The IADWP and the creation of the Ed Cotton Award

The International Association of Destination Weddings (IADWP) has more than 15 years of experience in the romance segment and was founded by current President Kitzia Morales, Minty Castilla and Ed Cotton.

Ed Cotton is a highly recognized person in the romance industry internationally, due to his career, impact and influence in the aforementioned sector.

In order to honor and perpetuate the influence of Ed Cotton, The “Ed Cotton Award for Destination Wedding Excellence” was implemented for the first time during the World Romance Travel Conference organized by the IADPW; which this year took place from November 7 to 10th in Guanajuato Capital and San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato.

The International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals (IADWP) is integrated by a community of professionals from the global romance and wedding tourism industry, which mainly includes wedding planners and travel agents. The main objective of the association is to develop a platform for continuing education, generate new business opportunities, as well as to empower professionals in the sector.

The IADWP is characterized by being inspiring and generating successful global businesses in its more than 40 chapters worldwide. Currently, its International President is Kitzia Morales Torres, a tireless promoter of the romance and destination wedding segment in the world. The Association began as MeWed and was founded by Kitizia, Minty Castilla and Ed Cotton; the latter, a visionary whom 30 years ago began selling destination wedding services in Mexico to Americans, turning this business into one of the most lucrative.

Ed is a highly recognized character in the romance industry at an international level, due to his career, impact and influence in the aforementioned sector; for this reason, during the 18^th edition of the World Romance Travel Conference organized by the IADPW,  which this year took place from November 7 to 10 in the iconic destinations of Guanajuato Capital and San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato, the "Ed Cotton Award” was implemented for the first time. The award that bears the name of the aforementioned veteran was granted to the renowned American wedding planner Tracy French, who also has been a travel consultant for more than 20 years, in addition to being the owner and creator of the company "The French Connection”.

In order to win the award, a dynamic was developed on social networks, in which both travel agents and international wedding planners sent an essay bout continuing promoting the romance and destination wedding industry. The "Ed Cotton Award" arrived to stay, and to recognize and honor one of the most important destination industry pioneers in the world; for this reason, it will be awarded again at the World Romance Travel Conference 2023, which will take place from June 5 to 8th in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Photo: Pipe Gaber