AI Drafts the RFP Now: 65% of Meeting Planners Use Generative AI, and DMCs Are Often the Last to Know
The short answer Generative AI has moved to the front of the MICE procurement funnel, ahead of the RFP — and most destination management companies cannot see it happening. The Northstar Meetings Group/Cvent Meetings Industry PULSE Survey of more than 1,000 corporate, association and agency planners found 65% of planner organizations already using generative AI platforms, with another 13% saying they will be soon — yet only 16% report significant improvements to planning outcomes so far (Northstar/Cvent PULSE, December 2025 wave, published 2026). In Asia-Pacific, planner adoption jumped from 43% to 75% in a single year (Gevme, 2026), and the EMEA Q2 2026 PULSE wave reports adoption still accelerating, with planners citing measurable gains in efficiency, content creation and event planning support (Northstar/Cvent PULSE EMEA, Q2 2026). ...