Aiko Kim

For family vacations, if the parents pay everything, then they decide the destination. But if the older teens contribute, then compromises are necessary, or else you end up with sulkiness in the car for the whole trip.

Five steps to contest this: if you are alone, the influence of companions is nonexistent; if the goal is professional, personal budget constraints take precedence over others.
If a destination offers a unique opportunity, like a special festival in Utrecht, then the choice is made before thinking about who might come.
If the budget is very limited, the price often dictates the destination, regardless of the group of friends.
If you do not consider these conditions, you really overestimate the impact of companions on the travel selection process.

If we consider that the influence of travel companions is a higher category than the choice of destination, then a solo traveler would not have a selection process, which is not logical.
For me, it's simple: if my friends want to go to Ibiza and my budget does not allow it, then I do not join them.
If financial constraints take precedence, then the destination is chosen based on my means, regardless of who I am with.
If we do not first manage our own expenses and desires, we risk ending up with regrets or a destination that does not match.

If we plan a trip, the destination is often a fixed idea even before thinking about companions.
It's my usual conditional plan: if the destination is clear, like a road trip in Zealand, then I block my dates and budget.
If friends want to join, then we discuss shared expenses and accommodation, but the core of the trip doesn't change.
The influence of friends is just a contingency that adjusts details, not the trigger element of the initial choice.
For example, my annual trip to the Rotterdam jazz festival is always my decision, and friends adapt if they're interested.

If the choice of a travel companion is considered the only factor, then a crucial step in planning is missed. A decision sequence would rather be: if I have a budget of €500, then I first choose my destination, then find companions with the same budget, otherwise I travel alone.
The available budget is often the real starting point, not the desires of a group, especially if you're aiming for a weekend for €100 in Amsterdam.
If the group insists on a more expensive destination, then the discussion should focus on funding, not desire.
Otherwise, the influence of companions is just one variable among others, not a universal rule.

Who has an interest in saying that the influence of companions is always the top category for choosing a trip? It's often an incentive from agencies selling group packages, or from those who want to avoid planning themselves, not a universal rule. For a solo traveler, for example, this "influence" is nonexistent; my decision for the IT-Messe in Munich last year depended on my interests, not friends. The selection process is personal, and the motive of the trip often takes precedence over the identity of companions.