In today’s fast-paced financial and insurance world, incentive travel serves as a strategic connector that binds high achievers to your organization’s purpose and performance goals. Similar to how the new rules of networking emphasize authentic engagement over transactional meet-and-greets, top firms are reimagining travel programs as immersive experiences that foster loyalty, collaboration, and sustained motivation.
The IRF 2025 Top Performer Study, presented at the FICP Annual Conference opening plenary on November 3rd, reveals five practices these leading companies rely on to turn incentive travel into a competitive advantage and achieve 12 percent revenue growth on average.
“Working with a DMC that treats an incentive program as a strategic partnership has made all the difference,” says Rutger Hoorn, VP of Global Sales and Strategic Partnerships at Ovation Global DMC. “It is not just about the destination; it is about creating an experience that scales with performance and delivers measurable impact.”
Unlimited Earning Potential Fuels Engagement:
87% of top performers allow participants to earn unlimited rewards. Your itineraries and experiences must scale accordingly. Offer tiered upgrades or surprise extras when participants hit new milestones.
Perceived Value Over Price Tags:
68% of top performers place a high priority on the perceived value of merchandise and gift card rewards. It is not about the biggest budget; it is about authenticity and personalization. Secure local VIP access, custom team-building workshops, or artisanal welcome gifts to elevate each touchpoint.
Cross-Department Collaboration from Kickoff:
97% of top performers report strong cross-department collaboration in program design. When marketing, HR, finance, and operations co-create the program, outcomes improve significantly. Host an internal design workshop early in the planning phase to align on objectives and ensure every department’s needs are addressed.
Programs as Living Initiatives:
60% of top performers treat their reward and recognition programs as living initiatives, continually assessing and refining them. Implement mid-event pulse surveys and post-trip debriefs to capture feedback, then update session formats, menu choices, or downtime offerings for your next event.
Long-Term Strategic Partnership:
75% of top performers rate financial support for their programs as excellent. The most successful firms view DMCs as ongoing collaborators rather than one-time vendors. Develop a multi-year engagement roadmap that revisits site selection, reward thresholds, and experiential formats annually. For a deeper dive into partnership best practices, explore resources from the Incentive Research Foundation
Discover the full IRF study here and see how your organization can achieve top performer results. Ready to elevate your incentive travel program?
Contact Ovation Global DMC today to start planning a strategic, high-impact experience.