Cindy Meyerer (holding game board) and our amazing Teneo booth partners at the 2026 IRF Invitational in Scottsdale.
From “Teneopoly” to budget-savvy strategy, here’s what Teneo’s Cindy Meyerer learned about the future of incentive travel
Held annually, the Incentive Research Foundation’s (IRF) Invitational brings together 500-plus industry experts, suppliers, peers and researchers for a few days of education and networking. This past May, Vice President, Global Sales at Teneo, Cindy Meyerer, attended alongside partners from Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa, Minor Hotels, The Boca Raton, Ocean Reef Club and Terramar, a DMC Network company.
Visitors to Teneo’s booth were treated to a game of “Teneopoly” while learning about the types of experiences and activities our hotel partners offer for incentive groups. Cindy also made time to attend informative sessions, such as one on the strategic importance of incentive travel programs in the financial insurance business.
Panelists underscored the growing demand for experiential differentiation and personalization while program organizers highlighted travelers’ requests for unique experiences, flexibility, and perceived value. With budget constraints still a widespread issue, both IRF attendees and panel members agreed that creative budgeting and collaboration between hotels and incentive organizers was key to managing costs while maintaining high-quality experiences that prioritized more free time.
Cindy Meyerer (far right) enjoys some fun activities with fellow attendees at the 2026 IRF Invitational.
Other notable takeaways from Cindy’s trip to the 2026 IRF Invitational:
- According to the 2025 Incentive Travel Index, published by IRF, organizations most commonly reduce program spend by selecting less expensive destinations (42%) and booking shorter-duration trips (42%). In Western Europe, they’re choosing closer destinations (67%) and shorter trip durations (56%) to manage their budgets most effectively.
- Hotels serve a critical role as the “home base” of an incentive trip, crucially responsible for setting first impressions and determining program engagement.
- For high-net-worth attendees, a destination’s quality and perceived value rank among top priorities.
- Attendees noted increasing pushback from attendees on extended stays, with various speakers mentioning the need for flexible travel dates and mid-week travel becoming more common.
Throughout the year, members of the Teneo Team will be attending various conferences such as Cvent Connect, IMEX America 2026, and more to connect with clients and hotel partners and gain further insight into the trends and topics impacting the meetings, events, and incentive industry.
