“The Guanacaste region is awesome. Fly into the new Liberia airport, and you are only an hour or so away from absolute paradise. This area has beaches, eco tours, rivers, mountains, just about everything that people go to Costa Rica for.” —Timothy Arnold

“Its tropical appeal makes it exotic to both U.S. and European groups. New, upscale hotels are opening and existing hotels are renovating and shifting management. It’s a short distance from many U.S. major cities and easy to travel to. There are unique adventure activities in the forest, such as trekking and zip-lining, which are great teambuilding options for a great value.” —Catherine Chaulet

Pictured are kayaks sitting on the beach in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

While most of our experts have not yet been to Cuba, they had no shortage of comments to make about it:

“You can bet that in the next few years there will be plenty of interest as the opportunities open up with reform in any laws. Remember that Cuba is already a popular destination with many different nationalities, including Canadians and Spaniards.” —Eli Gorin

“It’s really hard to get the information I need to apply for the proper visa.” —Timothy Arnold

“Its major appeal is that it is a place that is yet to be discovered by most. Due to recent reforms, it is now a destination that everybody wants to see, and they want to see the original Cuba before it becomes too American and modern. Its history, along with its music and dance, is fascinating to many people so planners are starting to look at Cuba with more interest as they wait for it to be fully ready for groups.” —Catherine Chaulet 

“While we do not see a lot of demand for Belize yet, we expect it to change as people continue to look for new destinations to discover.” —Catherine Chaulet

According to lonelyplanet.com, “with one foot in Central America and the other dipped in the Caribbean Sea, Belize is home to the second-longest barrier reef in the world, jungles that teem with wildlife, and mysterious Mayan ruins. Make Belize City your home base for day trips, but don't neglect the unique beauty that this energetic, eclectic destination boasts in its own right.”

Pictured is a sunrise over Marina Cabanas Placencia, Belize.

“It is definitely an up-and-coming destination, which has been on a rebound in the past five to seven years. Colombia has seen a significant improvement in safety throughout the country and a large growth in tourism infrastructure with many higher-end hotels coming online in Bogota and resort options in Cartagena (pictured). Those two are probably the most popular destinations, but Medellin has made a huge resurgence as well.” —Eli Gorin

“For U.S. groups, it has a similar flight pattern and is a similar distance as traveling to Europe, but it can be cheaper to fly there. Its natural beauty, the Mayan culture, and Machu Picchu make it an exciting destination for incentives. It’s also known for its delicious cuisine, but is easier on the wallet. There are many renowned chefs now, especially in Lima.” —Catherine Chaulet

Pictured is Cuzco, Peru.

“The natural breathtaking beauty of the islands make New Zealand very appealing for incentives. There are picturesque mountains along with beautiful areas of sandy beaches and warm weather so the contrast is very appealing. It can be difficult to travel to due to the length of the flight, but we’ve found that clients are more willing nowadays to travel to long-haul destinations to experience something new. Plus there is a wonderful focus on organic food and the cuisine has improved dramatically.” —Catherine Chaulet

“You can expect to see a lot more tourists coming, in particular to Rio, thanks to the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, which is giving Rio an opportunity of a lifetime, nearly doubling the number of hotel rooms, but also opening up opportunity to areas of the city that most tourists would not generally travel to. Sao Paulo is a major metropolitan business center, but one of my favorite areas is in the north around Salvador Bahia, which is not as busy as the major cities in the south, but still beautiful and a great opportunity for any group.” —Eli Gorin

“It is becoming popular for incentives, because it already is popular for large congresses. It has exotic, amazing cities, including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as beautiful nature throughout the country, from the Amazon to the beaches.” —Catherine Chaulet

Pictured is Stairway Selaron in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by world-famous Chilean artist Jorge Selaron.

“While Punta Cana gets the lion’s share of the incentive groups, there is some great value right now in Puerto Plata in the north.” —Timothy Arnold

“Over the past decade, the Dominican for the most part has seen its growth in the Punta Cana area, which now has more than double the hotel rooms as all of Puerto Rico combined. Santo Domingo is a major city, but there is a Colonial charm. There are also more and more parts of the country being developed, but a lot of the focus is on the eastern point with Punta Cana. Most activities are focused on site at the massive all-inclusives.” —Eli Gorin

“An incredible, dizzying city: Like Hong Kong and Las Vegas had an illicit baby. Must be seen to be believed, and even then, it feels like a mirage at times. Make a point to visit Abu Dhabi, especially the Sheik Zayed Mosque, one of the amazing buildings in the world.” —Timothy Arnold

“Dubai offers great accessibility for European clients and guaranteed sunshine with wonderful venues and cultural appeal. It has not been as popular in the past due to the conflicts in the Middle East, but we are seeing it start to come up again.” —Catherine Chaulet

Pictured is the luxury beach of Dubai with the Burj al arab, one of the most exclusive hotels of the world. Next up: honorable mentions.

Iceland (pictured) and Croatia round out the top emerging destinations, with Singapore, South Africa, Vietnam, and unexplored areas of Italy also getting top mentions. “Right now, with the incredible strength of the dollar, is an awesome time to visit Europe, Canada, Russia, most of Asia, and Australia,” says Timothy Arnold.