Destination Event
An event held in a location away from the host organization's home base, often in a resort or travel destination.
Definition
A destination event is any gathering — corporate retreat, conference, incentive trip, or celebration — held in a location that requires attendees to travel. These events are typically set in resort destinations, unique venues, or cities chosen for their appeal, combining the event's business or social purpose with the experience of a desirable location.
Planning a destination event involves additional logistics compared to local events: travel coordination, accommodations, group transportation, activities programming, and consideration of the destination's infrastructure, climate, and accessibility.
Why It Matters
Destination events create memorable, immersive experiences that foster deeper connections than local gatherings. Removing attendees from their daily routines and placing them in inspiring settings leads to higher engagement, better networking, and stronger team bonding.
For organizations, destination events serve as powerful incentive tools. The promise of an all-expenses-paid trip to an exciting location motivates performance and improves employee retention, making the investment strategically valuable beyond the event itself.
Examples in Practice
A tech company hosts its annual leadership summit at a Hawaiian resort, combining strategic planning sessions with team-building activities, resulting in the highest leadership satisfaction scores in company history.
An incentive trip to Iceland for top salespeople generates social media content that becomes a year-round recruiting tool, with candidates citing the travel program as a key reason for applying.
A destination wedding in Tuscany coordinates flights, ground transportation, and hotel blocks for 120 guests across 8 countries, requiring six months of logistics planning.