SITE and the Incentive Research Foundation unveil the seventh edition of the Incentive Travel Index (ITI), the meetings industry's leading global study of incentive travel.

Explore the latest findings across budgets, benefits, program design and destination selection, alongside new insights into geopolitical risk, qualifier expectations, AI in practice, the future of DMCs and evolving budget considerations. Leave with a clearer understanding of the trends shaping incentive travel and practical ideas to help inform future planning.

Learning outcomes:

Understand the key global trends and tensions shaping incentive travel in 2026

Explore how risk, AI, qualifier expectations and DMC evolution are reshaping program and destination decisions

Identify practical actions to future-proof your incentive travel strategy using ITI insights

This session is approved for the following certifications.

* ICCA Skills Domain CICS/CICE: 1

* CSEP Approved

How far would you go to create a once-in-a-lifetime incentive travel experience? For today’s well-traveled top performers, long-haul travel can offer the exclusive and culturally immersive experiences that make a program unforgettable. Explore what gives a distant destination real trophy value, from adventurous itineraries and bespoke access to time for jet lag recovery, relaxation and personal exploration. Consider air travel, time away from the office and pricing, and discover how to make the journey part of the reward.

Learning outcomes:

Identify the characteristics that give long-haul destinations “trophy value”

Evaluate the benefits and practical considerations of planning a long-haul incentive program

Explore strategies for creating memorable, culturally immersive journeys

Exceptional experiences are no longer a luxury add-on; they are a strategic advantage. In a world where audiences can personalise almost every part of their lives in minutes, the bar for incentive travel and live events has never been higher. The question is no longer simply how to impress people, but how to design moments that make them feel seen, valued and motivated to act.

This conversation brings together three senior voices with deep authority across luxury experience, incentive travel and the business of human connection: Neen James, Stephanie Harris and Annette Gregg. Together, they will unpack what separates a well-run programme from an unforgettable, purpose-led experience—and why getting this right matters for engagement, loyalty, brand differentiation and commercial impact. Through a person-centric lens, attendees will explore how to decode the luxury mindset, balance exclusivity with authenticity, and design experiences that resonate long after the event ends

Use this assessment to learn more about your Luxury Mindset with Neen James: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7716610/Neen-James-Assessment-2024

Learning outcomes:

Reframe luxury in incentive travel as intentional design rather than extravagance

Explore how the five luxury levers can be translated into practical design decisions

Evaluate the role exceptional experiences play in strengthening organizations and incentive programs

This session is approved for the following certifications.

* ICCA Skills Domain CICS/CICE: 0.5

* CSEP Approved