LONDON, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Expedia,with help from new dating site DoingSomething.co.uk, turns cupid to send 60 singletons on first ever 'Holidate'
Nearly half of Brits talk travel to make a good first date impression
Love was literally in the air yesterday, as daters from across Britain and Western Europe set a new Guinness World Record for the world's highest ever speed date at an altitude of 35,000 feet, as they flew to the capital of romance, Venice, on the inaugural Expedia 'Holidate'.
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The Guinness World Record has been broken as part of Expedia's 'Holidate', a social experiment designed to prove the link between travel and love, with daters taking part in a series of different dates over 24 hours; in the UK, in the air and in Venice.
The 60 male and female singletons, including 30 daters from the UK, signed up for the Expedia dating experiment through new dating website, http://www.DoingSomething.co.uk, the first dating site that focuses on interesting, fun activities people can do on dates.
Eleanor Berg, 28, an information rights advisor from Camberwell, London, said: "It was a really great and original thing to have been a part of, and something that I will never forget. It is amazing to think I have taken part in a world record breaking experience."
Will Pearce, 24, an actor from south east London, said: "It was a fantastic achievement and a real once in a lifetime experience. It certainly exceeded the standards of your typical date, and it was like no other date I've ever been on. And I never thought I'd break a world record so that was amazing too."
Present to adjudicate the record attempt was Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday, who said: "It was plane sailing all the way - not even a spot of turbulence could put off these hopeful singles. Let's hope the daters are as lucky in love as they are with their record breaking!"
The world's largest online travel company launched the 'Holidate' after research found that travel is the top topic when it comes to a first date. Expedia found that the majority of Brits use travel (44%) as a topic of conversation when trying to woo a potential partner - trumping other topics like music (41%) and work (39%).
Andy Washington, Managing Director of Expedia UK and Ireland said, "For us at Expedia the value of travel lasts long after the tan has faded. Whether it's meeting a new romance whilst on holiday, travelling on your first trip together, the proposal, wedding or even an anniversary, it's clear that travel plays a key role in many of our relationships…that is certainly true of our office! One of the great things about travel is the way it brings people together, so we're thrilled to have been able to set a world record doing just that."
Matt Janes, CEO of DoingSomething.co.uk added, "With no distractions, traditional dating can be pretty awkward. Which is why boring, drink-in-a-pub dates often descend into mini 'interviews'. At DoingSomething.co.uk we think doing some sort of activity on a date helps people get to know each other more easily. It immediately gives people something in common, gives them a distraction, something to talk about. And there's nothing like breaking a world record as a great talking point for any first date! Travel is a great talking point - so when Expedia approached us about Holidate it was a perfect fit."
Expedia's research also found that travel is key to attracting the perfect partner; so much so that one in ten people are prepared to lie about the places they have been to impress Mr or Mrs right. Perhaps they are wise to do so with a third of us admitting to being atrracted to someone based on their travel experiences and stories. A fifth of us cited lack of travel experience as the biggest turn off when looking at online dating profiles..
The research also proved that one good date may be all it takes with almost a third (29%) of Brits claiming they 'knew they had met the one after the first date'.
The lucky participants experienced four dating experiences to see how different factors affect the dating experience: one in the UK in a traditional bar date setting where they were not allowed to discuss travel;one in the same setting where, this time they were allowed to talk about travel; one in the air on a flight over to Venice consisting of 21 brief encounters to set the new record; and one in Venice, the city of love, while doing an activity based on their shared interests in the romantic city.
Andy Washington added: "At Expedia, we know first-hand that travel plays a key role when it comes to love, whether that's a topic of conversation on a first date or the defining moment in a long-term relationship. We're really excited to be the first to set this new world record and prove the old adage that love really 'is in the air'. The Holidate has attracted far more interest than we anticipated, and we're considering playing cupid again in the future with further Holidates and of course, we're all hopeful for our first Expedia Wedding."
People can experience the Venice Holidate themselves. The Holidate Package can now be booked on Expedia.co.uk - including flights to Venice, accommodation for two and activities including wine tasting, boat tours, and a traditional Venetian shopping trip. Visit http://www.expedia.co.uk/p/deals/flexible-promo?pageid=13741 for more information and tips on dating ideas from DoingSomething.co.uk.
Notes to editors
Expedia.co.uk and DoingSomething.co.uk received over 500 applications for the Holidate. Participants were selected on the basis of availability and preference of activity.
Dating tips from DoingSomething.co.uk and interviews with participants available on request
The world record was set on a Flybe charter plane flying from London to Venice
About Expedia:
Expedia is the world's leading online travel agent offering access to over 205,000 hotels around the world (including boutique hotels as well as major hotel brand names),over 300 airlines along with a wide selection of car hire and destination experiences. By combining choice with specialist tools to help refine these options, Expedia.co.uk helps travellers to find and create the trip that best matches their individual requirements. Expedia.co.uk partners with loyalty programme Nectar in the UK enabling its customers to collect 200 Nectar points on flight only, hotel or car hire bookings and 1000 points on package purchases through http://www.expedia.co.uk.
Expedia.co.uk is part of the Expedia Inc. brand portfolio. The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers the opportunity to reach a highly valuable audience of in-market travel consumers through Expedia Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for some of the world's leading airlines and hotels, top consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates through Expedia® Affiliate Network.
Expedia, Expedia.co.uk and the Airplane logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the European Union and certain other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2013 Expedia, Inc.
About DoingSomething:
DoingSomething.co.uk is an activity based Dating Site that's taking the UK by storm since launching a year ago. The only dating site to focus on what you actually do on a date, they're hell bent on taking the awkward out of dating. The site suggests quirky and interesting things to do on dates. 25,000 singletons having signed up already. And it recently went nationwide launching in 7 cities.
Described by Grazia Magazine as 'the latest way to date' the site is being embraced by people bored of traditional Internet Dates.
In February DoingSomething took over London Eye and turned it into a real life Wheel of Date complete with Ping Pong tournament and a petting Zoo at 435 ft. They've already seen their first marriage and the first DoingSomething baby was born this month.
Where other sites promise love, DoingSomething promises ping pong. Or riding a Boris Bike. Or looking at some art. 'Dating's more fun when you're DoingSomething'. And if love happens while you're not looking, it a bonus.
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