Travel and meetings are superior vehicles for broadening perspectives, inclusion and understanding among diverse groups of people, yet more and more the travel and meetings industry is being used as a political weapon.  While it is not clear if boycotts are effective, it is abundantly clear the meetings industry is greatly damaged by the cancellation of travel and meetings to the destinations embroiled in controversy.  Be among the first to hear the results of the new research study on the topic conducted by APCO Insight and sponsored by the PCMA Education Foundation and the Destinations International Foundation.   Additionally, learn from the real life experience of a destination expert who partnered with planners for the success of their meetings in the face of a political dispute.

1. Bans, Boycotts & Restrictions
Presented by
The Weaponization of Travel

2. Our Panelist
Lauren Compton
Director
APCO Insight
Dustin Arnheim
Dir of Convention Sales
Visit Indy
Andreas Weissenborn
Director of Research &
Analytics
Destinations International

3. Our Webinar Road Map
Recent research
insights on the public’s
perceptions
Environmental factors
and trigger points
How an organization
and their destination
experts can work
together to provide
communication,
support and
alternatives

4. Weaponization of Travel
Presentation of Research by APCO Insight

5. Defining Weaponization
• Ban: formal action on the part of a business, state or local
municipality or other entity to stop travel within its organization to a
specific state
• Boycott: efforts to encourage travelers to avoid target states
• Advisory: efforts to raise awareness on an issue, but don’t go as
far as to outright encourage people to avoid travel to a state

6. Methodology
• National online survey of American travelers
– Sample size: N=1001
– Adults 21 years of age and older
– Have traveled out of state in the past year and plan to do so in the upcoming year
– Fielded May 23 – 30, 2017
3

7. Environmental Factors
• Election year
• Unified government (primarily
conservative)
• Controversial social policy
• Outside political figures take local
controversy to national conversation
• Progressive activist organizations act as
conveners, fan the flames
• Heavy hitters (businesses) in the state
vocalize their opposition
• Influential outside forces (e.g. NCAA)
take a stand
Trigger Points

8. Majority are generally aware of travel boycotts,
but there isn’t strong familiarity besides NC
57%
Familiar
44%
4%
2%
2%
3%
3%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
7%
8%
8%
8%
10%
31%
AxisTitle
North Carolina
Texas
California
Mississippi
Arizona
Florida
Alabama
New Mexico
Indiana
Tennessee
Virginia
Kentucky
West Virginia
Nebraska
Ohio
None of the above
Don’t know

9. Travelers split on support of travel boycotts
15%
22%
24%
18%
39% 40%
22%
Support Oppose No Opinion
Strongly│Somewhat│Total

10. Lack of consensus on efficacy
15% 15%
28% 29%
42% 44%
13%
Effective Ineffective Don’t Know
Definitely│Probably│Total

11. 40%
49%
62%
72%
74%
34%
23%
16%
10%
10%
9%
14%
8%
9%
8%
Businesses
Hospitality Industry
Employers
Residents
Politicians
Travelers believe boycotts hurt the travel industry
Help
No Impact
Harm

12. Travelers say there are many viable alternatives
29%
17%
13%
10%
14%
12%
31%
33%
34%
28%
29%
27%
27%
33%
35%
41%
45%
46%
Q: Here are some potential alternatives to travel boycotts. For each, do you believe it is a better or worse
way to get state government to change their actions?
Participate in discussions
Contact state politicians
Donate to causes that advocate in the state
Organize friends, family, etc.
Share opinion on social media
Protest
Better
The Same
Worse

13. Potential for negative impact to travel
33%
45%
10%
12%
Less Likely No Impact More Likely Don't know
Q: If you knew some organizations or people were boycotting a state, would that impact your likelihood to
travel there?
33% Less Likely
-10% More Likely
23% Negative Impact

14. 19%
1%
1%
11%
12%
16%
18%
20%
20%
27%
30%
30%
31%
None of the above
News outlets*
Family/friends/acquaintances*
Celebrities/entertainers
Sports organizations
Businesses in the state
Conservative activist orgs
Governor and state legislature
Hospitality industry
State chamber of commerce
Department of Justice
State tourism board
Progressive activist orgs
Tourism boards are trusted info sources on issue
Q: If you were looking to learn more about a travel boycott, its motivation and its impact, which of the
following would you trust for information?
*Note: not provided as an aided option answer; coded from “other, please specify”

15. Key Takeaways
• To date, reputational damage appears to be limited
• But there is potential for negative impact
• Especially as weaponization becomes the norm and awareness
increases
• Opportunity to defuse momentum – lack of consensus on effectiveness,
but clear agreement on damage to blameless parties
• Moreover, there are many alternatives that are seen as just as good, if
not better than boycotts
• Tourism boards are a trusted information source and can help navigate
this fast evolving, complex issue

16. How CVBs Can Help
5 WAYS organizations and their destination experts can work
together to provide communication, support and
alternatives to bans and boycotts.

17. Knowledge provider for pulse on the latest legislative
developments and to specifically address
the concerns of the organization
1

18. Connector to key local, city and state leaders to communicate
the organization’s concerns about the legislation
2

19. Source of “best practices” curated from working with
other meeting professionals
3

20. Creator of comprehensive communication and
marketing plan specific to the needs
of the organization
4

21. Engagement options for alternatives
for positive impact within the local community
5

22. THE CVB CONNECTION
• Local expertise
• Extensive in-market relationships
• Comprehensive view of the destination
• Free to you!
Your event begins and ends
with the destination.

23. FIND
YOUR
CVB
EXPERT
HERE

24. Keep in Touch
Web
www.empowermint.com
LinkedIn
Destinations International: Network for CVBs and Meeting Professionals
Email
contactus@empowermint.com
Blog
blog.empowermint.com