The 2026 IRF Trends Report highlights how incentive professionals are navigating rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty,...
Research / IRF Webinar: Industry Outlook for 2022: Merchandise, Gift Cards and Event Gifting
by Incentive Research Foundation
The Incentive Research Foundation’s Industry Outlook for 2022: Merchandise, Gift Cards and Event Gifting reports an optimistic outlook for 2022 tempered by the lingering effects of Covid, cancellations, and uncertainty in 2021. For the first time ever, this IRF signature study was expanded include European participants. During our next IRF webinar, IRF President Stephanie Harris and IRF Chief Research Adviser Rick Garlick will present this useful analysis of how incentive, rewards and recognition programs are being designed and budgeted for 2022. Webinar attendees will get useful insights and benchmarks on non-cash reward types, average spend, and trends in North America compared to Europe.
Using Incentives to Drive Pipeline explores what makes channel incentive programs effective, showing why they must compete for partner mindshare, reward behaviors across the full sales pipeline, and function as long‑term partnership investments—not just transaction‑based incentives.
Our panel shared key findings from the 2026 European Top Performers Study, examining how leading organizations across Europe design and manage incentive travel programs to drive engagement, performance, and measurable business outcomes.
