Meeting Planners' Use of the Internet to Plan Group Meetings

Abstract

Despite the fact that hospitality web sites are proliferating and opportunities to complete sales transactions via the Internet increase daily, no research exists on meeting planners' use of the Internet to plan group meetings. Guided by Hoffman and Novak's (1994) Model of Planned Behavior this study focused on determining what variables are related to a meeting planners' intent to use and current use of the Internet to plan group meetings. Three hundred sixty-two planners of the Chicago Chapter of Meeting Professionals International were surveyed via a faxed instrument. Planners' attitudes, beliefs about norms, and perceived behavioral control were found to be significantly related to their usage of the Internet. Additionally, results confirmed that meeting planners view the Internet as having positive qualities and benefits in planning group meetings and that it is a cost effective planning tool.     

An Analysis of Cruise Ship Meetings

Abstract

Cruise ships have become one of the many options for corporate meeting planners when faced with a decision regarding a destination for meetings and incentives (employee rewards). In the past five years, all major cruise lines have unveiled mega cruise ships to attract a piece of the more than $20 billion corporate meeting and incentives market (Buia, 2001). But how much interest really exists among the meeting planners in holding their meetings aboard cruise ships? Are cruise ship meetings really comparable to meetings planned in land based meeting facilities? This paper explores the meeting planners' perceptions and interests in cruise ship meetings.     

A Refined Model of Relationship Selling Between Meeting Planners and Suppliers

This study proposes and tests a newly refined model of relationship selling in the context of meeting planners and suppliers in the Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE) industry. Results showed that newly added variables—social bonds with the supplier and meeting planners' attitudinal intention to maintain relationships with the supplier—had significant positive effects on the relationship selling construct; while both willingness and power of the supplier were neither related to meeting planners' perceived trust nor satisfaction. This refined model could provide research insights and guide future research on key relationship selling constructs between meeting planners and suppliers in the MICE industry.     

A comparison of planners' site-selection intentions towards a sustainability reward program,location, and overall costs

Previous research indicates that environmental attitudes do not always translate into environmentally sustainable behavioral intention. The current research uses sustainability reward programs as incentives for people to have environmentally friendly behavioral intentions. Specifically, this study investigates how sustainability reward program affect meeting planners' site-selection intention in comparison with other factors such as location and overall costs. While the results of the study discover that the effect of sustainability reward programs was not significant for planners' site-selection intention, considerable differences were found on the effects of other factors between different types of planners. The findings provide important theoretical and practical implications.     

Conference Participants' Acceptance of the Internet as An Information and Registration Tool

Abstract

Using the 1999 Annual Civil Affairs Conference as a medium, this study ascertained the acceptance and utility of using the Internet for registration and informational purposes for this group of civil affairs officers. The results indicate that computer usage and Internet access consumer patterns are distinctly different than other reported consumer usage profiles. With this in mind, certain challenges exist for the conference meeting planner in matching the usage patterns of this respondent group.     

An examination of green intention: the effect of environmental knowledge and educational experiences on meeting planners’ implementation of green meeting practices

Environmental sustainability has become an important concern in staging meetings and events. This paper introduces the Convention Industry Council's Green Meetings Report and goes on to investigate whether prior knowledge and educational experiences related to environmental sustainability are influential factors in planners’ commitment to engaging in ecologically friendly behavior. Using a nine-point questionnaire, 278 delegates at North America's largest one-day event for meeting planners were sampled. Regression analysis showed that the intention to implement green meeting practices is positively influenced by both prior knowledge of and educational experience with greening practices. In particular, educational experiences were found to be a strong influential factor contributing to meeting planners’ intention to implement green meeting practices. By providing operational definitions of knowledge and education, it proves that knowledge gained by an unstructured format was less effective than the impact of education on green intention. Accordingly, this study not only highlights academic discussions on environmental knowledge-building through formal education but also derives managerial implications for the meeting and event industry by outlining ways to incorporate continuing professional education in sustainable meetings and events. A range of ideas for the content of that professional education is presented, along with the possibilities for e-learning.     

Virtual and Hybrid Meetings for Generation X: Using the Delphi Method to Determine Best Practices,Opportunities, and Barriers

This study identifies best practices, opportunities, and barriers for marketing and planning virtual and hybrid meetings for Generation X (36 to 49 years old) within the United States. Utilizing a modified Delphi method, a meeting professional panel contributed to four rounds of the Delphi to determine group consent. For virtual meetings, best practice recommendations included having planners collaborate with meeting content designers, including interactive experiences, and including interaction with live experts. For hybrid meetings, best practices identified included real world examples, providing easy to use and convenient technology, and having planners collaborate with meeting content designers. Opportunities and barriers for virtual and hybrid meetings were also identified     

Exploring Content and Design Factors Associated with Convention and Visitors Bureau Web Site Development

Abstract

Convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) have become important organizations within the tourism industry. The International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (IACVB) reported that it represents approximately 500 destination management organizations in 30 countries (IACVB, 2003). As one of the most important components of the tourism industry in the United States, the Convention and Visitors Bureau performs various activities to facilitate destination marketing and development, with the aim of enticing leisure and convention customers to their particular city or region. Meanwhile, meeting planners are using technology to enhance their ability to produce and execute meetings that demonstrate a high return on investment. Consequently, CVBs' websites have enormous potential in selling a destination and facilitating the meeting/convention planning process. This paper explores the content and design factors associated with convention and visitors bureau web site development. It also demonstrates how planners utilize the Internet and CVB websites.     

Technology

Abstract

The presence of technology in the hospitality industry is increasing at a rapid rate. Technology has had an effect on the efficiency of many facets of the hospitality industry. Despite the growing number of meetings, conventions, and conferences, there has not been a published needs assessment study of training needs-especially technology needs-of hospitality sales managers. This paper presents the results of the first part of a study that examined technology training needs for hospitality sales managers and meeting planners. The top three technology skills training needs that surfaced in the 1996 study included advertising/marketing on the Internet, developing request for proposals, and meeting planning/sales management systems.     

Understanding the Role of Local Food in the Meeting Industry: An Exploratory Study of Meeting Planners' Perception of Local Food in Sustainable Meeting Planning

The growth in socially conscious and sustainable business models has fueled the promotion of green meetings. This fact-finding article explores the viability of sourcing local food to the meeting industry through an investigation of current meeting planning priorities and sustainability values. The results show that there is a viable demand by meeting planners for locally sourced food, that meeting planners have the contractual flexibility on food selection, and that there is a willingness to pay a price-premium for local products. However, an increase in the knowledge of the benefits for both meeting planners and meeting/event attendees is needed to encourage the use of local foods.     

Trade Show Managers

Abstract

Trade show management is a multi-faceted field, requiring a breadth of skills on the part of those engaged in the craft. Whether they go by the title of Show Manager, Director of Marketing, Vice President of Meetings/Conventions, or Director of Meetings/Conventions, these professionals work with exhibitors, attendees, and service providers to produce their events. The managers of the 200 largest shows in the United States were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward and usage of technology in their jobs. Results indicate that they rely on the Internet to conduct business and will likely increase their usage of this business tool.     

会展场馆选择标准研究述评——基于会议策划者视角

文章的主要目的在于对与国外会议策划者选址过程相关的实证性研究文献进行回顾,以期引起对该领域的关注,并推进我国会展业策划实践。文章通过对关键词的搜索,从外文数据库中选取1977～2012年的27篇与会议策划者选址相关的公开出版文献,对这些文献进行述评并梳理每篇文献中会议策划者的选址标准。研究结果发现,目的地及目的地酒店及会展场馆设备设施的质量和性能、成本、安全和人力资源是会议策划者最重要的选址标准。最后,针对现有研究不足提出了未来可能的研究方向,结合我国国情和文化特色从跨文化研究和利益相关者合作角度提出建议。     

The impact of CSR satisfaction on destination loyalty: a study of MICE travelers in Thailand

The objectives of this research are firstly, to study the characteristics of CSR activities conducted for international business groups. Secondly, to analyze the factors that impact business travelers’ satisfaction with CSR activities, and thirdly, to analyze the influence of satisfaction with CSR activities on destination attachment and destination loyalty. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 127 business participants from three corporate meetings and one convention group. The results reveal the characteristics of CSR activities of corporate meetings and conventions in Thailand. Business travelers’ satisfaction with CSR activities is influenced by their personal altruistic attitudes and the efficacy of local service providers. Satisfaction with CSR activities has a direct impact on destination attachment and an indirect impact on destination loyalty. CSR activities could be used as tools to influence the revisit intention of corporate meeting and convention participants. A CSR activity during a business trip is a novel concept that can be utilized by destination management companies as well as national tourism organizations to develop satisfying tourism products.     

Understanding Supplier-Selection Criteria: Meeting Planners' Approaches to Selecting and Maintaining Suppliers

Few attempts have been made to explain the change in perspectives in regard to meeting planners' supplier-selection criteria in relation to initial supplier selection versus meeting planner-supplier relationships. This article aims to examine the perspective differences using 15 modified supplier-selection criteria in an exploratory manner. Results of this study indicate that meeting planners' perspectives on the same decision factors can change in terms of selecting and deciding upon long-term relationships. The key findings would lead to managerial implications for sales personnel of both Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry suppliers and local convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs).     

Association Planners' Satisfaction

Abstract

The meeting industry has not attracted researchers' attention as much as industry growth and suppliers' interest. Research within the industry has examined attribute importance and attribute performance separately from the association meeting planner's perspective. This study's purpose was to evaluate state association meeting planners' satisfaction with their recent convention destination through the simultaneous consideration of attribute importance and performance. A total of 252 questionnaires from 673 faxed were completed, resulting in a 37.4% response rate. Importance-performance analysis revealed that management should concentrate their resources on providing quality meeting services, better prices, and quality meeting facilities.     

会议策划人(MP)研究述评

作为一种会展经济特色的工作岗位与职业,会议策划人在美国等会议产业发达国家得到了较充分的发展,并日渐成为会展管理研究领域的一个研究热点.为引发我国学术界对此研究领域的关注,推动我国会议策划实践之专业化水平的提升,文章对与会议策划人相关的77篇英文学术论文进行梳理与分析,发现在总体分布方面,呈现出近10年文章占75％、美国学者占66％、实证研究占75％等特征；在研究内容方面,可归纳为MP的分类与特征、MP的职业资格与专业技能、会址选择与会址营销、MP的满意与忠诚、MP的激励与约束等5个研究专题.在此基础上,还针对现有研究的局限与不足,提出了加强跨文化比较、重视性别差异分析等建议.     

Site Selection for Professional Meetings:

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in the level of attractiveness to selected Caribbean destinations to corporate and association meeting planners. Specifically, this study explored how "numbers of meetings planned in the Caribbean" affected attractiveness ratings. The research also examined which of the facilities, services, and recreational factors played the most significant roles.     

Meeting planners’ use and evaluation of convention and visitor bureaus

The MICE industry represents one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. Yet, it is only in recent years that the economic contribution of this industry segment has been recognized and the relationships among the various industry players have been examined in more depth. This study focuses on the relationship between meeting planners and convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs). Results of the study indicate that association meeting planners utilize CVBs more frequently than corporate planners. Meeting planners mainly use free rather than fee-based CVB services, with destination information and referral services being the most popular. The desire to deal directly with suppliers represents the major reason for meeting planners bypassing CVBs in their convention/meeting planning. Implications of the study results are discussed.     

Meeting planners’ experiences of multiple service failures: A dynamic model of organizational justice

This article investigates service failures in the meeting industry, with a particular focus on multiple failures. Drawing on an integrative model of organizational justice, this research developed a framework to study meeting planners’ responses following multiple service failures. In-depth interviews with meeting planners assessed their experiences with repeated service failures in which a meeting venue was at fault. The study revealed several findings, including distinctive characteristics of multiple service failures, a new escalation evaluation process, and meeting planners’ distinctive responses to failures as a result of their intermediary role. Study implications are discussed, and future research directions are offered.     

EDI and the Internet in the E-Business Era

This article presents cost effective guidelines to assist hotels of all sizes with the usage of electronic data interchange (EDI) in the Internet e-business era. The evolution of web-based EDI makes it easier for hotels of all sizes to support their business processes with traditional EDI technology, but without the extensive capital outlay in computer hardware and software. This is an attempt to encourage investment in basic EDI technologies before implementing more sophisticated applications. The focus is to allow hotels of all sizes to improve their competitive advantage with successive EDI technological advances.