To Naples with Love
Although we’ve said goodbye to another enchanting Valentine’s Day on Fifth Avenue South, love is still in the air when it comes to romantic rendezvous on our beautiful Main Street.
The Knot, an extremely popular global wedding information website, has just named Naples #4 in the world for honeymoon destinations for the month of April. Naples was beaten out by Australia, Florence, Italy, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Not bad company for a city already dubbed the #1 place to live, work and play. So, if you see some not so discreet affection along Fifth Avenue South this month, you will know the reason why.
According to The Knot, “It’s always beach weather in Naples, but it won't be too balmy yet in April. The dining scene here continues to evolve with award-winning concepts and romantic locales at beachfront resorts and along the well-heeled historic downtown area of Fifth Avenue South, so culinary lovers will definitely get their fill of fantastic wine and food on their Naples honeymoon.”
The Knot encourages newlyweds to “Start the evening with drinks and Italian-inspired pub fare at Bar Tulia or head next door to chef Vincenzo Betulia's namesake Osteria Tulia for rustic homemade fare in a space modeled after an Italian farmhouse.”
The Knot also suggests Inn on Fifth as a special place to honeymoon in Naples, noting it “places couples within walking distance of downtown's shops and galleries, and despite being on the boutique side, it exudes a resort feel thanks to the rooftop pool and bar complete with a firepit, as well as two fine-dining options: Ocean Prime and Truluck's.”
Shereen Ghandour, director of sales and marketing for the Inn on Fifth, confirms that Naples is becoming more and more of a “love” destination, whether it’s a honeymoon or just a romantic getaway.
The Inn on Fifth offers custom-designed romantic packages throughout the year. “We will also work with our guests who want to curate their own idea of a romantic visit from rose petals and champagne in the room to theater tickets and spa reservations. We make sure every couple feels their experience is bespoke and unforgettable, and never a cookie-cutter stay,” says Shereen, who brings more than 20 years of experience in luxury hotels across multiple locations.
The Inn on Fifth also provides complimentary transportation for its guests to the beach and back and to any destination within three miles of the hotel. “We want our guests to relax, yet have easy access to everything Naples has to offer, whether white sandy beaches or some of the finest cuisine on the planet,” says Shereen.
While Naples is a honeymoon haven, it is fast becoming a wedding destination as well. It is hard to estimate the number of destination weddings held in Naples each year, but there were more than 3,100 in Collier County in 2023, making it 135th out of 3,109 counties that keep track of wedding numbers. A large percentage of those were in Naples, and a significant subset of those were destination weddings.
In addition to honeymooners, the Inn on Fifth also has its share of weddings and receptions. The Inn on Fifth is known for smaller, more intimate weddings of 60-80 people, where couples and their guests get the same red-carpet treatment as honeymooners.
“Whether a wedding, honeymoon, renewal of nuptials, or a significant anniversary, our goal is to make sure our guests have the most beautiful and romantic experience possible. We want them to feel the Inn on Fifth is their hotel and their stay is meaningful and memorable,” said Shereen.
“While the Inn is the heart of Fifth, the Avenue is the heart of Naples,” she continued. “No wonder people in love want to come here. The weather, the beach and the Gulf, palm trees, amazing cuisine, shopping and entertainment are all within walking distance. And Fifth’s pleasant vibe and happy atmosphere is the icing on the wedding cake.”
Every year in the United States, there are approximately 2.5 million weddings. The United States wedding industry was estimated to be worth about $70.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to exceed $400 billion by 2030.
According to The Wedding Report, Florida's wedding industry in 2023 was considered very large, with an estimated total annual expenditure on weddings reaching almost $3.9 billion making it the fourth most popular state for weddings in the U.S., hosting around 159,000 weddings in 2023. Fifth Avenue South is proud to be a part of that growing segment of Florida’s economy.
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