Please find a press release below from the Conferli, GDS-Movement, and #MEET4IMPACT, announcing the initial findings of a new global survey that reveals a significant gap between ambition and action in how destinations fund events.
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Destinations Want Change, But Funding Still Lags Behind
New global survey by Conferli, #MEET4IMPACT, and GDS-Movement reveals a gap between ambition and action in destinations’ events funding mechanisms
IMEX Frankfurt, 20 May 2025:Subvention, the financial and in-kind support that destinations provide to associations hosting events, is at a crossroads. According to preliminary, new findings from a survey conducted by Conferli, in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), 91% of participating destinations say they want to drive positive change through subvention. Yet only 6% have fully integrated legacy and impact criteria into their programmes.
The survey, which gathered insights from 115 destinations across five continents, reveals momentum and misalignment. While nearly 77% of destinations currently offer subvention solutions, most still prioritise traditional economic indicators like room nights and delegate spend in their events sustainability strategy.
“We launched this survey to surface the truth behind the subvention discourse,” said Nienke van der Malen, CEO & Founder of Conferli. “Destinations often talk about change, but the data doesn’t lie - most are still funding events the same way they did five or ten years ago. If we want to support a more sustainable and inclusive events sector, how we fund and incentivise events must evolve too.”
Key Findings at a Glance:
91% of destinations want to use subvention to drive change
Only 6% have fully embedded environmental or social impact criteria
40% expect to introduce formal sustainability requirements within 24 months
66% say budget constraints are the main barrier to offering subvention
Only 17% of current subvention schemes require social or environmental outcomes
Despite the growing desire to fund events that leave a positive legacy, the majority of funding criteria continue to prioritise (in order of importance):
Event type and strategic alignment with sectors
Volume of out-of-region delegates
Room nights and occupancy impact
Government policy alignment
“Destinations have a unique opportunity to catalyse change through innovative funding models,” said Guy Bigwood, CEO at the GDS-Movement. “Subvention should be more than a transactional incentive; it can be a powerful tool to accelerate sustainability, drive regeneration, and foster meaningful local impact. Yet, with only 6% of programmes fully embedding impact criteria, too many Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) are still investing in short-term wins over long-term legacy. Having said this - the seed of change is germinating.”
Among the destinations that do go beyond economic return:
20% offer fully-integrated support packages (e.g. sustainability roadmaps, legacy plans)
29% facilitate partnerships between organisers and local interested parties
32% provide practical tools like checklists or best-practice guides
Almost 50% of destinations that offer support run two or more subvention programmes, tailoring support to suit both flagship congresses and smaller, high-impact events.
“We work closely with CVBs and associations, and we see growing demand for more purposeful event funding,” added Geneviève Leclerc, Co-founder of #MEET4IMPACT. “Indeed, subvention can be so much more than a financial incentive. Using it wisely becomes a lever to drive better behaviours - more responsible procurement, smarter mobility choices, and stronger local partnerships. Right now, too many programmes still reward volume over values. But if we truly want events to leave a lasting legacy, then how we fund them has to reflect the impact we hope they’ll create.”
This Early Insights Report provides a first look at global subvention trends. The full study, which will include in-depth case studies and association perspectives, is set to launch in July 2025.
END
Research Sponsors: Sapporo Business Events, VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau and Visit England.
To download the Early Insights Report, click the below button.
For further information, get in touch with Anja Spice, PR & Marketing Manager, GDS-Movement at anja@gds.earth or call her on +44 741860166
ABOUT CONFERLI
Conferli is the smart choice for association conferences - a data-driven platform that transforms research and benchmarking into clear, confident destination matches. Built for associations tired of guesswork and red tape, Conferli combines independent data, smart technology, and real industry insight to streamline planning, control costs, and spark fresh thinking.
But we don’t stop at matching. We explore the big questions -like the future of RFPs, subvention as a driver for change, and what truly influences destination choice - so you’re not just picking a place, but building a bold, impact-driven strategy.
Say goodbye to gut decisions. Say hello to smarter, future-ready conferences. Discover how atwww.conferli.com
ABOUT #MEET4IMPACT
#MEET4IMPACT is dedicated to transforming the business events and tourism sector into powerful catalysts for social change. By creating a framework to define, manage, and measure the social impact of events, #MEET4IMPACT empowers event professionals, delegates, researchers, and local communities to collaborate and drive positive societal transformation. Through strategic partnerships and a network of passionate #agents4impact, we champion the integration of purposeful events into the core of our industry, fostering a culture of sustainability, social responsibility, and meaningful impact. Learn more at www.meet4impact.global
ABOUT THE GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT (GDS-Movement)
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in. Discover more at www.gds.earth
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement, Calle Espinagosa 3, Barcelona, Spain
