The 2026 IRF Trends Report highlights how incentive professionals are navigating rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty,...
Research / IRF Webinar: COVID-19 and Disruption in the Incentives Industry
by Incentive Research Foundation
During this webinar, we examine the incentives industry’s response to COVID-19 and recovery plans. Stephanie Harris, IRF President, and Allan Schweyer, Chief Academic Advisor, will discuss key findings and actionable takeaways from the newly released study, COVID-19 and Disruption in the Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events Industry. They will review threats to running incentive programs, including COVID-19, weather, travel hazards, politics, economic downturns. With a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, they will discuss actionable advice collected from industry leaders for the study on how to rebuild incentive programs through strategic collaborations with clients, participants, hotels and resorts, DMCs, and partners.
CVBs and DMOs can be powerful partners in creating exceptional incentive travel experiences. IRF research found that these organizations help planners save time, access unique local experiences, navigate logistics, and secure financial support.
We explore how digital transformation is reshaping the work of business events and meetings professionals. As technology absorbs more transactional work, event professionals are being pushed to evolve from logistics executors into strategic experience architects.
