Atlantis Paradise Island, a luxury resort in the Bahamas, has released findings from its new meetings-focused survey of more than 2,000 meeting attendees, planners and third-party sources across the U.S. and Canada.

The survey, conducted by Zoho Survey, offers insight 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 favored by both planners and attendees.

The findings come as Atlantis continues to strengthen its position within the meetings and incentives sector. Most recently, the resort was named 2026 Independent Hotel Partner of the Year by HelmsBriscoe, the world’s largest third-party meetings and events agency. The recognition highlights Atlantis’ continued investment in group programming, operational excellence and its ability to deliver large-scale experiences for corporate meetings and incentive travel.

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. 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.

“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,” said Steve Silverman, senior vice president group sales, Atlantis Paradise Island. “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.”

Key Findings

  • 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.
  • 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 support teams for meetings, and rewards for group bookings rank above sustainability initiatives as loyalty drivers.
  • 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.
  • When flying to a conference or meeting, 32% of respondents say they use the time to catch up on work emails, reflecting how productivity increasingly begins in transit.

With 52% of respondents reporting higher attendance levels than prior years and another 35% indicating stable participation, the survey points to a clear recalibration in how planners and attendees evaluate destinations. Accessibility, integrated design and the ability to deliver seamless experiences at scale are no longer nice-to-haves; they are baseline expectations.

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 information on Atlantis Paradise Island’s meetings and events offerings, including upcoming initiatives informed by this research, visit atlantisbahamas.com/meetings.