An Exploratory Study of Convention Specific Social Media Usage by Attendees: Motivations and Effect of Generations on Choice of Convention Information Source and Intention to Use Mobile Application

While social media and mobile devices have grown as important tools of communication and marketing in the meeting industry, limited research has explored convention attendees’ perception of convention specific social networking media and what the motivations are for attendees’ adoption of using convention specific social media. This study aims to identify convention attendees’ motivations of using convention specific social media and demands of convention specific mobile applications. This study also investigated how attendees’ generation affects their selection of convention information sources and attitude toward mobile applications. Based on the identified key motivations of using convention specific social media, convention organizers need to build social media that provide up-to-dated convention information as well as a functionality of building community among attendees. The findings also show that generation affects the choice of convention information source and intention of mobile applications usage. This study identified the most demanded convention mobile applications including, exhibitor directory search, convention floor plan, and convention itinerary planner. This study can be used as a basis for more extensive examinations of the use of social media in conventions and for empirical testing of convention attendees’ attitudes toward convention social media and mobile applications.     

An empirical analysis of green convention attendees' switching intentions

This study aims at proposing to test a research model to gain a better understanding of the relationships among the dimensions of experiential quality, green experiential satisfaction, green alternative attractiveness, green service fairness, green variety-seeking, and green switching intentions. The study's findings are based on structural equation model analysis of a convenience sample of 650 attendees at the 13th International Green Building and Energy-Savings Exhibition 2016 in Chongqing, China. The results of this analysis contribute to the services marketing theory by providing additional insights into green switching intentions, the dimensions of experiential quality, green experiential satisfaction, green alternative attractiveness, green service fairness, and green novelty-seeking. The study's results will assist green convention management in developing and implementing market-orientated service strategies to increase the dimensions of experiential quality and green experiential satisfaction, enhance green alternative attractiveness, green service fairness, and green novelty-seeking, and decrease green switching intentions.     

Considering a Convention Center

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of communities are actively considering the construction of a convention center. Rather than being a 1-step, build or not build process, the convention center decision process is multi-stepped. Many of the decisions that must be made in the process are complicated and have huge potential implications for existing lodging facilities and other industry and non-industry players. Further, because the process includes numerous steps, the entire process is often very time-consuming. The author used a variety of sources to suggest the elements that should be considered when thinking about the construction of a modern convention center for a community.     

Attendees’ needs and service priorities in a large convention center: Application of the importance–performance theory

The study identified attendees’ needs and service priorities when attending an exhibition at a large convention center. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 566 subjects attending five different exhibitions. The results indicated that overall cleanliness of the convention center, a well-maintained facility, and helpfulness of guest services personnel were top priorities for attendees regarding the convention center's facility services. Attendees also attributed high importance to the following features of the convention facility: directional signage within the convention center, availability of high quality lodging near the convention center, sufficient restrooms throughout the facility, and ability to get cell phone signal. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between the level of importance and performance of the majority of the facility services and features of the convention center. Implications for decision makers regarding these importance–performance gaps are discussed.     

Service quality aspects and sports scientific conventions: An experience from Iran

This study investigates the role of service quality aspects in a Sport Scientific Convention held in Mashhad, Iran in 2015. A sample of 175 conference attendees were targeted to investigate the quality of services offered, their satisfaction, and intention to return. However, the findings show that the quality of access to destination and venue affect service accessibility quality. The hotel value and hotel staff interaction affect accommodation quality, but the atmosphere of the hotel does not. The internal environment of the venue and its staff interaction affect venue quality in a direct and meaningful way, but venue value does not. In addition, convention process and product affect convention quality in a direct and meaningful way. There is also a direct and meaningful relationship between accommodation quality, venue, and convention quality, and service quality in the sports scientific convention. Access quality, however, is not a part of this relationship. On the other hand, there is a relationship between access quality and satisfaction, and satisfaction affects participants' intent to return to the convention.     

Convention and Exhibition Center Development in Korea

Abstract

As Korea comes increasingly into the spotlight with globally recognized events and its heightened importance as an international business destination, the demand for the modern and innovative convention and exhibition facilities has increased. This paper provides an overview of Korea's convention and exhibition industry, with a special focus on the development of convention and exhibition centers. Following the delineation of the boom of convention and exhibition center development, it concludes with some pertinent issues.     

基于协会会议参会人角度的国际会议目的地竞争力研究——以北京为例

北京建设国际会议城市是其实现建设世界城市的重要组成部分，因此，研究北京作为国际会议城市的竞争力具有重要意义。文章从协会会议参会人的角度，研究影响国际会议目的地选择的因素，并通过重要性一绩效分析方法（IPA）研究北京作为国际会议目的地的竞争力。文章指出，北京建设国际会议城市具有多方面优势，其中“可达性”、“目的地形象”、“安全”重要性高、表现性好，属于“继续保持”的因素，同时北京也有很多需要改进的地方，如“通用语言”、“住宿成本”、“当地居民的友好程度”以及“接待和住宿设施”。     

Effect of Event Service Quality and Satisfaction on Happiness Among Runners of a Recurring Sport Event

The consumption of sport events through direct participation can influence participants’ perception of happiness with that experiential purchase given the time and resources invested in that experience. The purpose of the study was to examine how sport event service quality aspects operationalized through the physical environment, interaction, and outcome factors influence overall satisfaction with the event and experiential happiness. Data were collected from 300 runners who participated in 5k and 10k races. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed the positive effect of outcome and physical environment factors on satisfaction with the event and the positive influence of event satisfaction and outcome quality on experiential happiness. The overall expectations on the quality of the event experience can be a focus for event managers aiming to achieve social marketing goals related to positive psychology from the event participation.     

Supplementary Services as a Differentiation Strategy

Abstract

Although some studies have been done on supplementary services in the service industry, very little has been explicitly done in the travel and tourism industry. This paper focuses on adding value to core services in the travel and tourism industry, which Lovelock (1996) referred to as “supplementary services.” Supplementary services can be used as differentiation points in a highly competitive industry such as tourism. Some researchers have developed models in an effort to demonstrate how supplementary services can enhance the core services. Shostack (1977) and Lovelock (1996) have developed models specifically designed for the service industry. This research is based on Lovelock's (1996) “Flower of Service” model, focussing on the “Hospitality: Taking Care of the Customer” cluster. This paper contends that supplementary services add value to core services, which gives firms competitive advantage over their competition. In the dynamic and challenging environment of the travel and tourism industry, operators need to differentiate themselves in order to be successful and continue to offer superior performance. One of the strategies to differentiate from the competition is to enhance the core services with supplementary services. A major Midwestern City was selected to test Lovelock's model. Two conventions held in mid-February were chosen for this study. Attendees of the first convention were provided specially trained greeters at selected key locations. The second convention that was held the following week did not have any greeters. Attendees of both the conventions were asked to complete a one page pre-tested questionnaire. They were to rate the host-city on several criteria including overall satisfaction, meeting their expectations, and satisfaction with the hospitality and non-hospitality services. Obtained findings suggest that attendees who were exposed to greeters rated the host-city more favorably in overall impression, and quality of hospitality services, and non-hospitality services, while the convention attendees that were not exposed rated the host-city less favorably. Based on the results from this study, firms in the travel and tourism industry, especially the convention centers, may want to consider providing their customers with supplementary services such as greeters as a differentiation strategy.     

What are Cities Really Committing to When They Build a Convention Center?

Abstract

This paper looks at the eventual implications to cities when a convention center is built. The Delphi Technique was used to gain the expert opinions of a wide variety of knowledgeable experts in the field. Five questions pertaining to the ultimate financial consequences of building a convention center in a municipality were examined. There was great, general agreement that cities are putting themselves into a position where additional dollars will have to be spent in an attempt to make the initial investment, in this case a convention center, successful.     

So You Want to Build a Convention Center

ABSTRACT

This is a case study of a convention center development project in the university town of Flagstaff, Arizona. The case answers the question: What can a project management team planning a complex public/private/public convention center project realistically expect in the first phase of the project? Hope is presented as city leaders' probable initial preparation using linear planning through the Project Management Process Model. Reality is presented as Phase I of the model unfolds and intended plans quickly diverge from expectations. The Hope/Reality Gap offers lessons-learned.     

Revisiting Determinants of Convention Participation Decision Making

In the midst of the unprecedented economic downturn, attracting a large number of attendees at annual conventions is more challenging than ever for associations and meeting planners. In order to boost attendance, an organization must understand what would be the factors affecting convention participation decision of potential delegates, and what would be the reasons to put a particular convention on the top of their must-attend list. This article empirically validated the key determinants of convention participation decision making that had arisen from previous studies, and further examined the relative influence of each factor on the convention participation intention. Four determinants were identified (networking, destination, travelability, education), and they are largely in line with the major factors that had been suggested in the extant literature. The findings of the study showed that “networking” and “travelability” factors significantly influenced the convention participation intention of the survey respondents. Several implications and convention marketing strategies for associations and meeting planners were discussed.     

Developing Loyalty Programs for Convention Attendees: An Exploratory Study

Reward programs build loyalty for hospitality businesses. Such programs are rare in the convention industry, despite the fact that the industry is challenged to increase attendance while maximizing profits. This study evaluated the attributes of a possible reward program for convention attendees. Attendees at a large international convention completed a survey on which they rated potential reward program attributes and benefits. Benefits were classified into four primary dimensions: monetary, redemption, functional, and recognition; and two secondary categories: tangible–intangible and direct–indirect. Attendees prefer tangible, monetary rewards directly related to the convention. Suggestions are provided for creating effective reward programs that could increase loyalty for conventions.     

Conference mobile application: Participant acceptance and the correlation with overall event satisfaction utilizing the technology acceptance model (TAM)

Abstract

Although many studies have been conducted focusing on technology trends and acceptance, there is a lack of research investigating the factors that influence conference attendees’ attitudes toward a mobile event app based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) framework. The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants that influence conference attendees’ attitude toward using a conference mobile event app. The results found that perceived usefulness was the greatest predictor of the app users’ attitude toward the mobile event app, attitude is a significant predictor of overall conference satisfaction, and perceived ease of use was the only significant variable found to vary between age groups. The study’s findings have implications for stakeholders in the MICE industry and the open-ended survey responses offer insights into what conference attendees deem as valuable app functionality and how attendees’ age group may affect technology preferences.     

Understanding the relationship among motivation to attend,satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among convention attendance, satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees. The data were compiled after a major medical conference held in Las Vegas in 2015. A total of 1,091 completed surveys were evaluated using structural analysis. The study indicated that attendee's motivation for attendance was significantly different than other studies that utilized different target markets. It was found that motivation impacted satisfaction which in turn influenced desire to attend future conventions. This study also provides discussions and implications for convention research and industry practices.     

Convention center operations: some questions answered

Convention centers continue to be built or expanded, worldwide. But, with all these new and expanded centers coming on-line, which ones will succeed and which will fail? Is there an optimum sized city that would do well to have a convention center? Is it only the large sized centers that can compete effectively? What type of management structure works best and helps insure the success of a center? The current study answers some of these strategic questions in convention center planning and development.     

Tourists’ online reviews of convention centers

Investigating both the valence of online reviews and convention centers’ performance is an effective approach towards understanding convention center visitors’ needs, wants, and expectations. Understanding convention center experiences from the customer perspective can improve venue services and event products for both convention centers and event organizers in a business-to-business context. This study examined TripAdvisor online reviews using a combined automated and non-automated content analysis to explore the dynamic experiences of convention centers. The dual analysis of qualitative and quantitative characteristics resulted in the identification of key concepts, satisfaction/dissatisfaction factors, center-and event-related complaint issues, and tips/suggestions.     

China's Convention and Exhibition Center Boom

Abstract

There was one mega C&E center (over 50,000 square meters of indoor space) in China in 1992, totaling 160,000 square meters. By 2003, there were 16 mega centers, totaling 1,288,000 square meters-a growth of 805% in 11 years (Table 1). This paper records the history of the convention and exhibition (C&E) industry in China and examines the prevailing optimistic view of its prospects. The profit criterion and motives behind the establishment of C&E centers in China are explored. Potential developments are discussed and future research directions are identified.     

Understanding convention attendee behavior from the perspective of self-congruity: The case of academic association convention

Based on the concepts of convention quality, multidimensional value, and behavioral intentions, the current study examines how distinctively convention attendees evaluate a convention when they perceive different levels of self-congruity (SC), that is, low versus high SC. Cluster and discriminant analyses are employed. The findings show that low-tiered SC attendees evaluate a convention negatively, whereas high-tiered SC attendees evaluate it positively. Furthermore, differently tiered SC attendees can be best discriminated by social networking, social value, and revisit intention. Given the potential significance of SC in attendee-based convention evaluation, understanding the distinction between differently tiered SC attendees enables convention planners to gain insight into how to cultivate and sustain high SC, thus promoting positive attendee attitude and preference toward conventions.