The 2026 IRF Trends Report highlights how incentive professionals are navigating rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty,...
Research / IRF Destination Management Company Panel
by Incentive Research Foundation
Many incentive program owners will tell you the secret to the success of their incentive program is a strong partnership with a destination management company. A good DMC knows the destination deeply and has relationships with restaurants, entertainment venues, various suppliers so that you can design a unique event that meets your program goals. The DMC can also help you ensure a safe experience through its relationships with local government, police, healthcare, and emergency response.
The IRF has assembled a panel of DMC experts to offer insights into how DMCs are working with planners as incentive travel programs are beginning to be relaunched. They discuss how the DMC model is changing, how DMCs support virtual and hybrid meetings, new safety measures, and more.
This Academic Research in Action explores how cognitive biases shape the effectiveness of incentive and recognition programs. It highlights why well‑intentioned designs often fall short and emphasizes the need for behaviorally informed approaches that account for how people actually interpret rewards.
The incentives industry is entering 2026 amid persistent cost pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving participant expectations. At the same time, we are seeing optimism in both North America and Europe as organizations embrace the power of incentives to engage and motivate their workforce. During this IRF webinar, our panel will discuss what lies ahead for the incentives industry as reported in…
