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What Makes a Great DMC?

June 24, 2026

DMC selection relies on local expertise and reputation more than any other factors, says new SITE report.

Planners know that successful incentive travel programs rely on the expertise of destination management companies (DMCs). They can bring insider knowledge of destination venues, opportunities for customized activities, logistical support and more. But, what is the most important criteria when it comes to selecting an effective DMC? The latest SITE Pulse Survey, completed by 286 incentive travel professionals in May 2026, reveals that local expertise and reputation are the twin foundations of DMC selection, scoring more than four and a half times higher than other factors. Respondents included corporate planners, hotels and suppliers, DMCs, and DMO/NTO/CVB respondents. Across all, “local expertise and authentic insight” ranked highest, narrowly ahead of “reputation and relationships.”

The rankings, in order of importance, were as follows:

•Local Expertise and Authentic Insight
•Reputation and Relationships
•Responsiveness and Agility
•Service Breadth, Creativity and Customization
•Financial Stability
•Legacy and Longevity
•Market Presence
•Attitude and Cultural Fit
•Technology and Systems Capability
•Scale and Organizational Reach

While all respondents cited local expertise and reputation as the most important criteria for DMC selection, different groups had some different priorities. The corporate planners gave higher scores to service breadth, creativity and customization, for example. This reflects their focus on program design, said SITE CEO Annette Gregg, in a statement.

“The SITE Pulse survey,” said Gregg, “confirms something many incentive travel professionals instinctively understand: the value of a great DMC lies in their ability to open up a destination with insight, creativity and confidence. Technology, systems and scale all have a role to play, but they do not replace the depth of local knowledge, judgement and relationships that make incentive travel programs genuinely memorable and effective.”