Global Love Report

Author: Pamela Lugten

  • Spanish Priest Responsible for Hundreds of Marriages

    spanish priest

    Global Love Report – January 25, 2023
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    Fernando Cuevas is a Catholic priest based in Valencia, Spain, who has helped many young singles find love. So much so that he has been dubbed the “Tinder Priest”.

    Father Cuevas has, so far, managed to marry 270 couples and have seen zero divorces from these marriages.

    So how does he do it?

    Father Cuevas plays the role of a facilitator in order to help singles get to know each other. He provides them with a form that they need to fill in. The form consists of questions regarding age, height, occupation, their level of commitment to the church, interests, and more.

    Father Cuevas will then arrange a meeting between the singles according to their preferences. After that they will decide if they want to marry if there’s chemistry.

    The priest has been so successful that those who seek him out aren’t solely from Spain. In fact, he revealed that he has had people contact him from many parts of South America, Europe, and other places.

    Originally published by LA FM.

    (Image source: Pexels, Mart Production)

  • 20th Anniversary Love Industry Think Tank

    think tank

    Global Love Report – January 25, 2023
    Written by Pamela Stephanie

    The Story Behind the Think Tank

    Global Love Institute—formerly known as Matchmaking Institute—will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year!

    The industry has come a long way since we first started. But although many things have changed—when some of us first started online dating wasn’t even a thing yet—our mission has remained the same.

    We still believe in finding a way for professionals in our industry to meet and collaborate with each other. We want to make it easier for those who are new or who are interested in joining our industry to receive the knowledge and support they need to succeed.

    And so, during our 20th Year Celebration, we want to take a look at our past, present, and future.

    We want to see all the things that we’ve done right, learn from mistakes we have made, and to forge a new future for the industry. And to do so, we’ve decided to have our 20th Anniversary Love Industry Think Tank.

    How Does It Work

    The Think Tank will be led by experienced industry professionals. It will serve as a collaborative discussion to determine what the future of the offline dating industry should be like. Attendees are invited to send in topics and/or questions that they believe should be addressed.

    Think Tanks in general are a great way to come up with great ideas that can be nurtured and realized, for the benefit of the industry. And we believe that this Think Tank will help lead our industry to a better future.

    To Participate

    Take part in our New York Global Love Conference on March 29th, 2023! If you’re unable to join us in person, you can also contribute to the discussion as a virtual attendee. Go to our Conference page for further information.

    (Image source: Pexels, Fauxels)

  • 85% of Bridal.net users want to marry within a year

    bridal net

    Global Love Report – January 18, 2023
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    Bridal.net, a matchmaking app operated by IBJ, recently conducted a survey of people currently searching for a spouse. The survey asked what respondents’ 2023 aspirations are as well as their opinion regarding when to get married.

    According to the survey, 85% of respondents stated that they want to marry within one year. When segmented by gender, 87.3% of men and 85.0% of women stated that they want to marry within a year.

    When asked the type of dating/matchmaking activity that they will be doing during the end of year holiday season, the most popular answer for men is to increase their use of bridal.net app (48.7%) whereas the popular answer for women is to “improve myself” (60%).

    Along with the announcement of the survey’s results, the app also gave away free memberships during a drawing—1 free membership from every 10 people selected in the drawing. The IBJ-operated app is ready to support those who are serious in their marriage-seeking activities.

    Originally published by PR Times

    (Image source: Unsplash, Kristin Wilson)

  • IKEA Speed Dating Event for 1000 Singles

    IKEA speed dating

    Global Love Report – January 18, 2023
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    IKEA in the Netherlands will have a speed-dating event for a thousand singles. On February 4th, the Utrecht branch of IKEA will have a large-scale dating event that will be open for a thousand singles.

    The event will take place after closing time and will give interested singles the chance to meet others over a candlelight dinner at the store’s restaurant or on one of the showroom beds.

    The event is open to singles 18 years and older and those interested can sign up on IKEA’s website. Participants can indicate whether they identify as male, female or non-binary, where they live, whether they’re a morning or night person, and whether they prefer Swedish meatballs or a veggie hot dog.

    The IKEA speed dating event will start at 8PM and will last one hour and thirty minutes, including breaks. Participants will get 5 minutes to get to know their date. When the buzzer sounds, it will be time to speak with the next candidate.

    After the speed dating is done, participants are able to stay at the restaurant to chat with other singles.

    There are two reasons why the company decided to organize the IKEA speed dating event. One reason is that the company is happy to play cupid. The other reason is that it’s hoping to help the planet: if singles can meet their future partner during the event, that will lead to energy savings at home. Two separate households will merge into one—so you’ll only be using less electricity and less heat.

    Originally published by Marie Claire

    (Image source: Pexels, Alexander Isreb)

  • Global Love Spotlight: Rose Stewart

    GLR Spotlight is an interview series featuring Matchmakers, Dating Coaches & Relationship Experts

    Global Love Report – January 11, 2023
    Interviewed by Global Love Report

    GLR Spotlight was created to feature some of our industry peers as a way for our community to get to know one another – Learn from what has worked successfully, as well as gain different perspectives and insights into various business strategies. We hope to continuously grow as an industry together by sharing these best practices with everyone!

    About Rose Stewart

    Rose Stewart

     

     

     

    Rose Stewart is a newly certified matchmaker and the owner of matchmaking agency Heartcierge, based in Texas. Prior to becoming a matchmaker, she worked as the Area Sales Director for an advertising company.

     

     

     

     

    Global Love Report (GLR): Hi Rose! What is the name of your company?

    Rose Stewart (RS): Heartcierge.

    GLR: Which city do you cover?

    RS: San Antonio, [Texas].

    Global Love Report (GLR): And what was your job before entering the matchmaking industry?

    RS : Area Sales Director [at an] Advertising Firm.

    GLR: So what made you decide to become a matchmaker?

    RS: After watching a reality [show] called “Love Match Atlanta”.

    GLR: And what have you been doing lately as a newly certified matchmaker?

    RS: Actually, I am filling up my database, and I am thrilled every minute making reservations for [my clients].

    GLR: What are you looking forward to as a matchmaker?

    RS: Attending lots of weddings and baby showers[!]

    GLR: Do you have any words of advice for people who are still considering if they want to be a matchmaker or not?

    RS: Follow your heart, that what has led me where I am today. A Certified Matchmaker in San Antonio[,] Texas.

    GLR: Thank you for your time, Rose!

    Wish to be Featured?
    Contact us: Media@GlobalLoveInstitute.com
    (Image source: Pexels)

  • Work From Home vs Work From the Office

    work from home

    Global Love Report – January 4, 2023
    Written by Pamela Stephanie

    The pandemic forced a lot of companies to work from home. And some people have opted to remain a remote worker even after people have shifted back to the office or chose a hybrid option.

    In our 2021 Industry Survey, approximately 65% of respondents work fully from home and have remained that way. And some matchmakers and coaches have a hybrid schedule: splitting time between working from home and the office, which is what 19% of respondents opted for.

    Are you still debating on whether or not to return to the office—or maybe even to return to working from home?

    Here are some of the advantages of working from home vs working from the office.

    Work from Home Advantages:

    Saves on Costs

    One of the biggest advantages of working from home is the fact that you can cut down on a lot of expenses, for example, your travel expenses. This is especially advantageous if you had been using your car to get to work. It is estimated that you can even save thousands of dollars from working remotely.

    Increased Productivity

    A study by Stanford University showed that employees who worked remotely performed better by 13%. People are generally happier and less stressed when they work from home and are able to work more effectively. Furthermore, people working from home were less tardy and took shorter breaks. These reasons combined help increase productivity.

    Better Work-Life Balance

    Along with better productivity, those who work remotely also have a better work-life balance. It also helps with your mental health and prevents burnouts. Eliminating the commuting to and from work alone can help decrease your stress levels and helps you spend more time with your friends and family.

    Work from the Office Advantages:

    Contact with Other People

    This is a big draw for people who felt isolated while they worked from home during the lockdowns. Being able to interact with colleagues is very beneficial for some people, maybe even essential. Of course, those who thrive when working with teams face-to-face will also see this as a major advantage.

    Set Work Times

    While working as a matchmaker provides you with flexibility when it comes to working hours, you may find that you tend to follow working times when you go to the office. Some people may work more than their original allotted work hours when they work from home, which can lead to burnouts.

    Designated Workspace

    Working at the office means you have a designated desk to work from and a space where you can conduct your business. For some, this is something that they don’t have at home. They may have to work in their living room or dining area. Working from the office means having a space dedicated for work and a space that’s—hopefully—conducive to working effectively.

    Want to know more matchmaking industry stats? Then download our 2021 Industry Survey.

  • French Agency’s Unexpected Love Story

    love story

    Global Love Report – December 23, 2022
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    Rose Perchot manages the Unicis matchmaking agency in La Roche-sur-Yon, which has just won the Best Franchisees and Partners in France for the third time.

    The agency has more than 500 members, ranging from 28 years old to 87, and is part of Unicis’ larger network of agencies.

    But it’s her ability as a matchmaker to bring “soulmates” together and helping singles find love where they least expect it that has helped her agency win the award from the Institut de Recherche et d’Études de la Finition (IREF) for the third time.

    One such example of an unexpected love story is between her clients Paul and Sabine (note: fake names). Both are divorced and when Paul initially contacted her agency back in May 2021, he had already gone through several disappointments.

    During his first meeting with Rose, Paul had a long list of requirements for his match. Essentially, what he was looking for was too specific in terms of character, hobbies, and physical criteria. And that was when Rose introduced him to Sabine.

    However, their initial meeting was unsuccessful. Due to his past disappointments, Paul wanted to look at someone else and was unable to see that Sabine was a good match. So, weeks went by and he met women that he couldn’t connect with.

    Sabine, on the other hand, was smitten, and when Rose proposed that she meet Paul again, she didn’t hesitate. The second meeting proved fruitful and they managed to meet, date, fall in love and are now living together. What seemed like an unsuccessful meeting ended up becoming an unexpected love story.

    Originally published by Actu.fr.

    (Image source: Pexels, Katerina Holmes)

  • Global Love Spotlight: Jason Wong

    GLR Spotlight is an interview series featuring Matchmakers, Dating Coaches & Relationship Experts

    Global Love Report – December 21, 2022
    Interviewed by Global Love Report

    GLR Spotlight was created to feature some of our industry peers as a way for our community to get to know one another – Learn from what has worked successfully, as well as gain different perspectives and insights into various business strategies. We hope to continuously grow as an industry together by sharing these best practices with everyone!

    About Jason Wong

    Jason Wong

     

     

    Jason Wong is a newly-certified matchmaker and relationship coach and owner of Quest for Two. Prior to entering the matchmaking industry, he worked in real estate for almost 20 years, where he met with global clients and investors in order to sell properties in Canada and the US.

    He encountered different types of people in his social and professional life and noted that there’s a growing a population of single, recently-divorced, or widowed individuals. These people have a successful career but aren’t as successful with love. This eventually led him to join the dating industry.

     

     

     

    Global Love Report (GLR): Hi Jason! What was your career before entering the matchmaking industry?

    Jason Wong (JW): I have been an award-winning real estate top producer for almost 20 years by marketing real estate properties in Canada and USA to global clients and investors. In the parallel universe, I have been doing properties-matching among buyers and sellers since I have obtained my Master of Business Administration degree in negotiation and human resource management in the UK in 2002.

    GLR: So what made you decide to become a matchmaker and a dating coach?

    JW: In both professional and personal circles I have a lot of great friends and newly known acquaintances who have found massive success in business and career building, yet their romance and love life is filled with void or superficial beliefs.

    I always believe that in the vast universe that we are living in, there will be someone available for those who are seeking genuine companionship and love. Believing in love drives me to become a matchmaker.

    Due to my real estate business I was privileged to be exposed to diverse cultures, demographics, full spectrum of human beliefs and behavior; I have been critical on my path of becoming a matchmaker more than anyone in my sphere of influence.

    I excelled in all science-based subjects in school, and I have applied theories, methodologies, and models to solve real life problems.

    Yet, people said, love is blind, there is only partial truth in that after going through the [certification] program – with careful planning and coaching, a client can increase the chance of success in finding the right person with good will and grace.

    GLR: What are you looking forward to in your new career as a matchmaker and dating coach?

    JW:I am looking forward to helping people find love and making people believe in finding true love is a quest that takes two parties.

    I do not expect I am able to help every single person in the world, but I would like to be the cheerleader for love in all public domains. [And] about [how] there will be always a 50/50 chance of finding love regardless age, sex, demographics–as long as one is determined to well-hone one’s belief in finding that special someone.

    GLR: So where is your company based in?

    JW: I have been calling Honolulu, Hawaii my home for the last 14 years. I would love to work in my Hawaii marketplace to help single people find love.

    GLR: Have you met any other matchmakers?

    JW: I attended the London Love Conference 2022. It was an eye-opening experience to speak with various seasoned matchmakers and dating coaches in real life. I have got to learn about different business models and some cautionary tales about the difficulty and challenges in day-to-day operation. I also enjoyed the seminars and small breakout sessions led by experts on numerous topics. All attendees learned so much from and among their peers. We all went home with tons of new knowledge and trend reports.

    GLR: Are you open for collaboration?

    JW: I am certainly open to collaborate with other certified matchmakers to help our clients to find love boundary-free.

    GLR: Any words of advice for people who are still considering if they want to be a matchmaker or not?

    JW: Almost all of the successful matchmakers that I have spoken to during London conference  came [from] distinguished professional careers prior to launching their matchmaking business.

    I do believe, it helps to propel your matchmaking operation if you set aside some cash reserve when you are starting your new profession by taking the time to sign-up “quality” clients. In any service industry, clients can sense desperation if one needs the money to make ends meet. Remember, quality is always above quantity in this highly personalized business.

    GLR: Thank you so much for your time, Jason! And good luck with your new business!

    Wish to be Featured?
    Contact us: Media@GlobalLoveInstitute.com
    (Image source: Pexels)

  • Dating Event for Singles Who Like Sake

    singles who like sake

    Global Love Report – December 21, 2022
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    Bridal Partners, a Japanese matchmaking agency that is part of IBJ, will be holding a dating event for singles who like sake.

    The specialized dating event will be held on January 29th, 2023 at Hotel Azusa in Tokyo. The agency will partner with Ichinokura, which is the largest sake brewery in the Miyagi Prefecture.

    The event will include drinks provided by the brewery, which will feature 10 kinds of sake, as well as an original bento lunch box by a 172-year-old bento shop.

    The reasoning behind this event is that, according to a survey of Japanese drinking trends in 2017, which was conducted by the Japan Sake Brewers Association, the number of women who drink has increased from 52.6% to 72.9% within 30 years.

    With this event, they will be providing singles who like sake with the opportunity to eat and drink while getting to know each other.

    Originally published by PR Times.

    (Image source: Unsplash, Xtra Inc)

  • IBJ Partners with Nagasaki Shimbun Group

    Nagasaki Shimbun

    Global Love Report – December 14, 2022
    English summary by Pamela Stephanie

    IBJ, which runs the Japan Marriage Agency Federation, is working together with the Nagasaki Shimbun Cultural Hall, part of the Nagasaki Shimbun Group in order to support matchmaking activities in the Nagasaki area.

    The Nagasaki Shimbun Group has established a new matchmaking agency on December 1st, 2022.

    The group wishes to support marriage activities in the Nagasaki Prefecture due to the decreasing birth rate as well as the outflow of population from the Prefecture, causing a population decline. By opening this agency, they wish to support Nagasaki residents who wish to find a spouse.

    Some of matchmakers working in the new matchmaking agency are highly-experienced bridal advisors at the Nagasaki Shimbun Cultural Hall. And it’s not only that. In fact, thanks to the group’s century-long presence in the area, they have people with extensive knowledge in: best dating spots and gourmet restaurants, how to come up with conversation topics with your partner—and as a newspaper company, the group have the knowledge and skills when it comes to photography and writing profiles.

    So, although the matchmaking agency may be new, the group itself has all the resources needed to successfully help the agency’s clients.
    On IBJ’s side, they will be able to expand the Japan Marriage Agency Association’s members in the Nagasaki area. This is largely thanks to the Nagasaki Shimbun Group’s extensive network in the Prefecture—which includes their readers.

    Of course, due to the demand for matchmaking that’s currently increasing in Japan, many companies with extensive local knowledge and ties to the matchmaking industry have now started their own matchmaking companies. These companies include: restaurants, travel agencies, and hotels.

    Originally published by PR Times.

    (Image source: Unsplash, Fly D)