More than 150 incentive travel buyers and suppliers gathered at Northstar Meetings Group's Incentive Live event, held May 1-4 at Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort, Villas & Golf in Los Cabos, Mexico. The three-day event brought together planning professionals and suppliers to network, meet in one-on-one appointments and share their experiences of the past two years.
The program's morning educational sessions consisted of a first look at the Northstar/Cvent Incentive PULSE Survey. Among the key findings, presented
by Northstar Meetings Group's executive vice president and group publisher David Blansfield, revealed that planners are looking to book future programs outside the U.S. and that fewer alternative
rewards would be offered to participants, compared with last year's Q4 Incentive Pulse Survey. The session also included a preview of an unreleased
Incentive Research Foundation study, shared by the organization's president, Stephanie Harris. According to the study, incentive program budgets
are rising, but they are just covering increased costs of hotels, airfare and other program elements.
The first day's education concluded with underwater photographer and sustainable tourism advocate Jay Clue's brilliant photos and entertaining introduction to the wonderful aquatic wildlife of the Los Cabos region.
During the second day's education session, six incentive planners and suppliers — Tiffany Cohen, Jennifer Brown, Lupe Downing,
Sonya Easly, Frank Robleto and Richelle Suver — shared
the evolution of their respective programs and businesses from pre- to post-pandemic times in a series of honest discussions with Lisa Grimaldi, Northstar Meetings Group's editor, incentives
and destinations.
Incentive Live's generous sponsors include host property Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort, Villas & Golf; the Los Cabos Tourism Board which sponsored dinner in San José del Cabo; the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal,
which sponsored the Monday lunch; Amstar DMC, which handled all transfers; Mexico Planners, who provided creative décor and unique activities; Cabo Adventures,
which sponsored afternoon experiences; Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, which sponsored the education sessions; Maui Jim and Essential Bodywear,
the gifting and merchandise sponsors; Seiko, sponsor of our appointment timing system; MeetingPlay + Aventri; pc/nametag and Safe Access.
Northstar Meetings Group has a number of upcoming events on the calendar for 2022. Planners and suppliers can register their interest in attending upcoming meetings at any time.
Following are highlights of Incentive Live: