Photo Credit: Romolo Tavani for Adobe Stock
Safety and security, rising costs top issues for incentive planners.
The survey of program
organizers also reveals destination selection
criteria, concerns over costs and more.
Safety, health, and security are as crucial to site
selection as destination appeal and infrastructure, according to a new study
conducted by the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence.
The 79 respondents to Incentive Travel & Motivational Events
are based in North America (58 percent) and other global destinations and
represent business sectors including finance/insurance, technology,
manufacturing and pharmaceutical.
Both health & safety and equitable practices within destinations
are rising in the ranks of what planners consider when seeking event locales. “Destination appeal” and “infrastructure”
came out on top. Virtually tied however were “connectivity” and “safety, health
and security: a priority that continues to take on increased importance and
urgency for planners.
Destination Criteria
When choosing where to hold their motivational programs, respondents Destination selection criteria
Destination Appeal 6.84
Infrastructure 6.03
Safety, Health & Security 5.59
Connectivity 5.64
Value for Money 5.03
Support Services 3.44
Financial Support 1.99
Affiliate Office 1.47
ranked
destinations where winners are treated equally and respectfully as the top consideration. Other favorable elements
include the availability of luxury, five-star accommodations; being able to
accommodate all generations; resorts with leisure activities and cities with
cultural offerings. Destinations’ sustainability practices and accessibility by
car or train were given low priorities with this group.
Challenges Ahead
Nearly all of the incentive professionals who responded to this
survey are concerned with the impact of rising costs and inflation.
And with much of the world watching how election results
play out around the world in 2024, alongside ethno-national conflicts raging,
it’s perhaps not surprising that nearly half of the respondents are also
concerned about geopolitical instability.
Strategic planners will need to figure out the best ways to
face down the obstacles of rising costs, geopolitical instability, and talent
impacts that continue to reverberate.
Similar to the findings of the April 2024 Northstar/Cvent Incentive
PULSE Survey,
nearly all of the incentive professionals who responded to the SITE survey are
concerned with the impact of rising costsand inflation.
And with much of the world watching how election results play
out around the world in 2024, alongside ethno-national conflicts raging, it’s
perhaps not surprising that nearly half of the survey-takers are also concerned
about geopolitical instability.
Rising costs & inflation 95%
Geopolitical instability 49%
Lack of real internal support from our senior leadership
team for what we do in events and incentive travel planning 22.81%
Lack of talent / too many new and untrained employees 22.81%
Layoffs that will impact my organization / wider sector
21.05%
Other Findings
• DMCs and hotel representatives are the suppliers incentive
planners rely on most.
• More than a quarter of those polled report to their
company’s head of marketing and 24 percent report directly to the
organization’s CEO.
• When asked where they found new contacts and connections, the top replies
were trade shows, fam trips and personal recommendations.
SITE CEO Annette Gregg remarked that “in today’s dynamic and rapidly changing event landscape, staying
informed through data-driven insights is more critical than ever. Our latest
study offers a detailed view of what’s on the minds of industry professionals
who are responsible for creating memorable and effective incentive travel
programs.”