At Global DMC Partners’ Connection 2026 in Lisbon, industry leaders argued that in an unstable world, meetings and incentives are no longer optional extras but strategic assets.
In January 2026, the Global DMC Partners convened its annual Connection event in Lisbon, bringing together global planners and partners at a moment of heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The event was shaped by a shared concern: how to future-proof meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions as inflation, visa constraints and AI disruption collide with rising demand for in-person engagement.
Opening the programme, Catherine Chaulet, President and CEO of Global DMC Partners, framed the industry’s current paradox. The external environment has rarely felt more volatile, yet organisations increasingly rely on live experiences to drive growth, culture and retention. Her keynote argued that MICE should no longer be treated as discretionary spend, but as infrastructure that supports commercial outcomes and organisational resilience.
One of the clearest illustrations came from buyer behaviour and investment signals. Despite cost pressures across hotels, F&B and AV, a significant share of organisations are maintaining or increasing MICE budgets. Incentive travel, in particular, continues to outperform, supported by strong returns and sustained demand from sales-led and executive audiences. Chaulet also pointed to accelerating mergers and acquisitions across event technology, agencies and DMCs as evidence that investors see long-term value in the sector.
For association leaders, several strategic implications emerged. First, success metrics are shifting. Attendance counts and cost reports are giving way to questions about what changed because people were in the room, from pipeline movement to member engagement. Second, programme design is evolving toward experience-led formats that balance presence with pace, responding to what Chaulet described as “FOMO meets slow-mo.” Third, partnerships and co-funding models are becoming more important as sponsors, destinations and internal stakeholders demand clearer value alignment.
Connection is a recurring forum for Global DMC Partners to test these ideas against market reality, and its 2026 edition reinforced a consistent message: while delivery models will keep adapting, human connection remains the industry’s core advantage. As organisations plan for 2026 and beyond, those that treat MICE as strategy rather than spend will shape how the sector evolves.
