sessions, networking appointments, supplier showcases, cultural activities, and discussions focused on luxury destination weddings, Caribbean romance travel, tourism resilience, and experiential hospitality.
Industry stakeholders say the conference generated significant exposure not only for Jamaica’s hotel sector, but also for photographers, florists, transportation providers, entertainers, wedding planners, artisans, and other businesses connected to the Caribbean wedding industry.
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Brenda Washington O’Neale
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