Recognition Professionals 2025 Industry Report Released
Members can download the full report while non-members have access to the Executive Summary
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – May 2, 2025 – The Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) undertook an extensive year-long global research project to deliver data that is designed to empower members and non-members with actionable incentive and recognition insights. The report, known as the Incentive & Recognition Insights 2025, synthesizes insights from over 600 executives worldwide, offering comprehensive global benchmarks and trends for organizations looking to optimize their incentive and recognition strategies.
“We hoped this study would give the IMA a unified voice to represent the global industry, strengthening our brand identity and providing value to our members, new and existing,” says Fintan Connolly, Consultant at Engage Loyalty, Research Chair, and past President of IMA Global. “We ran a comprehensive survey to get hard numbers and benchmarks, and we collected open-ended feedback and regional insights so we could capture the stories and context behind the numbers."
The global report provides an overview of the incentive and recognition market, with regional, industry specific, and benchmark comparisons, allowing members of the IMA to share cross-market knowledge. As part of the global report, nine exclusive reports were developed, providing domain and geographic-region-specific insights. This includes four geographic reports, covering North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, helping organizations localize their strategies while aligning with global standards. There are also five industry reports tailored towards the perspective of each industry's specific offerings, challenges and trends. These include Gift Cards, Merchandise, Solution Providers, Travel, and Recognition Professionals.
Sample of data from the Recognition Professionals report.
The Recognition Industry report features insights from over 90 Recognition specialists, delivering industry-specific benchmarks and trends. “In a world of constant change and evolving associate needs, recognition remains a cornerstone of thriving, engaged workplaces,” says Kimberly Huffman, Vice President, HR, Banfield Pet Hospital and Recognition Professionals International Board President. “The 2025 Incentive & Recognition Report equips recognition leaders with the insights and inspiration needed to transform recognition into a strategic force – driving connection, performance, inclusion, and purpose across the organization.”
The Incentive & Recognition Insights 2025 report was made possible through the support of IMA Research Partners, Blackhawk Network (BHN), Touch Incentive, and Hinda Incentives and IMA Research Supporter, Tillo. Their support enabled the IMA to scale the study globally, offering reliable statistics, real-world examples, and strategic insight for helping grow the incentive marketplace. The survey was conducted among incentive professionals, both members and non-members, exploring the past, present, and future sentiment of both the organizations running incentive and recognition programs and the broader industry ecosystem.
Access to the study is available for RPI Premium Practitioner members and is available for download on the RPI website.