KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Safety and Politics are Non-Negotiable Planners are often tasked with persuading boards or decision-makers who hold preconceived notions about a destination. They need the right tools to counter objections and advocate effectively. The most successful strategies include: • Data and counter-evidence: Provide credible information that addresses negative perceptions head-on. • Peer connections: Enable planners to speak with others who have successfully hosted events in your destination.
• Emotional narratives: Showcase how choosing your destination supports social impact, community development and/or positive change.
Planners are clear that they can only do so much. When destination organizations take the lead in providing actionable resources, the process becomes easier and the destination becomes more likely to succeed.
American Convention Travelers
Meeting Planners
While safety concerns is paramount (57.8%), still about one-in-three (31.6%) American travelers actively avoid traveling to destinations where local policies do not align with their values—a behavior that is more pronounced among group meetings travelers (35.2%). Comparing back to meeting planner sentiment, avoidance of destinations due to safety concerns (79.3%) and politics (64.0%) are much more prevalent among the business segment.
57.8%
Avoiding Destinations due to Safety Concerns
79.3%
35.2%
Avoiding Destinations due to Politics or Policies
64.0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Four-in-five planners have reconsidered a meeting destination due to issues impacting reputation, with the most common reasons:
82%
Personal Safety Concerns 54.9%
Social Unrest (e.g. protest, strikes) 35.1%
Drug Activity 33.8%
6 | DESTINATION REPUTATION & SENTIMENT STUDY
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