Latest news with #PrestonBailey
Mid East Info
22-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
DWP Privé – Limited Edition Lights Up Colombo with a Spectacle of Celebration and Connection
Global wedding and luxury event leaders converge in Sri Lanka for a transformational experience of collaboration, creativity, and community April 22, 2025. Colombo, Sri Lanka. DWP Privé – Limited Edition set hearts racing and spirits soaring in the vibrant city of Colombo from April 9–11, 2025, as the world's foremost leaders in destination weddings and luxury celebrations gathered for an unforgettable experience. The globe's premier B2B platform for the wedding and celebration industry, DWP Privé, welcomed an extraordinary community of visionaries, creatives, and tastemakers from every corner of the world. The Host Hotel Partner, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, provided the ultimate backdrop for this iconic gathering. With its ultra-luxurious design seamlessly infused with touches of Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage, every corner of the property became a living, breathing canvas that brought the magic of DWP Privé to life. Speaking of the extravaganza on behalf of the host hotel partner, Lisa Mendis, Director of Events at Cinnamon Life. said, 'I think for us it's a first time, and it's been phenomenal. I think it gave us an exposure, put ourselves in the map of international market giving us that opportunity where we can tell people our story and also take their story to us and kind of create a nice marriage between the two… it has given us that opportunity and definitely we are going to get lots of business from this.' The celebration opened with the Goutéz Le Luxe experience, an exquisite affair where guests explored the art of wine tasting and the elegance of champagne and cocktails—adding a glamorous touch to the world of luxury celebrations. As the conference days unfolded, the audience was treated to deeply inspiring sessions that set a new standard for immersive learning. The event kicked off with Pillow Talk, an exclusive keynote by the legendary Preston Bailey, USA, a savant for creating theatrical environments, who delivered a heartful, honest, and intimate talk that set the tone for what followed. Attendees were then taken on a poetic artistic journey by set, lighting and costume designer Sumant Jayakrishnan, India, who explored the emotional depths of creativity in event design. The agenda was thoughtfully curated with impactful B2B networking sessions—one of DWP Privé's strongest pillars. These sessions cultivated genuine business relationships between global planners, key decision-makers, and premium suppliers., Among those who found the experience truly rewarding was Digvijay Singh, Director of Sales & Marketing, Alila Fort Bishangarh also spoke about the direct business potential. He quoted, 'DWP Privé overall has been fabulous, it's been a great interaction with stalwarts of the industry who are into high-end weddings, and the meetings have been really fruitful. In fact, we are almost discussing closures at this point of time.' The diverse mix of attendees—from designers to planners and suppliers—added immense vibrance to the event. Bryan Tachie-Menson, Founder, Whitechalk Global Ghana's leading event planner shared his delight at this global coming-together of talent commenting, 'People from all walks of life, different lands and fields, people from different background with different expertise and it makes it very colourful because they you get into heads of different planners, decorators, hoteliers, property owners and all that. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 100.' For many, it was an emotionally enriching experience as well. Shade Fatusin, Event Planner and Designer, A Conceal Affair, USA described the event as a deeply grateful journey expressing, 'This was the most amazing experience, filled with so much gratitude. There were so many insightful and knowledgeable experiences, with such amazing networking from meeting new suppliers, new friends and new connections!' From insightful learning to industry foresight, the Congress balanced it all. Mahesh Shirodkar, Managing Director, Tamarind Global highlighted the need to embrace change commenting ,'I think it's a combination of fun, education, connects and overall great organizing. I would like people to try and educate people on how to manage finances, evolving environment which is changing towards digitalization etc., from now till the next 5 years.' New formats, fresh perspectives, and standout sessions elevated the experience. Tapiwa Mukoti Managing Directo, RSVP Events, Africa shared his appreciation and said, 'A refreshing experience with a vibrant new lineup of delegates, bringing fresh perspectives to the event. The well-curated topics, insightful speakers, and high-quality presentations made it a standout gathering.' The reimagined format of DWP Privé was particularly loved for the way it enabled genuine bonding among peers. Guadalupe Alvarez, Director, Penzi Weddings, Mexico captured this sentiment by saying, 'Love the new format and loved getting to know colleagues from all over the world, It was insane!!' Echoing the power of meaningful connections, Pervez Taufiq, , Founder, P. Taufiq Photography, USA shared how this edition opened doors to long-term creative partnerships. He says 'I feel like this allowed us more intimate kind of look at people and be able to get to know so many people, you know that gave us an opportunity to create collaborations and partnerships that in my opinion are going to create some amazing, amazing work out of this.' As the curtains closed on this magical edition, DWP Privé – Limited Edition reaffirmed its reputation as not just a platform for business but a movement of inspiration, artistry, and genuine human connection, setting the tone for what the future of luxury weddings and celebrations truly looks like. Reflecting on the resounding success of the event, Sidh NC, Director of QnA International, shared, 'We are incredibly proud of what DWP Privé – Limited Edition has achieved in Colombo. It was not just an event—it was a celebration of global talent, cultural richness, and the spirit of collaboration. Bringing together industry trailblazers under one roof created the perfect energy to foster ideas, partnerships, and inspiration. We look forward to pushing boundaries even further in the next edition.'
Fashion Value Chain
22-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
DWP Prive – Limited Edition Lights Up Colombo with a Spectacle of Celebration and Connection
DWP Prive – Limited Edition set hearts racing and spirits soaring in the vibrant city of Colombo from April 9-11, 2025, as the world's foremost leaders in destination weddings and luxury celebrations gathered for an unforgettable experience. The globe's premier B2B platform for the wedding and celebration industry, DWP Prive, welcomed an extraordinary community of visionaries, creatives, and tastemakers from every corner of the world. World's foremost leaders in destination weddings and luxury celebrations gathered for an unforgettable experience at DWP Prive – Limited Edition at Cinnamon Life,Sri Lanka The Host Hotel Partner, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, provided the ultimate backdrop for this iconic gathering. With its ultra-luxurious design seamlessly infused with touches of Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage, every corner of the property became a living, breathing canvas that brought the magic of DWP Prive to life. Speaking of the extravaganza on behalf of the host hotel partner, Lisa Mendis, Director of Events at Cinnamon Life. said, 'I think for us it's a first time, and it's been phenomenal. I think it gave us an exposure, put ourselves in the map of international market giving us that opportunity where we can tell people our story and also take their story to us and kind of create a nice marriage between the two… it has given us that opportunity and definitely we are going to get lots of business from this.' The celebration opened with the Goutez Le Luxe experience, an exquisite affair where guests explored the art of wine tasting and the elegance of champagne and cocktails-adding a glamorous touch to the world of luxury celebrations. As the conference days unfolded, the audience was treated to deeply inspiring sessions that set a new standard for immersive learning. The event kicked off with Pillow Talk, an exclusive keynote by the legendary Preston Bailey, USA, a savant for creating theatrical environments, who delivered a heartful, honest, and intimate talk that set the tone for what followed. Attendees were then taken on a poetic artistic journey by set, lighting and costume designer Sumant Jayakrishnan, India, who explored the emotional depths of creativity in event design. The agenda was thoughtfully curated with impactful B2B networking sessions-one of DWP Prive's strongest pillars. These sessions cultivated genuine business relationships between global planners, key decision-makers, and premium suppliers. Among those who found the experience truly rewarding was Digvijay Singh, Director of Sales & Marketing, Alila Fort Bishangarh also spoke about the direct business potential. He quoted, 'DWP Prive overall has been fabulous, it's been a great interaction with stalwarts of the industry who are into high-end weddings, and the meetings have been really fruitful. In fact, we are almost discussing closures at this point of time.' The diverse mix of attendees-from designers to planners and suppliers-added immense vibrance to the event. Bryan Tachie-Menson, Founder, Whitechalk Global Ghana's leading event planner shared his delight at this global coming-together of talent commenting, 'People from all walks of life, different lands and fields, people from different background with different expertise and it makes it very colourful because they you get into heads of different planners, decorators, hoteliers, property owners and all that. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 100.' For many, it was an emotionally enriching experience as well. Shade Fatusin, Event Planner and Designer, A Conceal Affair, USA described the event as a deeply grateful journey expressing, 'This was the most amazing experience, filled with so much gratitude. There were so many insightful and knowledgeable experiences, with such amazing networking from meeting new suppliers, new friends and new connections!' From insightful learning to industry foresight, the Congress balanced it all. Mahesh Shirodkar, Managing Director, TamarindGlobal highlighted the need to embrace change commenting,'I think it's a combination of fun, education, connects and overall great organizing. I would like people to try and educate people on how to manage finances, evolving environment which is changing towards digitalization etc., from now till the next 5 years.' New formats, fresh perspectives, and standout sessions elevated the experience. Tapiwa Mukoti Managing Directo, RSVP Events, Africa shared his appreciation and said, 'A refreshing experience with a vibrant new lineup of delegates, bringing fresh perspectives to the event. The well-curated topics, insightful speakers, and high-quality presentations made it a standout gathering.' The reimagined format of DWP Prive was particularly loved for the way it enabled genuine bonding among peers. Guadalupe Alvarez, Director, Penzi Weddings, Mexico captured this sentiment by saying, 'Love the new format and loved getting to know colleagues from all over the world, It was insane!!' Echoing the power of meaningful connections, Pervez Taufiq, , Founder, P. Taufiq Photography, USA shared how this edition opened doors to long-term creative partnerships. He says, 'I feel like this allowed us more intimate kind of look at people and be able to get to know so many people, you know that gave us an opportunity to create collaborations and partnerships that in my opinion are going to create some amazing, amazing work out of this.' As the curtains closed on this magical edition, DWP Prive – Limited Edition reaffirmed its reputation as not just a platform for business but a movement of inspiration, artistry, and genuine human connection, setting the tone for what the future of luxury weddings and celebrations truly looks like. Reflecting on the resounding success of the event, Sidh NC, Director of QnA International, shared, 'We are incredibly proud of what DWP Prive – Limited Edition has achieved in Colombo. It was not just an event-it was a celebration of global talent, cultural richness, and the spirit of collaboration. Bringing together industry trailblazers under one roof created the perfect energy to foster ideas, partnerships, and inspiration. We look forward to pushing boundaries even further in the next edition.'
Trade Arabia
06-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
DWP Privé for luxury weddings to take place April 9
The fourth annual DWP Privé, a limited edition B2B platform for destination weddings, is set to take place on April 9 at the Cinnamon Life City of Dreams in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This event, an intimate evolution of the DWP Congress, will showcase Sri Lanka's stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and world-class hospitality. The event aims to foster networking and extraordinary experiences, bringing the global DWP community together in the exclusive setting of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams. Industry veterans will address the gathering, emphasizing Sri Lanka's hosting country, Cinnamon Life City of Dreams as an ideal venue for weddings and celebrations, and the remarkable opportunities the convention offers. Preston Bailey, President of Preston Bailey Designs, USA, will deliver an innovative opening keynote, tackling the untold challenges, candid realities, and behind-the-scenes truths of the luxury wedding industry. Indian weddings are travelling far and wide and Sri Lanka continues to be a destination of choice for couples planning their weddings in proximity. Renowned wedding designer, Sumant Jayakrishnan, Founder, Scenografia Sumant, India, said, 'Colombo really has the best of both worlds of both India and the Far East. The warm hospitality, the innate friendliness, the spirit of good cheer, and the loving bonhomie, all within a lush and tropical landscape, is unmatched. The wide range of luxe hotels and resorts reflects a very individual and sophisticated approach to architecture, landscaping and healing. I have now been a participant on and off at the international DWP's since 2015 and have always enjoyed the wide range of people representing the far reaches of the world, their varied and different approaches to the world of weddings, and the breadth of rich experiences that all have shared unconditionally, and with a lot of care and love. These interactions have enriched my personal world beyond description.' Another big market for couples who like to plan their luxury celebrations and destination weddings abroad - China will also be represented at the event this year. Cyrielle Mohara, Founder & CEO, Chic & Co., China, is exploring Sri Lanka as a venue for events organised by her company and for learning about industry developments. She is interested in 'the conversations shaping the future of weddings, discovering a new location to propose, to hear more about AI in weddings, and seeing how the industry trends are changing according to the target market.' The host hotel for DWP Prive is Asia's most anticipated luxury landmark—Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo. Designed to redefine luxury, this architectural marvel blends world-class hospitality with Sri Lanka's vibrant cultural essence. With its stunning skyline views, exceptional dining experiences, and state-of-the-art event spaces, Cinnamon Life sets the perfect stage for an extraordinary gathering of the global luxury wedding and celebrations industry. Aarti Manocha, Founder & Managing Director of Milestones to Memories, India, is also delighted with Sri Lanka as the destination. About Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, she says, 'This iconic hotel embodies the essence of Sri Lankan hospitality, blending sleek modernity with warm elegance'. Aarti further enthuses, 'I'm thrilled to be a part of DWP Prive 2025, where the crème de la crème of the wedding industry will converge to shape the future of luxury weddings. I expect inspiring conversations, innovative ideas, and unparalleled networking opportunities. As a speaker, I'm looking forward to sharing my insights and learning from fellow experts while connecting with esteemed wedding planners, designers, and connoisseurs. I hope together we'll redefine the art of luxury wedding planning.' Africa continues to be one of the leading emerging markets for couples wanting to explore destination weddings abroad. Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, CEO of Zapphaire Events, and Adeola Okeshola, CEO of 2706 Events attending from Nigeria, are pleased to be travelling to Sri Lanka, famed for its 'rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and world-class amenities that create a unique blend of elegance and sophistication.' Funke will travel to Sri Lanka for the first time and is looking forward to enlisting it as a dream destination. On DWP Prive, she says, 'My expectation is to make new friends, enjoy the conversations while learning about new trends, new business ideas, and how I can move my business forward to be positioned for the new and emerging clients that require our services. Technology for efficiency and innovation, personalization, and immersive experiences will be shaping the event wedding industry, and I look forward to being a part of these talks.' Adeola expects DWP Prive 2025 to be a game-changer in the luxury wedding industry. 'I'm looking forward to connecting with like-minded professionals, speaking & learning about the latest trends and innovations, and exploring opportunities for collaboration. The event's focus on shaping the future of weddings aligns with my passion for delivering exceptional wedding experiences,' she says. Padmi Fernando, Director, Business Development Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, said, 'We are thrilled to have Cinnamon Life as the host hotel for the DWP Prive, an event that brings together the world's most influential minds in curating iconic destination weddings. Hosting this in Sri Lanka is a testament to the country's rising appeal as a premier wedding destination, and we see this as a pivotal moment to position Colombo—and Cinnamon Life—at the heart of extraordinary destination weddings in the region.'
