Key Takeaways
- The 14th annual Matchmakers Alliance Conference will take place on a cruise from Nov. 7-12, 2025, and stop in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
- Conference guest speakers will cover topics like AI, dating trends, and industry ethics.
- Participants of all experience levels can enjoy exotic excursions while networking with industry veterans.
Professionals from across the dating industry will convene for the 14th annual Matchmakers Alliance Conference aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady on Nov. 7.
Matchmakers, coaches, and dating experts will enjoy five days of exciting collaboration on the cruise, which will leave from Miami and dock in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, as well as in Bimini, Bahamas.
Matchmaker Lisa Ratner explained on LinkedIn how the cruise gives dating industry professionals a chance to learn “directly from the top experts in our field.”
“I couldn’t resist saying yes to my first Matchmakers Alliance Conference at sea,” she told DatingNews. Although the conference hinges on networking and collaboration, it includes time for fun. Ratner described the conference as “Five days of learning, laughter, excursions, and connection with the best in the business.”
Industry Pros Will Discuss Technique, Ethics, and Connection
Maria Avgitidis, co-founder of the Matchmakers Alliance and CEO of Agape Match, described on LinkedIn what the conference will cover over its five days at sea, including AI, dating trends among matchmaking/coaching clients, and industry ethics, among other things.
This is not the first Matchmakers Alliance conference to take place on a cruise ship, and for good reason: Close quarters mean the conference is not only about networking, but about forging friendships based on a shared passion for connection.
After all, as Avgitidis told DatingNews, “The best matchmakers are the collaborative matchmakers and there is no truer testament than the mission of the Matchmakers Alliance conference.”
A five-day conference gives industry insiders a chance to connect IRL, something they — and today’s daters — crave. “Instead of a one day conference where you hope to connect with colleagues between coffee breaks, this experience allows the community builders of the dating industry to invest in their professional relationships,” she said.
Rookies and Veterans Can Enjoy Impactful Collaboration
The five night cruise starts at $1,973, and includes a $100 bar tab and $100 sailor’s loot, or on-board credit.
“The matchmaking and date coaching professionals that typically attend our conference are veterans of the dating industry,” according to the Matchmakers Alliance website. Still, the alliance clarified that dating professionals of all experience levels are welcome to join the conference.
The Matchmakers Alliance describes itself as a not-for-profit trade association “where dating professionals can come together to collaborate and share ideas in order to best serve our clients.” Membership isn’t mandatory to attend the conference, but as the alliance said on its site, “We’d really appreciate your support.”
According to Ratner, the conference is not only a way to stand out as an industry leader, but to improve one’s skills as a dating professional. “I know I’ll walk away with fresh ideas and collaborations that will make a lasting impact and continue to elevate the matchmaking industry,” she said.
