Global DMC Partners, the largest global network of independent Destination Management Companies (DMCs), unveils their 2018 Global Destination Index which presents the most popular meeting and incentive destinations around the world for 2018, and identifies up-and-coming markets that are already trending for 2019. The data was compiled based on analyzing data from over 6,000 meeting and incentive programs across 2018 and 2019 in over 500 destinations that Global DMC Partners represents. 

Top 10 International Cities for 2018

1. Paris
2. Amsterdam
3. Munich
4. Stockholm
5. Vienna
6. London
7. Barcelona
8. Berlin
9. Prague
10. Rome

Top 10 North American Cities for 2018:

1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Orlando, FL
3. Chicago, IL
4. Miami, FL
5. New York, NY
6. San Francisco, CA
7. San Diego, CA
8. Washington, DC
9. Los Angeles, CA
10. New Orleans, LA

President of Global DMC Partners, Catherine Chaulet, states, “It is important to us to review this data each year because our industry has an enormous impact on the global economy by bringing millions of people around the world every day. While we want to highlight the top 20 North American and International cities – which are mostly comprised of top markets that are constantly in demand – there are also many secondary destinations that didn’t make our list, but that fall within the top 10%. Destinations in Asia, like Singapore and Hong Kong, and in the United States, such as Nashville, Seattle, and Austin, were also in high demand for meetings and incentives occurring in 2018.”

Additionally, the 2018 Global Destination Index highlights data about budding markets to watch in 2019. Destinations identified on this list are already seeing a boost in interest from meeting planners for programs operating in 2019 compared to the interest that was shown for the destination for meetings or incentives operating in 2018.

2019 Meeting & Incentive Destination Hot List

1. Costa Rica
2. Bahamas
3. Malta
4. Puerto Rico
5. Morocco
6. Croatia
7. St. Lucia
8. Denver/Colorado Springs
9. South Africa
10. Thailand

“Part of our responsibility is to open up the world to our clients, so that they can encounter different cultures and experience something extraordinary. Identifying destinations for this list helps us present secondary markets and those intriguing destinations that our clients will soon discover are also perfect for meetings and incentives. Flight lift patterns, cost-effective local options, and a wide range of unique activities are just a few of the reasons why these destinations are already showing popularity for 2019,” says Chaulet.