The latest North American Pulse Survey finds that while confidence is wobbling, activity remains steady.
Nearly two-thirds of planners who participated in the most recent North American Pulse Survey from Cvent say recent economic and immigration policies have negatively impacted the travel business. Optimists now outnumber pessimists by the slimmest of margins — 1.17 to 1. Yet despite mounting political, economic and cost pressures, planners are still booking, according to the survey, held Jan. 20–Feb. 2, 2026.
The data points to five trends that could prove consequential for meeting professionals.
- Optimism is thinning, but the pipeline is holding. Planner sentiment has declined steadily over the past year. For the first time since Covid, fewer than half of planners say they expect to produce more meetings this year than last year — just 43% anticipate growth in 2026.
And yet, the booking engine hasn’t stalled. One-third of planners are actively booking new events right now — a level consistent with the past two years. There is no evidence in the survey data of a broad slowdown in live event sourcing activity.
- Planning horizons have stabilized at “the new normal.” Average planning timelines have lengthened since the compressed booking cycles of 2022–2023 and now appear to have plateaued at just under 11 months, the survey found.
The majority of planners are sourcing events between four and 12 months out, signaling a normalization of lead times. The frantic short-termism of the immediate post-pandemic era has eased. This stabilization indicates a return to some level of predictability, as well as slightly more negotiating leverage and operational breathing room — though not necessarily budget relief.
- Face-to-face is valued, but still funded like a cost center. The strategic value of in-person meetings remains unquestioned in most organizations. A striking 75% of planners say their stakeholders view face-to-face meetings as “significantly” or “somewhat” more valuable than other business initiatives. Even more telling: 88% agree their stakeholders see meetings as strategic investments rather than cost centers.
However, only 32% say stakeholders are willing to invest beyond inflationary cost increases, with most additional spending concentrated in accommodations, F&B, content and technology.
This is an indication that planners face continued pressure to deliver elevated experiences without proportional funding. They also face a growing need to quantify ROI in concrete business terms.
- Political and social issues are now core site-selection factors. While higher costs remain the top concern (rated 4.41 out of 5 in February 2026), political, cultural and social issues now rank just behind airline pricing and ahead of many operational concerns. Some of the Trump administration’s signature policies, including the economy, immigration and regulatory actions, are viewed as having an even more negative impact on the industry than they were in November 2025.
Among the concerns planners voiced in the report:
- Crime and homelessness in certain U.S. cities
- Frustration with political rhetoric affecting attendee sentiment
- Heightened focus on duty of care and emergency planning
For site selection, cost and quality reign supreme, but health and safety considerations and political/social/cultural alignment with attendees are gaining ground.
- Cross-border patterns are shifting. International meetings activity has dipped modestly year over year, with 43% of planners currently planning cross-border programs, down slightly from 45% last year. Even more notable is the geographic shift. There are fewer U.S. inbound programs being planned compared to 2025. Canada and the Caribbean appear poised to benefit, while Europe remains the top international destination overall.
Planners are still going global, but their destination choice is increasingly influenced by political climate, travel perception and ease of entry.
- Costs still painful, especially when it comes to F&B and AV. If there is one area of near-universal frustration, it’s pricing. Higher F&B costs (65%) and AV costs (61%) top the list of difficulties planners face when working with hotels and venues. Accommodation rates and contract flexibility remain concerns but are slightly less acute than last year.
Interestingly, space availability and RFP response times are easing compared to 2025, suggesting some supply-demand rebalancing. Still, as one respondent put it, the industry risks “hitting a wall” if prices continue rising while service levels decline.
Overall, the survey data points to a 2026 outlook that is more cautious, pragmatic and politically aware than exuberant. Optimism is fragile. Growth is slowing. Cross-border dynamics are evolving. Costs remain elevated.
And yet, bookings continue. Face-to-face remains strategically vital. Planning horizons are stabilizing. The industry is functioning.
If the past few years have taught planners anything, it’s the importance of being adaptable. Today’s environment feels less like crisis and more like complexity, with layered risks, constrained budgets and higher stakeholder expectations.
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