In a new survey of over 2,000 meeting attendees, planners and third party sources across Canada and the U.S., Atlantis Paradise Island provides insights into how meetings and events travel is evolving, including why large-scale experiential resort destinations with seamless access and expansive infrastructure, such as Atlantis, are increasingly favoured by both planners and attendees.
The findings come as Atlantis continues to strengthen its position within the meetings and incentives sector.
According to the survey, 75% of respondents attended a meeting, conference, awards recognition or event in the past year, signaling sustained demand across the sector.
And looking ahead, more than 92% expect to travel two or more times for meetings in 2026, with nearly four in 10 anticipating four or more trips, signaling continued confidence and momentum.
Steve Silverman, Senior Vice President Group Sales, Atlantis Paradise Island, explained that: “Today’s meetings audiences are looking for destinations that make it easy to bring people together while offering the scale, flexibility and variety that modern programs require.”
Silverman continued: “As meetings travel continues to grow in 2026 and beyond, Atlantis is well positioned to support groups with our diverse space options, dedicated support teams and an environment that works just as well for focused business as it does for connection beyond the agenda.”
The findings underscore a clear shift in how professionals evaluate meetings destinations:
- Ease of access and direct flights rank as the top motivator for attending resort-based conferences (65%), outweighing amenities, dining and entertainment
- Destination appeal remains critical, with 74% rating it “extremely” or “very” important
- Variety of meeting and event space (53%) and quality accommodations and amenities (41%) follow closely behind
The results reinforce demand for destinations that combine aspiration with ease. A bucket-list destination, Atlantis Paradise Island drives conference attendance by offering an iconic setting supported by the operational efficiency today’s planners and participants expect.
The survey also confirms the growing dominance of the all-in-one resort as the preferred meetings format:
- 70% say an all-in-one resort experience is most appealing for off-site meetings and events
- Nearly half (46%) value the ability to combine work and leisure, framed around efficiency and productivity rather than escape
- Consistency, dedicated meetings support teams, and rewards for group bookings rank above sustainability initiatives when it comes to loyalty drivers
This integrated approach, where meetings, accommodations, dining and experiences exist within a single destination, is increasingly viewed as a practical advantage rather than a perk.
At Atlantis Paradise Island, features such as customizable Group Meal Plans further simplify planning and budgeting, reinforcing the appeal of an all-in-one resort model for meeting organizers.
Once considered niche, extended stays tied to meetings are becoming increasingly common:
- 67% are likely to extend a work trip or bring family before or after a meeting
- Among those bringing companions, 65% would bring adult companions, followed by teens and school-age children
The data suggests that today’s meeting travellers are thinking beyond a single agenda and planning for flexibility around it.
Despite strong demand for meetings in 2026, cost remains a key consideration for planners. Sixty-one percent of respondents cite flight pricing as the biggest challenge when booking events in the Caribbean, highlighting the importance of destinations that offer choice, flexibility, and multiple points of entry when managing group travel budgets.
Atlantis Paradise Island boasts extensive, nonstop air connectivity from key U.S. and Canadian metropolitan areas, offering meeting and event planners significant flexibility in flight sourcing across various carriers and travel dates.
U.S. travellers benefit from major gateways including New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Boston, complemented by robust Southeast connectivity via Atlanta, Charlotte, and Miami.
For Canadian guests, direct flight service is available through Porter Airlines, WestJet, and Air Canada, departing from Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Grounded in direct feedback from planners and attendees, Atlantis Paradise Island is using these insights to guide the next phase of its meetings strategy.
Additional programming and promotions informed by the survey findings will be introduced in the months ahead, reinforcing the resort’s commitment to delivering meetings experiences that reflect what the market values most.
For more, go to www.atlantisbahamas.com/meetings .
