HONEYMOONS

‘The honeymoon should be unique and customised, just like a wedding dress.’
Interview with Chiara Casuccio, Customer Office Manager of Alidays Travel Experiences.
Honeymoon or ‘Honeymoon’.

Some texts suggest that the origin of the name is a reference to the first month of marriage, thus the whole ‘lunar’ phase, and to the drink predominantly used to celebrate the wedding, namely a ‘honey’ beer, mead.
Other texts suggest that ‘honey’ is a reference to the sweetness of the first period after marriage, emphasising the fact that the expression implies that only the first ‘moon’ will be of ‘honey’.
Be that as it may, ‘Travel’ has always been in the collective imagination a moment of intimacy and romance with which every couple dreams of celebrating their wedding.

And Chiara Casuccio, Customer Office Manager at Alidays Travel Experiences, tells us a lot about these Journeys. Chiara has also worked for Costa Crociere, spending 2 years in Doha, and is passionate about whales and the North of the world.

Hi Chiara, first of all tell us about Alidays.

Alidays S.p.A. is an operator based in Italy, specialising in the organisation of tailor-made and customised trips. Founded in 1992 by Davide Catania, who is still its managing director, it focuses on creating unique travel experiences, offering specialised itineraries in various destinations around the world, including the United States, Africa, Asia, Oceania and many more.
Alidays specialises in ‘Taylor made’ travel, tailor-made solutions for clients, taking care of every detail of the trip, from flight planning to organising excursions, local activities and exclusive accommodation. The company is distinguished by its tailor-made approach, adapting offers according to travellers’ individual tastes and needs.

In 2023, you kicked off your ALYDA project as the New Travel Planning System. Can this be called a management breakthrough?

ALYDA, the evolution of our online booking platform for agencies, certainly represents an example of how technology can become a valid tool to support quality consultancy.
It is a latest-generation system that allows our partner Agencies to respond not only quickly but also effectively to their customers’ requests, ensuring that they find the right Alidays tailor-made trip.

Honeymoons.
According to Istat, weddings in Italy are increasingly declining. In fact, if we consider that in the 1970s, approximately 400,000 weddings were celebrated each year (7.7 weddings per thousand inhabitants), that in 2008, 246,613 weddings were celebrated in Italy (approximately 4 per thousand inhabitants), the numbers of the last decade are really different, estimated at only 180,000 couples per year.
The concept of “wedding” has certainly also changed and, consequently, the Honeymoon. What are your most popular honeymoon destinations and what are your most specific requests when organizing the trip?

Among the most requested destinations for honeymoons: Bora Bora – This destination in French Polynesia is renowned for its natural beauty and turquoise lagoons.

Hawaii – A classic for honeymoons, with a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure and local culture. South Africa: A more adventurous choice, but popular among couples looking for unique experiences. Japan – Especially among culture and food lovers, with combinations of modern cities and traditional villages.
As for more specific requests, some couples ask for personalized experiences such as private dinners in exclusive locations, overnight stays in unusual structures (e.g. igloos or tree houses), wellness retreats or wellness and relaxation experiences.
Every honeymoon is unique, so we try to intercept the desires of customers and make them unique experiences.

Honeymoons are part of incoming and outgoing tourism, what are the expectations for 2025?

In general, a full recovery of tourist flows to pre-pandemic levels is expected by 2024-2025. Europe, in particular, is expected to be at the forefront of the recovery of international tourism.
Digitalization and sustainability will play a crucial role, with a growing focus on ecotourism and food and wine tourism.
Many Italians will prefer distant destinations but more sustainable travel, while classic destinations such as large cities could see a decline in interest in favor of less frequented locations and more immersed in nature. Northern Europe and some lesser-known destinations in the East such as Cambodia and Korea are growing rapidly, in addition to Japan which continues to record record numbers.
Furthermore, the demand for personalized and digital travel solutions will continue to grow, reflecting the evolution of consumer needs, especially the younger ones.

Alidays has recently joined the Assowedding project by becoming a Partner. We are happy with this “marriage” and we hope to convey the contents and value of this collaboration to the world of Wedding and its Professionals. A first message you want to address to Wedding Planners?

The honeymoon must be unique and personalized, just like a wedding dress. There is no one like another and this uniqueness must be intercepted in every little aspect of the spouses’ personality. Only by knowing in depth who we have in front of us will we be able to understand what their travel expectations are.

By Stefania Arrigoni