The website Coviago, created by Alfredo Bluker and Federica Granata, is a travel agency dedicated to single individuals seeking their soulmate. The concept is based on astrology.
Alfredo developed an algorithm that, at registration, determines the user’s compatibility with the available trips or other participants. Activities are then tailored to the results to ensure better group compatibility.
The different trips are categorized into four themes, representing the four elements: sport for fire, nature for earth, culture for air, and emotion for water. The themes are recommended according to the user’s astrological sign. Interview with Alfredo Bluker.
How did you and Federica meet, and how old are you?
We met in Italy, at the company that hired us a week apart. We are both 37 years old.
Did you study tourism? Astrology? Mathematics?
I graduated from a business school. Traveling is a passion. I am self-taught in astrology and numerology. Stars and numbers have always intrigued me since childhood.
When did you create Coviago?
The idea germinated on July 20, 2014. After a long gestation and a demanding administrative process, the website went live on February 24, 2016.
Where did such an idea come from? Have you had bad experiences with a travel agency in the past? Or perhaps you met your soulmate during a trip?
The seed of this idea was certainly planted in New Caledonia 8 years ago, 1 month before meeting Federica. I was exploring the Isle of Pines alone. On my bike, amidst lush nature, I cried tears of happiness. It was a new sensation, brought by this communion with nature, made possible by or due to solitude. Traveling made me happy. But I longed to find my soulmate.
Could you describe your algorithm? It seems ambitious yet brilliant to find a compatibility percentage based on possible emotional or social feelings by simply studying astrology.
Astrology is an ancient discipline that allows us to decipher our personality and life events. Three elements support this claim:
- Science states that the universe is a mathematical entity. Stars follow precise, logical, and predictable cycles. Humans also live through cycles and events, mathematically decipherable since they are part of the universe.
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The law of attraction is foundational in the formation of our Earth. It formed because compatible elements came together. Why should it not be the same for the humans who inhabit it?
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The moment of our birth is the most crucial time of our existence. This arrival in the world is far from trivial: it contains information that will influence our lives. It is interesting to note that the topic most captivating to science is the birth of the universe in its attempt to explain human history.
Through our algorithm, we strive to find these universal laws: logic, attraction, and birth.
The astrological part of the algorithm relies on the compatibility between zodiac elements (water and earth are compatible, water and air are not) while the numerological part is primarily inspired by my experience, observations, and intuition.
An astro-numerological compatibility tester is available on the website, allowing anyone to check the tool’s relevance within their circle.
You’ve ultimately found a clever blend of two sought-after activities these days: tourism and dating. Many dating apps are currently flooding smartphones, and France is one of the world leaders in the tourism sector. Did this idea cross your mind when designing the project?
No, travel is a passion. I wanted to find an activity I am passionate about. The idea of combining travel and meeting people most likely stems from the loneliness I experienced when I was alone.
How do you position yourself against other travel agencies, your main competitors?
It seems that my direct competitors emphasize sharing more, while the core of our concept is romantic encounters. This is not the only possible approach: sharing and friendly encounters are also part of the range of possible experiences. Seeking harmonious groups through astrology and numerology is our added value.
Where does your catchment area extend?
It is national and French-speaking.
Do you have partners?
We have forged partnerships with charming hotels, guides, and inbound agencies, which we have carefully selected.
What is, on average, the age of your clientele?
Currently, the 50/60-year-olds are our initial clients, but we believe that the average will settle between 30 and 40 in the long run.
Could you broadly describe the main activities (activities, gastronomy, etc.) offered to clients during their stay within the four themes: sport, nature, emotion, and culture?
- Sport stays mainly include medium or difficult hikes.
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Nature stays focus on exploring and connecting with nature and understanding ecosystems.
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Cultural stays highlight the heritage of cities and villages through visits to buildings and museums.
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Emotion stays encourage generating and sharing intense emotions, like canyoning, a flamenco class, or cooking.
For someone, for example, with the astrological sign Taurus, therefore according to your website: naturalist. Could they participate in one of the other three proposed themes?
Of course! The sun sign, Taurus, doesn’t explain everything. This parameter weighs only 15% in the destination and trip suggestion algorithm. Other stars (moon, mercury, mars, Venus) are also considered. In the numerological aspect, we compare the destination with your life path (obtained from your birth date) and the country with your personality (obtained from your first and last names). These numerological parameters weigh 50% in the algorithm. On each trip sheet, we indicate if the trip is compatible with the user profile using a star.
Do you have areas or countries that are more suited to your concept? That you often renew, for example.
The destinations we offer need to allow the implementation of the 4 travel themes (sport, nature, culture, and emotions). This requirement led us to prioritize major European cities for activity launch. We want to quickly expand our catalog with more distant destinations, such as perhaps Reunion, Namibia, or Nepal.
Thibault Bourru
