INTERVIEW: Get to Know the Wedding Pro | JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai
Written by on May 1, 2016.
Tagged under: Ballroom Dubai, Dubai, Get to know the wedding Pro, INTERVIEW, JW Marriott Marquis, Wedding Venue In Dubai
Get to Know the Wedding Pro
Each week, we shine the spotlight on Bride Club ME vendor club members and some of the regions leading wedding pro’s, allowing you, our reader, to get up close and personal with the best wedding vendors in town. Here, you can learn more about the people behind some of the businesses you may be using to make your wedding day perfect!
This week we have the privilege of showcasing Mira El Dana, Sales Manager for Weddings and Special Events at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. Below, Mira provides us with an exclusive insight into hosting weddings at the JW Marriott Marquis, and shares with us what she loves the most about her job.
How long has JW Marriott Marquis been established, and what makes your venue different when it comes to hosting weddings?
The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai officially opened in February 2013, and ever since it has been known as a landmark hotel in the Middle East. Our Dubai Ballroom is one of the most beautiful ballrooms for weddings in the city, having a very modern yet classy style, full of mirrors and amazing chandeliers in addition to a 6-meter ceiling height, which is critical for fancy weddings.
The Dubai Ballroom also has the largest LED screen in the UAE and the lighting concepts for the chandeliers and LED lights can be selected from a choice of 1000 colours, which guests love to take advantage of.
Last but not least, one of the ballroom’s fabulous benefits is that it has its direct private entrance which protects the privacy of our guests. I definitely encourage everyone to come and have a look at it, it is absolutely worth seeing!
What do you love most about your job?
My job combines both selling, planning and interacting with guests on a daily basis; I am basically the one and only point of contact for the couple. I consider each wedding I plan as ‘my baby’. You basically create it and see it grow until the day of execution. It can sometimes be challenging as well, however if you are passionate about your job you will be more than happy to deal with all the encounters. At the end of the day, the nicest feeling is to see how happy you were able to make the couple and their family.
What made you decide to work in the events and hospitality industry?
I am known to be a very ‘sociable’ person and enjoy meeting new people. The hospitality industry provides so many opportunities to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and that’s what makes it even more interesting.
Do you have any exciting weddings happening at the JW Marriott Marquis any time soon?
Every wedding is an exciting wedding, and each event has its own theme and a story behind it. Working closely with the couple and their family is by itself very thrilling.
Describe the experience a bride to-be will have when hiring JW Marriott Marquis for her wedding…
When selecting the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai as a venue for her wedding, the bride will have the chance to experience both luxury and modernity at the same time. The hotel’s Saray Spa is a haven for health and wellness, and features 15 treatment rooms, male and female Hammams, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, saunas, spacious relaxation areas and the UAE’s only Dead Sea Floatation Pool. Couples, especially brides, love to take advantage of our Spa’s services before their special day. We have special wedding packages available at the spa as well.
The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai orchestrates truly memorable events. From innovative concepts to bespoke menus, the catering team will makesure that the bride’s vision is understood and executed properly. We do everything we can to make sure the entire experience is as seamless as possible for the couple.
The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is also the world’s tallest hotel, and I am sure every couple would be happy to have their wedding in such a unique venue.
How do you manage trust from your clients? After all, it is the most important day of their lives.
You are the main point of contact for the couple. For them ‘you’, as a wedding sales person, are the hotel. You represent the property and all of its aspects. Therefore, for a couple to decide to work with you they need to feel comfortable working with you. Being trustworthy and approachable is key for that to be possible. Being transparent with the guest is very important as well.
It is essential for my guests to consider me as a friend or even a family member. After all, we will be working together on a daily basis for a minimum of 4 months.
What budgets do you cater for?
With over 8,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor event space, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai accommodates different sized weddings. We cater to all of our guests’ expectations and make sure their wedding is exactly how they imaged it to be.
The JW Marriott Marquis is a destination of exceptional taste with an inspiring collection of 14 award-winning restaurants, bars and lounges, which makes the hotel a popular choice for pre-wedding functions. Additionally, we have three stunning outdoor venues with incredible views over Downtown Dubai, which helps to create an atmosphere that will set the stage for an unforgettable event.
The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is the only hotel in the Middle East where up to 1,000 people can meet, sleep and dine under one roof, in one location.
If you could give one piece of advice to expat brides-to-be in the UAE, what would it be?
I personally have planned numerous expat and destination weddings. For those who haven’t been in Dubai for a long time, I would advise them to start planning their wedding ahead of time. Avoid procrastinating the wedding preparations. Planning your wedding in a country in which you weren’t raised can be a little bit more challenging in terms of finding the right suppliers and a venue that you love. This is mainly where I have to play the role of a consultant to my clients, trying to give them different options and recommendations to facilitate the ‘supplier hunting’ experience.
Lastly, what are your thoughts on www.brideclubme.com?
Bride Club ME is a great resource for brides-to-be and creates a community for future brides. The website is very interactive, making it much easier for brides to search for exactly what they need.
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