Global DMC Partners, the largest global network of independent Destination Management Companies (DMCs), unveils their 2017 Global Destination Index which presents the top meeting and incentive destinations around the world. The data was compiled based on over 700 meeting and incentives that are operating in 2017 in over 500 destinations that Global DMC Partners represents. 

1. Southern California (San Diego + Orange County + Palm Springs)
2. Chicago, IL
3. Arizona
4. Los Angeles, CA
5. Washington, DC
6. San Francisco, CA
7. New Orleans, LA
8. Colorado
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Texas

1. Mexico (Cabo + Riviera Maya)
2. Italy (Rome)
3. United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
4. Bahamas
5. Greece (Athens)
6. Spain (Barcelona + Madrid)
7. France (Paris)
8. Costa Rica
9. Austria (Vienna)
10. Switzerland

President of Global DMC Partners, Catherine Chaulet, states, “Business meetings, incentive travel, conferences and conventions have a huge impact on the global economy. They help facilitate face-to-face interactions to build stronger and more profitable business relationships, and they contribute greatly to local economies and their sustainability. Many of the 2017 destinations highlighted here have been popular for meetings and incentives for the past few years, however there are a few destinations that we are very excited to see rising in the ranks, such as Colorado, Greece (Athens), Costa Rico, Switzerland, and Cabo and Riviera Maya in Mexico.”

The 2017 Global Destination Index also highlights destinations that are rising in popularity based on meetings and incentives that are either booked or close to contracting within a particular destination in 2018. Destinations on the 2018 Hot List are highlighted by region:

North America

• Boston, MA
• Montreal, QB
• Park City, UT
• Puerto Rico
• Seattle, WA

South America

• Brazil

Africa

• Morocco

Europe

• Croatia
• Ireland
• Malta
• Poland
• Portugal

Asia

• Bali, Indonesia
• Cambodia
• Vietnam

“There are so many amazing locations around the world that not everyone thinks of for business conferences or sales incentive trips. But after doing just a little bit of research, meeting planners will find that these destinations are ideal for many important reasons, such as flight lift patterns, cost-effective local options, and an array of experiences that are unique to the destination,” says Chaulet.

Global DMC Partners will host a webinar on July 20 at 10:00am ET, August 10 at 12:30pm ET, and August 15 at 11:30am ET to present their 2017 Global Destination Index, and take a deeper dive into what factors make each destination in their report attractive for meetings and incentives. Those who are interested in attending the webinar can register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/6183942949855801601.