Yallop, AncaSéraphin, HuguesHamdan, Omar Abou2026-01-142026-01-142025-01-15Event Management, Volume 29, Number 4, 2025, pp. 565-583(19). ISSN: 1525-9951 (Print); 1943-4308 (Online), Cognizant Communication Corporation.1525-99511943-4308http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20491This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for the relationship between the hospitality and dating services industries, theorising this relationship by focusing on the role of speed dating events as a connecting intersection. Several theoretical foundations, including value (co)creation, service ecosystems, cue utilisation theory, and criteria for feasible and sustainable partnerships, were adopted to conceptualise this relationship. The new conceptual framework of relational value (co)creation introduces a novel joint concept that integrates the cues of both industries while allowing each to retain its unique identity. This study contributes to the understanding of relationships between organisations from different but intersecting industries, highlighting that ‘control’ is a key agent influencing the level of trust between organisations operating in intersecting industries, whilst the development of new avenues for collaboration enhances mutual returns from partnerships within the service ecosystem and creates opportunities for ‘unsaturated’ business partnerships.This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Event Management. The Version of Record can be found at doi: 10.3727/152599525X173674849063721503 Business and Management1504 Commercial Services1506 TourismSport, Leisure & Tourism3504 Commercial services3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour3508 TourismControlHospitality IndustrySaturated/unsaturated PartnershipSpeed DatingTrustValue (Co)creationJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.3727/152599525X17367484906372