Wedding industry speaker and business coach 

(Barbados)

Brian is an award-winning event planner with over twenty years of experience in the international events industry. He is the Chief Event Architect and Creative Visionary of By BrianGreen LLC based in Atlanta creating amazing social and corporate events across the globe. He is a former Diplomat for the country of Barbados.  

He was the featured guest expert on The Steve Harvey Show on Fox for their annual Wedding Hour where he presented great tips and advice on how to host the best wedding while avoiding the usual pitfalls and has been published in every major magazine in our industry.  He is also the host of WeddingPro's YouTube web series The Real Truth about your favourite Wedding Movies!. He is one of an elite group of WeddingPro Educators. He is also an Advisor and Mentor for The Knot/ Wedding Wire’s Fellowship For Change Program. 

As part of his strong activism and belief in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, he currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the National Society of Black Wedding & Event Professionals. 

Corporate Director of Weddings & Romance, Sandals Resorts International

(Jamaica)

Marsha-Ann Donaldson is the force behind many of the Caribbean’s most memorable “I dos.” As Corporate Director of Weddings & Romance for Sandals Resorts International, she drives the vision for destination weddings and romance experiences across Sandals® and Beaches® Resorts, leading a multi-island team focused on turning life’s milestones moments into unforgettable experiences.

With more than 30 years in hospitality and tourism, including over two decades with Sandals Resorts International, she approaches every celebration with creative intuition, a sharp eye for detail, and an instinct for what couples want now and next. Through Sandals and Beaches Resorts Caribbean Destination Weddings program, Marsha-Ann and team guide couples from vision to vows, supporting everything from intimate ceremonies to multi-day celebrations with family and friends across the region.

Based in Montego Bay, Marsha-Ann brings an unmistakable Jamaican spirit to her work and is recognized as one of the Caribbean’s leading destination wedding experts and tastemakers. Frequently tapped for her insights on romance travel and Caribbean hospitality, she is a sought-after industry voice and has been featured across international media, including Good Morning America, Fox Business Live, Travel Weekly, The Bridechilla Podcast, and Destination I Do Podcast.

Beyond the resorts, she extends that same energy as a motivational speaker with a keen focus on being a voice for women’s empowerment and personal growth. Marsha-Ann holds a B.S. in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

(Jamaica)

Philip grew up in the tourism and hospitality industry having worked in city hotels and beach resorts across Jamaica since his first summer job at 14 years old. He was recruited by the Jamaica Tourist Board over 20 years ago and has been a leader and trendsetter in the industry ever since. He has excelled in different roles in the U.S.A and Canada and has been promoted in every position he has held. He now serves as Deputy Director of Tourism where he leads Jamaica Tourist Board’s operations in the USA, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Philip has lived and studied tourism in Jamaica, Canada, USA, Singapore and Italy. This has armed him with a deep understanding of cultural nuances that serves well in a global environment.

An avid social media user, he introduced the Jamaica Tourist Board to social media marketing and designed their first campaign over 15 years ago. Philip effectively uses most platforms to increase and engage his audience and is often quoted as saying, “you can’t sell anything if you don’t have an audience”.

Philip is a passionate philanthropist and supports charities and foundations that fight for children’s welfare, poverty alleviation and education.

He’s a football (soccer) fan, an engaging storyteller, and enjoys recounting tales of his time spent in Jamaica with A-list celebrities or of his younger days working in Jamaica’s top resorts.

(United States)

Planning social events was a big part of JoAnn Gregoli’s life upon graduation from college. After receiving her degree in Public Relations, she joined a PR firm where she planned events for many major corporations, as well as private events for corporate clients. By far, one of her most memorable and touching projects was assisting brides who lost wedding venues after the attacks on NYC on 9/11.  With the assistance of The Knot and Brides magazine, she was able to relocate over 200 brides to new venues around the city.

The Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) awarded JoAnn the title of Professional Wedding Planner and she was appointed the New Jersey State Coordinator of ABC. She completed the ABC Course and earned the distinction of Master Wedding Planner. She was also appointed the New York Metro Coordinator for the Association. JoAnn is an award winner wedding planner who won the esteemed award of Top Global Destination Wedding Planner by Amour!

Over the years, destination weddings have grown immensely and are more than just a trend. JoAnn has been recognized as a guru in this area. Modern Bride magazine included her as one of their Trendsetters of the Year and she was also recently recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Wedding Planners in the world! JoAnn has the knowledge and contacts to make your dreams a reality. She is considered one of the top wedding planners in the world!!! JoAnn’s passion is to be an advocate for her couples and make sure every vendor is creative and passionate about their craft..

During the Covid pandemic, JoAnn created a nonprofit Front Line Sewing Angels to help the front line workers and battered women’s shelters with making and distributing much-needed PPE!

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Sarah Young

Luxury Event Planner

(United States)

Atosha Barboza Bennett is an award-winning international floral and event designer, speaker, and business educator with over 16 years of experience producing high-impact celebrations and mentoring creative professionals. She is the founder of House of Barboza (formerly Larger Than Life Events and Design) and Behind The Veil Academy, where she equips wedding and event professionals with the design, pricing, and business strategies needed to grow.

Known as The Floral Queen, her destination work spans Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Curaçao, blending cultural storytelling with polished execution.

She was named Floral Educator of the Year by Black Girl Florists and Mentor of the Year at the Munaluchi Bride Coterie Retreat. Her work has been featured in Black Bride, MunaLuchi Bride, The Knot, Vogue Weddings, Charleston Weddings Magazine, and BCollective Magazine, and she was recognized by BRIDES Magazine as one of the Top African American Floral Designers. She is also the author of “Bloom Anyway: Life Lessons from the Floral Queen.”

(Canada)

Andrea Hudson-Lindsay is a Certified Bilingual, award-winning Travel Designer with over 30 years of experience specializing in destination weddings, romance travel, and group experiences. As an IADWP member and recognized industry expert, Andrea works closely with wedding planners, travel agents, and suppliers to create seamless, unforgettable celebrations in the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Jamaica.

Andrea is known for her ability to seamlessly coordinate complex group movements while preserving the cultural authenticity and guest experience that Caribbean destinations are celebrated for. Her expertise spans luxury resorts, boutique properties, and experiential destinations, ensuring that every wedding from intimate beachfront ceremonies to multi-day guest experiences is thoughtfully designed and flawlessly executed. Andrea’s extensive personal travel throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and North America allows her to provide insight grounded in real-world experience, helping couples and planners select ideal venues, manage guest logistics, and craft one-of-a-kind experiences.

As the visionary behind Your Travel Genie, Andrea is passionate about partnering with destination wedding professionals to elevate client experiences, maximize value, and ensure every celebration reflects the couple’s unique love story. Known for her professionalism, cultural insight, and attention to detail, she inspires audiences to see destination weddings not just as events, but as transformative experiences that leave lasting memories for couples and their guests.

Andrea brings to the stage a wealth of regional knowledge, decades of industry insight, an authentic love for Caribbean culture and a genuine passion for showcasing Jamaica and the Caribbean as premier destinations for weddings, group travel, and transformative experiences.

(United States / Jamaica)

Roxanne Bellamy is the Founder and Principal of RB & Co., a high-touch event planning, design, and production firm specializing in immersive, multi-day destination celebrations.
With over 15 years of experience across social events, weddings, educational gatherings, and private dinners, she has built a reputation for creating experiences that feel layered, intentional, and deeply personal.
Roxanne's work is anchored in a simple but hard-won belief: beauty should never come at the expense of structure. Her approach blends thoughtful design with operational discipline, ensuring every detail,  seen and unseen works in harmony. For her, producing an event isn't simply about aesthetics; it's about protecting the experience from start to finish.

(United States)

Chris J. Evans is an internationally recognized luxury wedding and portrait photographer, speaker, and educator known for his refined, emotionally driven imagery. His work focuses on capturing authentic, fleeting moments with elegance and intention, guided by his philosophy: seek the truth, reveal the beauty.

Chris photographs weddings and editorial projects around the world and is a sought-after speaker for creative entrepreneurs and event professionals. Through his keynotes, workshops, and writing, he teaches how to elevate brands from mainstream to luxury by focusing on authenticity, gratitude, and exceptional client experience. His work blends artistry, storytelling, and a deep commitment to meaningful human connection.

(Canada)

Vanessa brings over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, with a career that began in 1993 and spans destinations across South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States. Her background includes roles as a destination representative in the Dominican Republic, managing eco-tourism projects in Ecuador, and serving as a Reservation Manager for multiple Disney-area properties.

As a Travel Designer specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons, Vanessa focuses on delivering well-executed, personalized travel experiences. She has built strong relationships with key travel partners, allowing her to coordinate seamless group travel and customized itineraries with a focus on quality and detail.

Fluent in four languages, she ensures clear communication throughout the planning process. Known for her genuine passion for helping others, Vanessa takes a thoughtful, client-focused approach. Her work is grounded in industry knowledge, operational experience, and a practical approach to bringing clients’ travel plans together efficiently and effectively.

In 2020 she founded the Caribbean Wedding and Events Professionals, (CWEP) a non-profit regional organization that represents Caribbean professionals and business entities. As a regional champion for event industry excellence, she created CWEP as a platform for industry professionals to network, leverage their creativity and grow.

From a business perspective, The Dreamy Group includes Dreamy Weddings & Tours Inc., Dreamy Floral & De cor Bar Ltd., Elite St. Kitts, Dreamy Rentals, Mariposa Condos and Dreamy Florals St. Lucia.

(Jamaica)

With 25 yeaWith over 20 years in airline marketing and destination sales, Claire brings a wealth of knowledge to the tourism product, having marketed the Caribbean working directly with a variety of tourism partners.
Claire Skies Travel, a full-service agency specializing in destination weddings and groups, has earned several accolades, most notably being awarded one of the “Top 50 Jamaica Travel Specialists” for 9 years including the most recent period for 2025.
Claire was the Regional Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region at Air Jamaica leading an award-winning team of sales professionals voted #1 and #2 Airline representative by Travel Agent Magazine.

In 2001, after two years as Area Sales Manager with Air Jamaica for the Baltimore/Washington region, Claire was promoted to Regional Sales Manager Special Markets for the Northeast USA based in New York. In this role, Claire increased the company’s revenue by 20% in the Caribbean and African American markets.

From 2004 through 2010, Claire was the Regional Sales Manager with Air Jamaica, for the Mid-Atlantic Region based in Maryland covering seven states managing a sales budget of over US$40M.
The airline was subsequently sold by the Government in 2010. With a passion for the travel industry, Claire started her own independent travel agency in March of 2012, and in 2026 celebrating 14 years in the business.
Having been both a supplier and a travel advisor allows me to recognize how important partnership is in our travel business. Thanks to the IADWP for the opportunity to be a panelist for this event here in Jamaica, the land of my birth.