New trends in incentive travel in 2025
incentive travel It’s no longer just a benefit—it’s a powerful tool for improving employee engagement, motivation, and retention. Incentive travel spending is expected to grow 54% by 2025,According to this year’s Incentive travel indexbusinesses are creating meaningful and memorable experiences for their employees. Additionally, 81% of companies now view these travels as a key employee retention strategy, while 62% see them as a competitive advantage in recruiting. So, what is driving the growth of incentive travel? Here are five emerging trends shaping this landscape: 1. Unique experiences in emerging destinations Incentive travel is shifting from traditional luxury resorts to immersive, experience-driven travel to exciting, lesser-known destinations. Today’s employees want more than just five-star accommodations, they seek authentic cultural experiences, adventure and uniqueness. The demand for new destinations is clear – 70% of incentive travel buyers are actively seeking new destinations to keep their plans exciting. Destination such as Croatia, Portugal and Greece becoming more and more popular, and Caribbean Sea…
A new way to reward: DNA incentive travel
Genealogy travel has become a growing trend as more and more people explore their roots through DNA testing. Will DNA Incentive Travel be the next big thing in corporate rewards programs? Ancestry travel is on the rise as more people learn about their family tree roots through DNA testing kits and want to explore their family and cultural roots on a more meaningful trip than a typical vacation spot. But could this be a potential option for group or personalized business travel incentives? First, the potential disadvantages: Not everyone is interested in their family history, and some people may have questions about DNA testing, so it may not be suitable for everyone who qualifies. By definition, DNA travel requires extensive professional research and planning to create a hyper-specific experience tailored to one's family history, which can make it more time-consuming and potentially more expensive than traditional personal incentive travel. While DNA Travel may not be the right choice for every…
2024 Incentive Travel Index
Inspiring Research Foundation 2024 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) was presented in October with SITE at IMEX America, but key points were discussed in a recent webinar hosted by IRF President Stephanie Harris. Joined by: Chris JohnsonDirector of Corporate Events and Sports Partnerships Land O'Lakes and Richelle SewellChief Revenue Officer a 10The webinar focused on motivating professionals on how to deliver outstanding travel programs within the budget constraints of ITI reporting. Although the survey conducted for the study was international (2,800 respondents from 19 countries), the group focused primarily on data reported by 56% of North American respondents representing third-party incentive travel companies, Enterprise program owners, vendors and DMOs. Here are some highlights from the panel discussion: More business options Cash Reward Travel Awards; Surveys show travel awards are expected to increase by 37% in 2025 and by 45% two years later. Only half of the respondents said they Budget Matching inflation; the rest said the budget was flat. The group's…
Incentive Travel 2025: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
Listen to audio Why free time, authenticity and immersion are redefining course content What are the latest trends in incentive travel in 2025 and beyond? Smart Meetings sat down with SITE and SITE Foundation CEO Annette Gregg to discuss trends in budgeting, program inclusion, future challenges and destination selection for the coming year based on results from the SITE Foundation's Incentive Travel Index survey. Click here to watch the entire webinar. Good business prospects After the epidemic, the world situation is difficult to predict, with new regulatory agencies in the United States taking office, global geopolitical conflicts, and unstable stock markets. However, business is booming. “We’re really at an all-time high in occupancy right now, whether it’s luxury or upscale occupancy, which is a popular area that most incentive programs focus on,” Gregg said. Fortunately for planners, incentive travel is growing. Only 8% of North American corporate and institutional buyers reported reduced activity in 2024 and 2025, and only 6%…
SITE Go to Oman
SITE’s international board of directors and senior leadership team recently met in Muscat, Oman, to explore this emerging incentive travel destination and exchange industry knowledge and best practices with destination leadership at the association’s 2024 Executive Summit. The summit will be held from November 9 to 13, 2024, and is supported by: Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. The SITE Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team were also welcomed and hosted at the new five-star hotel Mandarin Oriental Muscat——Opened in June this year. Highlights of the 2024 Summit included an industry education day led by SITE, which attracted over 100 Omani professionals looking to strengthen their incentive travel offerings; an immersive destination discovery day designed by Oasis Incentives; Board members continue to explore the diverse beauty of Oman, the Arab world’s oldest continuously independent state. "This is a special opportunity to experience such a unique and exciting incentive travel destination," SITE CEO Annette Gregg said in a media announcement.…
Retreats and Events
Torre Di Bellosguardo Hotel(Florence) Corporate retreats and events are more than a luxury, they are a necessity for teams looking to rejuvenate, reconnect and rethink strategy. The following venues are the best choices for planners seeking a corporate retreat or group getaway that transcends the ordinary and inspires innovation, away from the confines of the traditional meeting room. Torre Di Bellosguardo Hotel(Florence) An elegant space perfect for groups. In the rolling hills of Florence, the capital of Tuscany, brainstorming sessions can be held under century-old olive trees, or strategy meetings can be held in elegant libraries with sweeping views. Torre di Bellosguardoevent spaces also include a luxurious salon decorated with Renaissance art and a tranquil outdoor terrace. The event team is ready to tailor an event to suit your goals, whether it is a guided meditation session to cultivate mindfulness, a wine tasting workshop that combines education with entertainment, or a culinary challenge led by the professional chefs from the…
Retreats and Events
Torre Di Bellosguardo Hotel(Florence) Corporate retreats and events are more than a luxury, they are a necessity for teams looking to rejuvenate, reconnect and rethink strategy. The following venues are the best choices for planners seeking a corporate retreat or group getaway that transcends the ordinary and inspires innovation, away from the confines of the traditional meeting room. Torre Di Bellosguardo Hotel(Florence) An elegant space perfect for groups. In the rolling hills of Florence, the capital of Tuscany, brainstorming sessions can be held under century-old olive trees, or strategy meetings can be held in elegant libraries with sweeping views. Torre di Bellosguardoevent spaces also include a luxurious salon decorated with Renaissance art and a tranquil outdoor terrace. The event team is ready to tailor an event to suit your goals, whether it is a guided meditation class to cultivate mindfulness, a wine tasting workshop that combines education with entertainment, or a culinary challenge led by the professional chefs from the…
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