Love is literally in the air today as daters from across Ireland and Europe broke 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’.

Her.ie’s very own Sue Murphy was on board for The Guinness World Record, which is 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 on their way to Venice. 60 male and female singletons, including six daters from Ireland, signed up for the dating experiment through Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company.  

Andy Washington, Managing Director of Expedia Ireland said, “At Expedia we know first-hand that travel plays a key role when it comes to love, whether it’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 have broken this new world record and prove the old adage that love really ‘is in the air’.”

Expedia launched the ‘Holidate’ after research into the clear links between romance and travel. According to their research, over half (56%) of Irish believe they’re more likely to find love on holiday than at home. And perhaps because of this belief, we’re also more likely to take holiday romance into our own hands and are flirtier on flights than the Brits, Germans, French, and even the Italians!

Over half (55%) of Irish also use travel stories as the main way to appear interesting to the opposite sex on a first date, again more than the Brits, Italians, French and Germans. Our traditional travel story-telling also extends to the modern discourse of internet dating. Over half (54%) of Irish internet daters include travel details and stories in their profile, to woo potential lovers.

Ian O’Shea, one of the Irish singletons on board the ‘Holidate’ said, “Travel stories are great for breaking the ice on a date as it gives you some common ground. I’d like to meet like-minded people for fun dates in Venice, but at the very least the trip will provide a great travel story for future dates! The appeal of the Holidate was also really intriguing, as dating at 35,000 feet and setting a Guinness World Record is not something you get to do that often on a first date!" 

Ian, as well as five other participants, enjoyed 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 and 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 20 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. 

 Our girl Sue will be back in Her.ie Towers tomorrow with a full report. Technically she was on board as a reporter, but since she’s been keeping very quiet for the past few days the hopeless romantics in the office are hoping she’s been struck by Cupid’s arrow too…