Page 28 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 7 | October - November 2024

WEDDINGS ON THE RISE

The
IIWC Experience Khao Lak Congress
returns with a focus on, “Trust, Try, Transact
and Triumph.”

he India International Wedding Connections (IIWC)
experience, an international congress conceived by Pramod
Lunawat, the Founder of Marriageuana - Intoxicating
Weddings and Millennium Event, took place on 30 September to 2
October 2024, in serene and tropical Khao Lak. It was jointly hosted
by Lé Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Khao Lak
Resort & Spa, and the highly-anticipated Khao Lak Marriott Beach
Resort & Spa, which will be opening its doors to the public soon.
Now in its third edition, this prestigious congress brought together top
wedding professionals from across the globe for two days of inspiration, The opening address was given by Pramod Lunawat, the founder of IIWC.
education, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Under the theme, “Trust, Try, Transact, Triumph,” this year’s congress SHANNON CREADO
was designed to foster deeper business collaborations and unlock Market Director of Sales & Distribution
new opportunities in the global wedding industry with a focus on – South Thailand and Cluster Director
luxury Indian Destination Weddings. Attendees engaged with industry of Sales & Marketing; Courtyard by
leaders and experts through interactive sessions, masterclasses, and Marriott Phuket Patong Beach Resort
panel discussions that explored various trends and subjects in an ever- and Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort &
evolving landscape. Spa
Masala had the opportunity to participate as a media partner and
panelist, and distributed our publications, including our annual Indian “We are thrilled to have hosted the IIWC
Weddings in Thailand and Beyond 2024-2025, in all the guestrooms Experience at Lé Meridien Khao Lak
at IIWC. Resort & Spa, bringing together the Indian wedding community in such
an inspiring and dynamic way. The event provided an opportunity to
Key Highlights of the IIWC Experience Khao Lak Congress 2024: trust, try, transact and triumph while building meaningful relationships
Speakers: Featured Speakers included Himmat Anand, Véronique within the industry. It has allowed us to showcase Khao Lak as a
Dussault, Robert Koene, Clinton Cerejo, Bianca Gomes, Ali destination, highlighting the ease of catering to the unique needs of
Behnam Bakhtiar, Gideon Hermosa, Gajendra Kothari, Nivedan Indian weddings. We are honoured to be part of this journey and look
Rathi, and Sandip Soparrkar, amongst others. forward to continuing our support to wedding planners who understand
the difference between destination weddings and wedding destinations.”
B2B Meetings: Approximately 30 hotels from Thailand, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India participated in the congress in a pre- OLIVER LAWRENCE WELLS
appointed format of meetings. Cluster Director of Sales and
Networking Opportunities: The intimate setting for this Congress Marketing; JW Marriott Khao Lak
allowed for extensive networking amongst wedding planners, hoteliers Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Khao
and other key stakeholders. Lak Resort Suites
Cultural Immersion: There was a deep dive into the rich local culture “IIWC was a truly wonderful meeting of
of Khao Lak with curated experiences that showcased Thailand’s like-minded professionals in the beautiful
beauty and traditions, courtesy of Siam Niramit Bangkok and Lelux destination of Khao Lak. Marriott
Entertainment. International’s inspiring portfolio of
“The IIWC Experience Khao Lak Congress is all about collaboration properties were thrilled to showcase the
and growth,” according to Pramod Lunawat, the founder of IIWC. destination and the endless potential it has for the wedding community
“Our theme, ‘Trust, Try, Transact, Triumph,’ perfectly encapsulates the at large.”
journey wedding professionals undertake to succeed in this industry. We
aim to create an environment where trust is built, ideas are exchanged,
and transformative collaborations are forged.” DEBDYUTI DASGUPTA
General Manager; Khao Lak
All who attended agreed that the IIWC Experience Khao Lak 2024 was Marriott Beach Resort & Spa
a triumph, offering incredible networking and learning opportunities
for wedding professionals. With top-notch accommodations, exquisite “The IIWC event at Khao Lak Marriott
cuisine, and immersive cultural experiences, the event showcased Beach Resort & Spa was our debut event,
Thailand as a world-class wedding destination, solidifying its place in and it exceeded all expectations. It was a
the global luxury wedding industry. privilege to showcase our new resort to
international partners, and we received
Masala spoke to the hosts of the IIWC Experience Khao Lak 2024 to excellent feedback about how perfectly suited we are for destination
gain their insight and hear about their experiences during the event: Indian weddings. We can’t wait to host more impactful events.”

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