Industry leaders from around the world gathered in Lisbon, January 8-11, to tackle economic headwinds, evolving attendee expectations, and the accelerating role of AI in event planning.
Left: Global DMC Partners President & CEO Catherine Chaulet takes the stage at 2026 Connection in Lisbon, sharing insights on the state of the industry, macroeconomic trends, and the power of global partnerships; right: Dr. Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal (left), Global DMC Partners President & CEO Catherine Chaulet (center), and Frédéric Frère, Co-Founder & Group Leader of host DMC partner Embrace Group / Emotionstore DMC, welcome attendees to 2026 Connection in Lisbon.
Earlier this month, Global DMC Partners (GDP), the largest global network of destination management companies (DMCs) and specialized event service providers, together with its DMC partner Emotionstore, brought together industry leaders from across the world to the Epic Sana Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal, for its annual Connection. Held January 8-11, 2026, this exclusive, by-invitation-only conference united clients and DMC partners for three days of data-driven insights, strategic collaboration, and meaningful connection.
This year’s program addressed the critical forces reshaping the global MICE industry, from macroeconomic uncertainty and budget pressures to shifting attendee expectations and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
GDP President and CEO Catherine Chaulet opened Connection 2026 with a keynote examining the major forces shaping the MICE industry and what to expect heading into the year ahead. Her presentation delivered a candid assessment: uncertainty has become the new baseline. Geopolitical shifts, persistent inflation, tariff and visa complexities, and AI disruption are all creating challenges. And yet, the MICE sector remains resilient because business still fundamentally requires human connection.
Key insights from Chaulet’s presentation included:
- Budgets may appear stable, but buying power has eroded as costs continue to rise, requiring planners to design smarter and to prioritize value
- ROI measurement must evolve from attendance and satisfaction metrics to demonstrating business impact: pipeline growth, leads generated, and revenue influenced
- Program design trends for 2026 include “FOMO + Slow-Mo” agendas featuring more meaningful pacing and destination immersion, often delivering better budget efficiency
- Short booking windows remain common, with many programs landing in the four-to-nine-month window
- Destination selection has grown more complex, balancing safety, visa feasibility, and the appeal of secondary destinations for value and freshness
- Sustainability and CSR initiatives are shifting toward local impact, supporting communities and economies rather than simply tracking metrics
- AI adoption is accelerating beyond ChatGPT, with practical applications emerging across the planning process
“The landscape is shifting fast, and planners who rely on fragmented supplier relationships are at a disadvantage,” shared Chaulet. “A trusted global DMC network such as GDP offers what they need most right now: trusted local experts worldwide, collective bargaining power, and a community committed to staying ahead of the curve.”
Following Chaulet’s address, GDP’s Global Sales Advisors joined a panel discussion to share real-world perspectives from the field. Panelists addressed regional and sector-specific challenges. The recurring theme throughout the discussion was open communication and trust. DMCs, agencies, and planners need transparency early—on budgets, goals, and constraints—to problem-solve together and deliver despite uncertainty.
Left: A packed room at 2026 Connection in Lisbon, where DMCs and planners gathered for valuable industry insights and education; right: Top planners and DMCs share challenges and creative solutions to stay ahead of today’s evolving needs.
Additional event highlights included keynote speaker Tim Hines, who delivered “The Attention Algorithm: How to Win Attendee Hearts and Minds in a Distracted World,” and hands-on, deep-dive AI sessions presented by Sheri Moore of MCC Destination Management and Anne-Marie Enns of the Applied AI Association.
Beyond content and education, attendees discovered Lisbon as an attractive meetings and events destination with hotel and venue site visits, iconic tuk tuk tours, Portuguese cooking classes, Port wine tastings, and cultural walking tours.
“We were truly proud to host colleagues and clients from all over the world in Lisbon and to play a role in delivering the great success of Connection 2026,” said Frédéric Frère, Co‑Founder & Group Leader, Embrace Group / Emotionstore DMC. “For Emotionstore, it was an honour to help spotlight Portugal to so many respected meetings and events industry buyers and to contribute to the memorable experiences that made this edition so impactful.”
Connection also served as an opportunity for GDP to recognize standout partners and planners making an impact across the industry. This year’s GDP Awards winners included:
- Company of the Year: Morley Companies, Inc.
- Planners of the Year: Jason Escalante of Elastic and Penny Long, CMP, of Eventlogix, Inc.
- International DMC Partner of the Year: H&T DMC
- U.S. DMC Partner of the Year: Destination Concepts Inc.
- DMC Teamwork Award: TE DMC
The event concluded with the announcement of Sorrento, Italy, as the host destination for 2027. To be considered, qualified planners are invited to contact their GDP global sales advisor.
About Global DMC Partners:
Global DMC Partners (GDP) is the largest worldwide network of independent destination management companies (DMCs) and specialized event service providers. Leveraging its exclusive partnerships, GDP provides a one-stop, global solution for total event success in more than 500 destinations worldwide. An experienced, on-the-ground international sales team centralizes meeting professionals’ event needs, from local DMC services to health and safety protocols, staffing, event technology, gifting, speakers and production. A fully dedicated GDP sales advisor ensures a singular standard of excellence from start to finish. For more information, please visit GDP’s website at www.globaldmcpartners.com.