BOSTON (March 15, 2012) – DestinationWeddings.com, the number one worldwide destination wedding and romance travel company, today announced the winners of the inaugural DESTI Awards, an annual awards program designed to acknowledge the top-performing resort and destination partners.  Based exclusively on DestinationWeddings.com customer feedback during 2011, the DESTI Awards recognize resorts for their outstanding capabilities and exceptional accomplishments within the destination wedding and romance travel market.  The DESTI Awards will be presented at Tianguis Turístico in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, March 24, 2012, at Vallarta Palace. One resort from each of DestinationWeddings.com’s top destination markets will be awarded a 2011 DESTI Award, including Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean, in addition to a Special Recognition Award.

Wedding at El Dorado Casitas Royale, DESTI Award Winner

“We are delighted to present the winners of the first annual DESTI Awards, acknowledging the enormous contributions and unmatched professionalism of our loyal resort partners,” said Ed Cotton, COO of DestinationWeddings.com.  “Customer satisfaction is the ultimate accolade, and it is a pleasure to reward these resorts for their unwavering commitment to making ‘marriages made in heaven’ happen each and every day.  We are proud of the strong relationships we have established with our partners and eternally grateful for their constant support.”

DestinationWeddings.com today reveals the much-anticipated winners of the first annual DESTI Awards.  One resort from each destination was recognized with a DESTI Award:

• Beaches Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
• El Dorado Casitas Royale, Riviera Maya
• Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun
• Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Pueblo Bonito Sunset, Cabo San Lucas
• Sandals Royal Plantation, Jamaica

The Special Recognition Award was granted to Love Mexico for its extensive contributions to the destination wedding and romance travel industry, including educational forums for travel agents, wedding coordinators, and resort staff.

Following the 2011 inaugural year of the DESTI Awards, DestinationWeddings.com will continue this consumer-driven program on an annual basis, recognizing the best resorts and destinations in the destination wedding and romance travel industry.

As a part of its “one stop shopping” approach to destination weddings, DestinationWeddings.com’s Certified Destination Wedding Specialists in the U.S. and Canada will provide personal service and offer couples expert guidance and recommendations on the resort locations that best match their needs and vision.  Specialists walk couples through the entire process, ensuring they experience carefree celebrations that exceed their dreams and desires.  In addition, a complimentary wedding website is created for the couple which serves as an interactive community and guide for both them and their guests.  Leveraging the unique relationship between DestinationWedding.com and its resort partners in more than 35 countries around the world, Certified Destination Wedding Specialists will also help secure the best travel rates for all involved.

DestinationWeddings.com is the largest producer of destination weddings in the world, having helped to plan more than 15,000 successful destination weddings, create more than 100,000 wedding websites, and plan travel for more than 500,000 attending guests.  Further, to meet a growing demand by Canadian couples, DestinationWeddings.com launched DestinationWeddings.com Canada in October 2011 with a Toronto office opening, solidifying its place as the most trusted leader in the Canadian market.

For more information, visit www.destinationweddings.com

About DestinationWeddings.com
DestinationWeddings.com provides full-service destination wedding planning for couples across the globe.  Destination weddings are different from typical weddings and honeymoons and therefore require the planning of an experienced travel agent or Certified Destination Wedding Specialist.  Combining the personal service and expertise of more than 200 Certified Destination Wedding Specialists with the technology of its informative and easy-to-use website, DestinationWeddings.com is the worldwide leader in producing destination weddings that ensure couples experience carefree celebrations that exceed their dreams and desires.  In addition to its planning services, DestinationWeddings.com offers complimentary wedding websites, which serve as interactive communities and guides for couples and guests.  As the recognized leader in the industry with resort partners in 35 countries around the world, DestinationWeddings.com has helped to plan more than 15,000 successful destination weddings and travel for more than 500,000 attending guests.  www.destinationweddings.com