Keeping ahead of the pack is a crucial element of success in this business and it can be challenging and exciting, in equal measure.  We've been canvassing opinions and investigating the options on your behalf by asking some of the experts within our community to share their views and insights around what trends they are seeing concerning emerging destinations of choice for Incentive Buyers.

We caught up with Mark Gatt, Managing Director of ECMeetings and Mrs Nadia Colaiuda, Owner and Managing Director of Italy My Way to find out more about some of the booking trends they have been witnessing throughout the past few months and to better understand the driving factors behind these customer choices. 

MALTA

ECMeetings is an award-winning and quality assured destination management company (DMC) in Malta specialising in corporate meetings, incentives and events. With a team of local experts and over 20 years of experience in organising high-touch incentives and conferences for international corporate customers, Mark Gatt shared some of his key insights. 

What trends are you seeing with emerging destinations of choice for Incentive Buyers? 

“I think the main trend we are seeing is that people want to bond again and share moments. After two years of remote working, they want to feel a part of the company again. More than ever we are seeing that regardless of age, incentive travellers value personalised destination experiences and a choice of activities. They want unique, new experiences that connect them to the destination. Rather than fancy hotel rooms, we are noticing a trend to more boutique type of accommodation and when it comes to dining and activities truly local experiences are certainly taking priority.”

What do you think are the driving factors behind these choices? 

“The main factors seem to be a need to feel part of the company and sharing of its values through being together and creating a concept of one team, motivating each other and making up for lost time.”

What factors are your buyers most motivated by when booking a trip to a destination?  

“Incorporating wellbeing in programs and offering unique, authentic destination experiences has become essential. CSR activities and teambuilding events are also trending for that feel-good factor.” 

ITALY

Italy My Way is an experiential DMC for corporate and private events, incentives, meetings and weddings in Italy offering the knowledge and experience of a pool of professionals sharing a clear vision: to successfully convert the customer’s wishes into reality. Mrs Nadia Colaiuda, Owner and Managing Director shares some of her insights into some of the most popular destinations and the factors driving these choices.  

What trends are you seeing with emerging destinations of choice for Incentive Buyers?

“We’re seeing a lot of interest in classic European sites including Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France and Portugal as well as a lot of enquiries for the Sunny Tropic Locales. We are also really seeing strong demand for nature-based adventures (mountains, lakes, sea), where employees can connect with a destination and get under the skin of its culture. This has been great to see as many of these trends are much more in line with more sustainable inventive trips, as much of the itinerary can be tailored towards boosting the local economies and doing so in such a way that is kinder to the planet.”

What do you think are the driving factors behind these choices? 

“The top consideration for buyers is to appeal to the participant audience, followed by the overall safety and the value for the money being spent. We tend to find that the influential sources driving some of these destination choices are; word of mouth from within the company, recommendations from trade associations and recommendations from others outside the organisation. 

The infrastructure within a destination has also become more important in decision-making due to recent weather, geological and/or humanitarian catastrophes around the world.”