One10 has reviewed four themes from the Incentive Research Foundation’s 2023 Top Trends Report, connecting workforce changes with reward program design. The February article includes the company’s interpretation of the research alongside the report’s findings.
The first theme is the wider role of incentive professionals. One10 describes programs supporting employee attraction, retention, wellbeing and connection across remote and office-based teams.
Travel presents a more complex picture. The review discusses higher costs and operational constraints alongside continuing demand for memorable experiences. One10 sees the design of the trip and its recognition value as important parts of the proposition.
Inflation is another consideration. The company argues that merchandise and points-based rewards can carry significance when recipients are more cautious about discretionary spending, while program operators need flexibility in their budgets.
The article also describes pressure on delivery as expectations recover from pandemic disruption. Shorter planning schedules, staffing constraints and supplier costs affect how incentive travel and other reward programs are organized.
The underlying 2022 Incentive Travel Index gives a direct measure of those perceived pressures. Among 1,079 industry respondents answering its future-challenges question, 80% selected rising costs or inflation, 66% talent attraction and retention, 64% contract-management expectations, 63% short-term planning uncertainty and 62% loss of industry knowledge after staff departures. The online survey ran from May to July 2022. Respondents could select several challenges, and the figures describe concerns rather than measured cost increases or One10 performance. [S02][S03]
Challenges identified by incentive-travel professionals
May-July 2022 online survey; 1,079 responses to the multiple-selection future-challenges question.
% of answering respondents
Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table.
Source
Selected challenge categories; multiple answers allowed. Industry convenience respondents across countries, not a representative employee sample. Historical perceived challenges, not measured inflation, staff losses, 2023 results or evidence that a supplier resolved them.
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| Category | % of answering respondents |
|---|---|
| Rising costs / inflation | 80 % of answering respondents |
| Attracting and retaining talent | 66 % of answering respondents |
| Contract-management expectations | 64 % of answering respondents |
| Uncertainty / short-term planning | 63 % of answering respondents |
| Knowledge lost through staff departures | 62 % of answering respondents |
One10 recommends connecting reward choice with careful planning and an understanding of supplier pressures. Its response to the 2023 findings emphasizes preparation, adaptable budgets and travel experiences that reflect the intended recognition.
In this article
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed covers industry acquisitions, investment and market research for Gift Card News.