A recent survey conducted by The Eastside Rooms shows that travel-based financial incentives play a significant role in international and domestic destination selection for PCOs.
The results, from both international and domestic PCOs, indicate a demand for destinations to support conference bids with incentives, such as free local public transport or subsidised taxi rates, as they seek to attract organisers and their attendees.
When asked if travel-based financial incentives from destinations influence their choice of destination, 20% of respondents said these incentives “always” have an impact, 39% stated they influence their decisions “most of the time,” and only 7% indicated that such incentives had “no impact” on their choices.
Leanne Bladen, director of sales & marketing at the Eastside Rooms, said: “It is clear from these findings that travel incentives are not just a ‘nice to have’ but for 59% of PCOs they are a significant factor in their destination decision-making process. Destinations that support conference bids with travel incentives are positioning themselves as more accessible and desirable, particularly in today’s competitive events market.”
The survey also included insights into domestic travel preferences and perception differences between delegate needs and those of organisers:
- The results show that PCOs prioritise easy travel access: 64% state that they believe travel for attendees should include one transfer or less. However, only 36% of attendees agree, with a notable 64% willing to make two transfers, and 11% open to three. This suggests that attendees may be more flexible with travel requirements than organisers anticipate.
- Further differences emerged in terms of travel time. Only 24% of organisers think delegates should spend more than four hours on travel, whereas nearly twice this amount (42%) of attendees expressed willingness to travel up to six hours and a surprising 11% will spend eight hours on the road to a domestic event.
Bladen, added: “Whether delegates are arriving by train, plane, or road, Birmingham’s connectivity reduces travel time and complexity, allowing attendees to focus on the conference experience itself rather than logistical challenges. By choosing accessible destinations, PCOs can enhance the appeal of their events and support higher attendance and satisfaction.”
