2024

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Incentive Travel 2025: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

Smart Meetings

Why free time, authenticity and immersion are redefining program inclusions What are the latest trends emerging for incentive travel 2025 and beyond? Smart Meetings sat down with Annette Gregg, CEO of SITE and SITE Foundation, to explore the trends among budget, program inclusion, coming challenges and destination selection for the coming year, courtesy of the Incentive Travel Index Survey Results from SITE Foundation.

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2024 Holiday Travel Towns

Advanced Travel and Tourism

Holiday travel is a growing trend with as estimated two-thirds of American’s planning to take at least one holiday trip this year *. So, we asked ourselves, what are our favorite holiday destinations and what are they doing to bring in the holiday cheer? Here’s a list of some of our favorites to bring you peace, joy, and inspiration! Destination Panama City Boat Parade of Lights – The unique and quintessential coastal holiday celebration takes to the water of St.

Travel 246
MICE professionals

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European tourism reaches new highs in 2024 as travellers’ plans diversify

ETC Corporate

Europe’s tourism industry continued its recovery in the second quarter of 2024. Foreign arrivals (+6%) and overnights (+7%) surpassed 2019 figures, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 12% and 10%, respectively. The growth is propelled by robust intra-regional travel from Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Tourism 298
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Your guide to Frankfurt’s largest airport event venue: Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center

The MICE Blog

The Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center represents the first dual-brand concept for Marriott International. Located at Frankfurt Airport, Europe’s busiest airport, it is also one of the largest airport hotels in Europe. Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center are located under one roof, so guests have added convenience for both their stay and events.

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Exclusive Travel Opportunities for Doctors to Attend Heart Congress 2025 in Dubai

Join us and connect with experts at the 3rd International Conference on Heart and Cardiovascular Diseases”, scheduled on May 05-06, 2025 in Dubai, UAE with the theme of “Novel Progression Towards the Heart and Cardiovascular Research”.

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Events in 2025: Creating a Foundation of Connection

Smart Meetings

Imagine crafting an event like preparing a Thanksgiving dinner, where every ingredient, every dish, and every seat at the table has been considered with intention and care. Today, the events industry is cooking up something different—a transformation fueled by deeper human connection, inclusivity, and a touch of technological magic. Just as a homemade meal draws us together in a celebration of our shared stories and individuality, events in 2025 will bring people together in ways that honor the

Events 264
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The Event Architect: Designing Experiences, Not Just Events

ADMEI

The Event Architect: Designing Experiences, Not Just Events 23 December 2024 When you think of an architect, what comes to mind? Perhaps someone meticulously drafting blueprints, overseeing construction, and ensuring every beam and pillar is perfectly placed. But what if I told you that this concept of an architect extends beyond buildings and into the world of events?

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All Signs Point to Growing Incentives & Meetings Business in 2025; You Can Still Reap the Benefits at Your Company

Motivation Excellence

Recent industry forecasts and surveys indicate corporate meetings, events and incentives will grow in 2025. According to the Incentive Travel Index 37% of respondents say 2025 levels will surpass 2024; 54% expect the spend-per-person to increase too. At Motivation Excellence, we continue to see interest in planning something in 2025, even though it’s less than a month away.

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Yes, it’s Terrific, but is it Trail-Worthy?

Dana Communications

Tourism trails are a powerful marketing tool that gives destinations the opportunity to showcase their best attractions and most unique experiences. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, a culture craver, a foodie or an art enthusiast, there’s a trail out there that’s perfect for you. But trails have their place. And not everything we enjoy can make the leap from great ideas to trail-worthy reality.

Tourism 130
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Event Organizers Double Down on Sustainability

Convene by PCMA

Compared to last year’s Meetings Market Survey, almost twice as many event organizer respondents to this year’s survey are including sustainability requirements in their RFPs. There was a backlash against ESG investment and climate change regulation in the U.S. last year, “with similar examples of watering down or postponement of sustainability-related regulation in some parts of Europe,” according to the most recent issue of Arthur D.

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Changemakers 2024: Mindy Hanzlik’s Neurodiversity Approach Benefits Everyone

MeetingsNet

In her role at BCD Meetings & Events, Hanzlik creates strategies for accommodating neurodiversity across the meeting experience for hundreds of clients. The winners are attendees as well as event hosts. It’s not often that a business-event planner has a formal education and professional background in change management. But about halfway through her 30-year career, Mindy Hanzlik “took some time away from events to get my MBA and become a change-management consultant,” she says.

Benefits 115
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COVID-19 Travel Consumer Sentiment Study

TravelBoom and sister agency, The Brandon Agency, release new consumer sentiment study on travel amidst the COVID-19 second wave

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51 Event Survey Questions You Need To Ask For the Best Insights

Bizzaboo

What do your attendees think about your event? How about sponsors? Are they likely to support your event next year? What was the experience like for in-person versus virtual attendees at your hybrid event? The best event teams are laser-focused on asking a mix of event survey questions to gather essential qualitative and quantitative data through feedback from key stakeholders.

Sponsors 105
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Key Takeaways from the 2024 Tennessee Governor’s Conference

Advanced Travel and Tourism

We at Advance Travel & Tourism were honored to once again attend and sponsor the Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism in Chattanooga. Because TNHTA and Chattanooga Tourism Co. put on such an insightful event, we wanted to share some of our key takeaways from the conference below. Before we dive into key takeaways, we certainly want to call attention to our neighbors who are still in need in Northeast Tennessee.

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Travel enthusiasm soars among Europeans for autumn and winter 2024/2025

ETC Corporate

New research from the European Travel Commission (ETC) has revealed a surge in European travel sentiment for the upcoming autumn and winter seasons, with 73% of Europeans planning trips between October 2024 and March 2025. This represents a 6% increase from the same period last year.

Travel 237
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Rotterdam: Your top choice for hosting sustainable and high-impact events

The MICE Blog

Rotterdam has established itself as a premier destination for sustainable events, earning international recognition from Arcadis. The city’s innovative approaches to climate resilience and practical, forward-thinking solutions make it a top choice for events that aim to create lasting impact. Practical approach to sustainability and resilience I was in Rotterdam to attend Urban Future 2024 and spoke to Chantal Zeegers, Vice Mayor responsible for climate, construction, and housing.

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Evolution of the DMC:Renewing Business Relationships with Deeper Trust, Transparency & Understanding

The evolution of the DMC industry requires that it embark upon a renewed relationship with clients that is built upon transparency, trust, and understanding.

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Refract Seattle: The Power of Connecting Events to Local Community

Smart Meetings

Get involved with local events like Refract Seattle to create unforgettable experiences for your attendees Since its inception, what is now the largest glass arts festival in North America draws visitors to Seattle from all over the world, and the somewhat niche community of glass artists, appreciators and collectors take over the city for an October weekend each year.

Events 246
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Balancing Personalization and Profit: A DMC’s Tightrope Walk in the MICE Industry

ADMEI

Balancing Personalization and Profit: A DMC’s Tightrope Walk in the MICE Industry 02 December 2024 Picture a tightrope walker carefully navigating a thin wire stretched between two towering skyscrapers. On one side lies the allure of creativity and personalization; on the other, the necessity of profitability. Now, layer in the juggling act of working with clients’ champagne tastes and beer budgets.

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Boosting Employee Engagement and Culture with Corporate Social Responsibility Events: Gratitude and Community Impact

Traveler's Q

Learn How CSR Events Can Change Your Company Culture CSR events aren’t just about doing good—they can transform company culture and significantly boost employee engagement. At Traveler’s Q, we believe gratitude and giving are vital in creating a lasting, positive impact. Ready to add meaningful CSR events to your corporate strategy? Here’s how to get started.

Culture 130
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Macao – Asia’s rising star for Business Events

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pádraic Gilligan, Co-founder, SoolNua & Chief Marketing Officer, SITE Macao & Las Vegas Las Vegas casinos buzz with high-fives, loud cheers, and a steady pour of free-flowing adult beverages. In contrast, Macao’s casinos exude an air of quiet intensity, where focused patrons sip water in hushed concentration. What’s high-spirited entertainment in one destination is.

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A Deeper Dive: Destinations Betting on Set-Jetting

Dana Communications

We touched on this concept in Pop Culture Tourism and noted its continuing popularity in 12 Travel Trends Making Moves in 2024. Today, we’re exploring three points across the country and around the globe that are successfully leveraging the set-jetting movement. These unlikely spots were first put on the map as filming locations , NOT vacation destinations.

Tourism 130
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Accessibility Lessons Every Event Organizer Should Know

Convene by PCMA

Visit Richmond, VA, has been on the leading edge of the events industry’s push to improve accessibility. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control , more than one quarter —28 percent — of adults in the U.S. have a disability. While navigating those disabilities at home may already prove challenging, going to a meeting or event in an unfamiliar environment can feel overwhelming.

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IATA World Finance Symposium and IATA World Passenger Symposium start today in Bangkok

Travel Daily Media

The post IATA World 100 7628 0 7628 0 0 343 0 --:--:-- 0:00:22 --:--:-- 1546Finance Symposium and IATA World Passenger Symposium start today in Bangkok appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) formally kicks off two major events today, 30th October, at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok, Thailand.

Airlines 101
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Small is the new big—for meetings!

Conferences that Work

10 years ago, I pointed out that most meetings are small meetings. It seems the meeting industry is finally catching on to this reality and its benefits. Yes, s mall is the new big ! From eSpeakers ‘ report on IMEX America 2024 : “ Small is the new big. Smaller meetings, known by industry experts as micro events, continue strong growth. Simpler internal team meetings, VIP events, and client advisory boards will be among the most common types of meetings as we go forward.

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2024 KTIA Annual Conference Recap

Advanced Travel and Tourism

Kentucky is more than just bourbon and horses. The fine folks at Visit Northen Kentucky in conjunction with the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association showed that fact off in style last week at their annual conference. What were the top takeaways from the conference? We asked our man on the ground in Kentucky, Andrew Held, to help answer that question.

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Rail Tourism Awards 2024: Celebrating creativity in sustainable travel across Europe

ETC Corporate

The European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail have revealed the winners of the 2024 Rail Tourism Awards, recognising excellence in rail travel promotion. The awards were presented in Luxembourg City during ETC’s General Meeting #108, hosted by Luxembourg for Tourism.

Tourism 130
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Business events in Stuttgart: hotels, unique venues, experiences, sustainability

The MICE Blog

Everyone knows Stuttgart as the birthplace of mobility and a powerhouse in the automotive industry. But there’s much more to this dynamic destination. Stuttgart is constantly evolving, offering a unique setting for hosting business events. In this blog post, I’ll showcase the unique opportunities Stuttgart offers for your event, from hotels and venues to experiences, all with sustainability woven into the event planning process.

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Qurator: Hawaii’s New, All-encompassing Tourism Certification Program

Smart Meetings

Hawai’i is at a crossroads. It needs tourism, including groups, but its residents—especially but not only Native Hawaiians—have been increasingly upset about overtourism and degradation of the state’s fragile environment and treasured cultural sites. The aftermath of the tragic West Maui wildfire only sharpened divides. What to do? Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) has a new answer for bridging these divides and building trust: Qurator , a certification program for the widest possible swath of vi

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2025 ADMEI Award Finalists Announced!

ADMEI

2025 ADMEI Award Finalists Announced! 14 November 2024 WIMBERLEY, TX—13 November 2024—The Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 ADMEI Awards , which honor outstanding achievements and professional excellence in the Destination Management industry. ADMEI’s awards program is among the most respectable and distinguished in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry and the most robust, not

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Transform Your Event with These Enchanting Autumn Décor Trends

Traveler's Q

As nature paints a vibrant tapestry of colors and a crispness fills the air, autumn provides the perfect backdrop to infuse warmth, color, and charm into your events. Whether you’re orchestrating a corporate gala, a joyous celebration, or an intimate wedding, embracing seasonal décor trends can elevate your event to an unforgettable experience.

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Travellers or Tourists? The True Essence of Incentive Travel

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pádraic Gilligan, Co-founder SoolNua & Chief Marketing Officer, SITE The origins of SITE – the only professional association dedicated exclusively to incentive travel – are well-documented. We even have living witnesses to its founding meeting at the Hotel Americana on December 3, 1973. That said, the roots of incentive travel itself as a corporate.

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Here’s What Has Our Media Team Excited Right Now

Dana Communications

The media experts at Dana are constantly on the lookout for what’s new and next to promote our travel, tourism and hospitality clients. Daily, they’re on the phone with industry innovators and disruptors. When asked what has them most excited in the world of media right now, it’s really a blend of new tech and tech that’s new again. Let’s dive right in!

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Planners Respond to Fatal Food Allergic Reaction at an Event

Convene by PCMA

The recent death of a participant at an event due to a food allergy led a number of event organizers to comment about event planners taking attendees health concerns seriously. The recent death of a social media influencer at a brand event after suffering an allergic reaction is sparking conversation about duty of care in the event professional community.

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Holograms Beam into Events

Smart Meetings

Hologram technology can increase engagement and attract hard-to-get speakers Meetings may be a mostly in-person experience but—as we learned during Covid, with the use of Zoom, Teams and other online video platforms—the use of communications technology has its place in the world of meetings and events. A more sophisticated form of communications technology to shift the way we meet and interact at events are holograms, walking a fine line between in-person and video communication.

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Focus on Sustainability: Marriott Bonvoy Events Embrace Innovative Practices in Meetings and Events

Smart Meetings

Throughout the travel industry, sustainability has become a primary focus for both guests and hospitality providers. As travelers grow increasingly engaged with environmental issues, hotels and restaurants around the world are implementing innovative programs to create the greatest environmental benefit while minimizing their impact, allowing guests to feel good about partnering with companies that share their values.

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Best of 2024: Sustainability

Smart Meetings

The world of sustainable events is bigger than ever. As more planners and partners in hospitality and tourism incorporate sustainability into their business models, it becomes a need-to-have, rather than a nice-to-have. This year, Smart Meetings published a repertoire of sustainability content geared especially around how-tos and making sure everyone has access to the knowledge and resources to feel confident talking about sustainability and implementing it into their business practices.