By Claudia Gardner:
With the Love Caribbean – Jamaica Edition 2026 conference set to begin tomorrow at the Princess Grande in Green Island, Jamaica, the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals (IADWP) says the event has already reached full capacity, underscoring growing international interest in Jamaica’s wedding and romance tourism sector.
Organizers had announced via Instagram on April 30 that the conference was completely booked, describing the response as a major milestone for Caribbean destination weddings and romance travel as industry professionals from across the region and overseas prepare to converge on the Negril Resort Area.
“Love Caribbean – Jamaica Edition 2026 is officially SOLD OUT. What started as a vision is now a full house of the industry’s most driven wedding planners, travel advisors, and brands ready to connect, collaborate, and do real business in one of the most inspiring destinations in the world,” organizers stated.
They added: “Jamaica is not just the host — it’s where everything comes together.”
The conference will take place at Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover, from May 11–14, 2026, and is expected to bring together wedding planners, romance travel advisors, photographers, tourism boards, venues, and luxury wedding suppliers from across the Caribbean and international markets.
Angela Haye, executive director of the Hanover Educational Institute, a hospitality and tourism skills training facility in Cousins Cove , Hanover, described the staging of the conference in Hanover, as significant for the Negril Resort Area which spans Hanover and Westmoreland.
“A conference of this nature is particularly significant because it has never before been held in Jamaica, and now, for the first time, it is being hosted at the Princess Hotel in Green Island, Hanover,” Haye told Negril Times.
She added that an event of this nature will provide international exposure, networking, education, and business opportunities for communities in western Jamaica.
“The fact that this conference is being held here just seven months after we experienced a Category 5 hurricane also says a great deal about Jamaica’s resilience as a tourism destination,” Haye stated.
Several luxury tourism entities operating within the Negril Resort Area, which spans Hanover and Westmoreland, are among the conference’s listed sponsors and exhibitors.
Special sponsors include RIU Hotels & Resorts, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Palladium Hotel Group, The Cliff Hotel, and Chukka Caribbean Adventures, which operates attractions in Sandy Bay, Hanover. Exhibitors also include Tryall Club and Couples Resorts.
Negril Times is serving as a Jamaican media partner for the conference, alongside international publications – Destination I Do, World Bride, Epica and Marry Caribbean. The conference is expected to generate exposure not only for hotels and resorts, but also for wedding planners, photographers, florists, entertainers, transportation providers, artisans, chefs, and other businesses connected to Jamaica’s growing wedding and romance tourism sector.
According to the official programme, the event will focus on destination wedding business development, Caribbean cultural experiences, innovation, sustainability, and tourism resilience. Sessions are expected to address AI-powered wedding planning workflows, luxury celebration trends, crisis and climate resilience, pricing strategies, destination logistics, and cultural storytelling within Caribbean weddings.
The IADWP says attendees will gain “confidence to sell Jamaica like a pro,” “true insight into Caribbean culture & trends,” and opportunities for “premium networking with top Caribbean partners” and “real business opportunities and long-term partnerships.”
The programme also includes educational sessions led by international industry professionals including Brian Green and Nadia Sparkle, alongside networking appointments, supplier showcases, and immersive Jamaican cultural activities.
A Photography-focused educational session, described as “a masterclass for local photographers” led by internationally-reknowned photographer Chris J. Evans, will form part of the conference programming, as well as a workshop designed for destination wedding photographers and visual storytellers covering Caribbean wedding imagery and event documentation.
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