The Quick Version: a huge city like Chicago may seem like it’s teeming with singles, many discover the abundance of selections intimidating. For those who are brand new in the city or also active as of yet themselves, matchmakers supply a shortcut to love. Situated in Chicago, Stef as well as the City is a matchmaking firm with a database of screened times ready to go. The creator, Stef Safran, is a dating advisor and matchmaker who emboldens singles to expand their unique social schedule and make the most of chances to fulfill new people. She knows time is a precious product for singles, so she’s thrilled to aim her customers toward vetted dates, prominent occasions, as well as take a trip packages to expedite romance.
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Jennifer, an individual lady in her mid-20s, cannot help but release to her buddies over meal 1 day. She’d already been living in Chicago her whole life and felt she’d tired the woman online dating solutions. Frustration obvious inside her voice, she talked about exactly how tough it had been in order to satisfy an excellent guy inside the area.
Lucky for Jennifer, a matchmaker and internet dating mentor was sitting close by and listening intently. Stef Safran, Founder of Stef together with City, overheard the dilemma and understood she could help, very she got action. She gave the students unmarried her credit right there in the center of the cafe. With elevated eyebrows, Jennifer took it.
90 days afterwards, Jennifer was actually ready to give matchmaking a try and planned a private assessment with Stef. “I was concerned that any person she will dsicover would be many avove the age of me,” Jennifer recalled, “but Stef said she’d get my personal conditions severely.”
Stef arranged a romantic date for Jennifer (they were exactly the same age), therefore the few struck it off, speaking for eight hours. They ended up in a lasting relationship, and Stef ended up being thrilled to experience their unique blossoming love.
She told us, “Jennifer had that life-changing experience all for the reason that a flippant remark she made to a buddy.” And, definitely, because of Stef’s skill at combining people upwards.
As a matchmaker and matchmaking mentor, Stef often saves Chicagoans enough time and energy of finding a date independently. From assembling a customized social calendar to promoting completely vetted first times, the group at Stef and also the City will get singles out of their routine and into an excellent connection in no time.
“I like cooperating with people,” Stef mentioned. “With matchmaking, this really is great when you understand you connect two different people who would have never came across without you.”
Stef Safran Got Her Start Recruiting Singles for “The Dating Game”
When Stef started assisting singles, pagers were still a major as a type of personal interaction. She worked as a contest coordinator for “The Dating Game,” a-game program in which bachelors and bachelorettes searched for a possible big date.
As an element of her task, Stef was actually marketing with many different good-looking singles in la to recruit individuals to appear on the program. A leading Chicago matchmaker subsequently tapped Stef to recruit singles for a private matchmaking firm. Eventually, Stef chose to branch out and begin her own company, Stef and the City, to focus matchmaking and matchmaking mentoring solutions across the client’s personal existence.
These days, as a matchmaker, she can be applied her networking skills to her task by collaborating with other matchmakers around the globe. Through partnerships and good relations, she views to it that singles discover assistance no matter where they stay.
“we fell into matchmaking,” she informed all of us. “I utilized the abilities I discovered in business college to cultivate the firm, and as I increased, I began getting in touch with folks, getting co-workers, and sharpening my brand.”
Matchmaking for males & Females Vets Dates Before You fulfill Them
Stef while the City consumers range in get older from 24 to 50 (sometimes more mature) and are also usually white-collar specialists. This type of person college-educated and often too busy to look around Chicago for the someone special.
Romance takes some time to get, and a matchmaker can put in the several hours to narrow down anyone’s look for love. From private consultation services to providing comments after a date, Stef will there be to support and help the lady clients each step for the way.
“i will be totally practical,” she mentioned. “I do most of the matchmaking. Every customer, man or lady, fulfills beside me and works together with us.”
As an initial step, Stef gauges the personality of the woman customers by sitting down and talking together with them regarding their matchmaking background and existence goals. She listens closely to get a genuine sense of exactly who that individual is actually and exactly what their own priorities are in existence. She assumes only 20 clients at any given time so she will be able to offer individualized attention to every person.
“I imagined I might be a difficult kind to complement up,” mentioned Rebecca, a former customer, in a testimonial, “but Stef assured myself that she’d keep her eyes down for me. 90 days afterwards, she launched me to Tom, and it also had been an immediate connection!”
Action-Oriented training: Set Online dating targets for the Next Six Months
Stef’s motto is “rejuvenate your own social existence” because she requires an extensive method to increase the opportunity for matchmaking in her consumers’ every day lives. She coaches singles to interact at occasions, join groups, and generally be more personal and effective as a way to fulfill new-people.
She typically recommends the girl customers regarding finest internet dating techniques, but she also provides a lot more nuanced services to improve the online dating experience for her customers. Her training looks are action-oriented, which means she creates a concrete arrange for the woman clients to adhere to during a six-month duration. Stef in addition to City has actually a two-pronged method, helping facilitate in-person socializing at activities in addition to web flirting on well-known relationship web pages.
“After Stef and that I set up a strategy, we ended up matchmaking four different guys and (ended up being) able to pick just who I wanted are with,” mentioned Amber, a 32-year-old client which finished her internet dating dry spell with Stef’s support.
1. Social Calendar: Proactively thinking techniques to Meet People
Stef and the City jolts singles from their same exact regimen and pushes them to be a little more personal. A team of internet dating experts can create a customized social diary for clients to jump-start their unique matchmaking existence. This specific service smartly plans how you take your time, recommending charity occasions, courses, gyms, sporting events leagues, network opportunities, also singles occasions in Chicago.
“Stef surely could help me to set up exactly what locations i will go to satisfy folks personal age in addition to approaches to set up me expertly,” stated Sam, who was simply new to the metropolis and therefore enlisted Stef’s help satisfy folks. “i might seriously recommend trying a social diary through the girl.”
2. Online dating sites Profile assist: promotion the skills Online
Some singles need to conduct their search for dates, but need just a little assistance ensuring they truly are getting their very best foot forward. Stef can mentor these singles on how to compose a profile or message whenever online dating sites.
“After Stef and that I create an agenda, I finished up online dating four different men and (had been) able to choose who i desired to be with.” â Amber, among Stef’s matchmaking mentoring consumers
Stef and also the City’s staff of article writers, stylists, photographers, and internet dating experts will allow you to market yourself on a dating internet site to increase the amount of responds you receive and save precious time.
The woman Site Promotes money saving deals on Singles Travel & Events
Stef while the City are open to all channels to love. That is why they provide a myriad of services and suggestions to customers. The group understands that conference individuals are a challenge, so they provide easy access to sources to begin with.
On Stef together with City’s internet site, you can find regional options for singles vacation and singles occasions detailed to help individuals get productive. From week-end getaways to night drink tastings, these personal tasks are loaded with enjoyable and relationship.
As an additional benefit, Stef lovers with companies that foster date opportunities for singles. Her sugar mama website offers important discounts on single vacation bundles and local events to produce interacting less expensive. “After get older 30, it could get very hard for those to manufacture new friends,” she mentioned. “So, there seemed to be truly a requirement to get more methods to fulfill folks in Chicago and move the chase.”
Recharge & Re-Energize: Stef Coaches Clients to obtain right back Out There
Stef motivates singles to be proactive and never lose hope. Whether you’re new to Chicago and seeking for personal associations or a lifelong Chicagoan, like Jennifer, who simply demands a shortcut to finding the proper individual, Stef features years of experience working together with singles.
Through social calendars, online profile administration, and matchmaking services, Stef therefore the City gives consumers the opportunity to socialize in many ways. Stef requires an active curiosity about assisting singles clean upwards their own online dating abilities and hooking up the woman clients to enduring connections.
“your whole process is definitely about self-discovery and recognizing your boundaries,” Stef said. “often for people, it’s just about acquiring right back nowadays and feeling recharged about matchmaking.”
International tourism has come a long way to returning back to pre-pandemic levels. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that international arrivals reached 80% of prior levels during the first quarter of 2023. That’s an estimated 235 million tourists traveling internationally in just three months, more than double the same period in 2022. The recovery has been robust across various regions, including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East
Why has this happened? In addition to few (if any) restrictions on travel, the popularity of online travel and booking platforms makes it easy for jetsetters to buy flights from their phones. They can compare real-time prices, plan out personalized itineraries, and pay for bookings with a few button clicks.
We’ve also seen a blending of business and personal travel into longer, more flexible trips. Termed “bleisure” by travel fans, the concept gives business travelers an excuse to book a few extra days to see the sites and even bring friends or family along. It’s not surprising to see some of these trips lean toward the more exotic, with luxury accommodations and excursions becoming the norm for trips of all lengths.
So, where are people traveling? The Global Tourism Data of inbound tourists from the UNWTO gives a peek into the most popular destinations across the globe from data collected in 2023.
1. France
100 million visitors ($68.6 billion USD in receipts)
Tourism in France took a big jump in 2023, with Forbes reporting a 12.3% increase in just the first quarter. France currently has around 29,000 tourist accommodations for travelers to stay, with hotels making up 17,600 of those locations. Luxury hotels alone saw a jump in occupancies, an incredible 31.4% increase from the year before.
The region with the most hotels is the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, followed by Île-de-France, where Paris can be found.
2. Spain
85.17 million visitors ($92 billion USD in receipts)
Spain has seen phenomenal growth in its popularity as a tourist spot, with the Spanish Statistical Office reporting 5.2 million international tourists in December. This was an increase of 26.2% from the previous December and represented part of the total 18.7% increase for the entire year.
Where were visitors from? The United Kingdom sent the most tourists (907,752 million), followed by France (819,405 million) and Germany (561,521 million). All three countries had more tourists in 2023, with increases of 18% to 23% over 2022.
Spain is known for its lovely year-round weather, which may be why so many flock to its warm temps when other places turn cold. More visitors came in January than other months, and June was the least popular.
3. United States of America
66.48 million visitors ($175.9 USD in receipts)
While the U.S. is at number three on this list, the post-pandemic recovery it’s seeing lags a bit behind other countries. The U.S. Travel Association reports international travel volumes at 84% of 2019 levels, with a full recovery expected by 2025.
Visitors to the U.S. spend around $4,000 per visit and add $155 billion to the U.S. economy each year.
Of the countries that send the most tourists, many have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. These include the Caribbean and other countries in the Americas, as well as Europe. Visitors from China and Japan have been reluctant to return after COVID. Both send around half of the tourists they used to, leaving the U.S. economy with four million fewer shoppers to spend their vacation dollars.
4. Italy
57.25 million visitors ($55.9 billion USD in receipts)
Reuters reports that Italy broke records in 2023 with more international tourists visiting the country than domestic travelers. This hadn’t happened since the pandemic.
The influx of visitors created a boon for the hospitality industry, and Italy saw a 13.4% increase in hotel stays. The 134 million registered guests was an all-time high, with 10% more total nights booked in 2023 than in 2022.
However, all the buzz about Italy caused the country to rethink its hottest tourist spots, even limiting the number of hours vacationers could visit and charging for the most popular sites. Venice, for example, has instituted a fee system to move about the city during peak hours; Capri, Linosa, and other locales created an outright ban on cars for everyone but the locals.
5. Turkey
55.16 million visitors ($49.5 billion USD in receipts)
Turkey is known for its amazing scenery and year-round popularity, and over 550 of the country’s beaches were awarded blue flag status in 2023. The voluntary award recognizes beaches and marinas based on several “environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility” standards.
Its geographic location helps it attract tourists from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Of all the places people come to see, Istanbul tops the list. In fact, the city was ranked as the most visited city in the world in 2023.
Each visitor spends around $952 per trip to Turkey, a 27% increase over 2019 (the last year tracked at pre-pandemic levels).
Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others
Legendary comedian Gbenga Adeyinka is set to host the much-anticipated third edition of his comedy show, Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming on November 17, 2024. The event will take place at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, promising an unforgettable night of laughter and entertainment.
The lineup features a mix of iconic comedians and musicians, including Omobaba No.1, Gandoki, Dr. Smile, Bash, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, and a host of surprise acts, with D’Banj headlining the show.
Gbenga Adeyinka remarked, “Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming will be the biggest comedy show of the year! We’ve curated an incredible roster of iconic headliners, and I’m excited to bring this level of entertainment to Lagos.”
Laffmattazz has cemented its place as a leading comedy brand, showcasing Nigeria’s finest comedic talent. This year’s event is poised to outdo its predecessors, featuring performances from Akpororo, Forever, Seriki Dariya, Princephelar, Dee One, Taooma, Baba Alariya, Madiba of Comedy, ATM, and more.
The night will also include musical performances by Tee Famous, The Countryman, Dami Cruz, and others, with DJ Wiki spinning on the decks.
Event Details:
– Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
– Time: Red Carpet (3:00 PM), Show Start (5:00 PM)
– Venue: Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos
Ticket Information:
– Regular: ₦7,000
– VIP: ₦20,000
– Table of 8 Gold: ₦1.5 million
– Table of 8 Platinum: ₦3 million
Purchase Tickets at:
1. Ile Iyan by PODs, GRA Ikeja
2. Ofada Boy, Surulere
3. Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki
Online Tickets Available at:
1. Ariiyatickets.com
2. Grandtickets.ng
3. Laffmattazz.ng
For ticket purchases, sponsorships, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, please contact: (+234) 08156111111.
Brought to you by: Maltina, Goldberg, Ace Roots, Goldberg Black
Supported by: Parralex Bank, Enclave Green Homes, FIRS, Lagos State Government
Media Partners: African Magic, Royal Roots Cinema, Hip TV, Views Channel, Vybz FM, Ibrand TV, Rapid Broadcasting Network, City FM, Jordan FM, Rainbow FM, Mainland FM, Boom Radio, TVC, Kennis FM, Beat FM
Outdoor Partners: Nimbus Media, FPL Media, Folham, Media Crush, Elev8 Media
Stay updated by following Laffmattazz on social media @laffmattazz_ga1st for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.
Don’t miss this epic comedy event! Secure your tickets now and join the conversation online using #LaffmattazzLagos3rdComing #GbengaAdeyinka.
We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, counselled members of the House to strengthen the legislative arm of government ahead of the future.
Dr. Obasa gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the opening of a three-day budget retreat for lawmakers and staff of the House with the theme: ‘Optimising the legislature’s power of the Purse’ for effective service delivery in Lagos State’.
The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to be committed in their legislative duties as they must leave lasting legacies for the future, strengthen governance, responsibility and accountability.
He charged the lawmakers on improved and effective legislative oversight functions being one of the responsibilities of the legislature.
“What we do now is really not about us; it is for the totality of the system.
“I appreciate this budget retreat. Each one of us must be responsible in carrying out the assignments we are tasked with. This is very essential.
“We carry out budget scrutiny based on what is presented by the executive. Once we give a go-ahead, it means the executive must comply and treat it accordingly because it has become a law.
“Going forward, all the reports of each committee must be presented at the floor of the House. This will help us decide on how to act for the sake of transparency and accountability,” the Speaker said.
He advised the lawmakers against docility in the task of ensuring that Lagos continues to weather economic storms.
“We all have roles to play and, in doing that, sentiments and self-benefits must be removed. The day you start with self-benefit, you have become a failure.
“If you do your job the way you should do it, you will earn your respect and will be held in high esteem by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“We are here today again to look at how we can improve on the laws we make at the House of Assembly as well as our oversight functions.
‘Let’s continue to be dedicated and loyal and I am sure we will get there. Let’s always straighten the path for Lagosians and those coming behind us,” he urged.
In his opening remark, the Clerk and Head of Service of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, described the retreat as an avenue to have insights into the state’s budget.
While commending the Speaker, he urged the participants to “be attentive and take home fresh ideas and knowledge.”
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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