The Contribution of Event Quality Factors on the Development of Memorable Tourism Experiences: Evidence from the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experience in the context of a mega-sport event, and to investigate the contribution of event quality factors on the development of memorable tourism experiences. For the accomplishment of this aim, thestudy investigated the experiences of a sample of international spectators who attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches hosted in St. Petersburg, Russia. Data collection took place on-site during the group stage matches hosted at the stadium and was conducted with a self-completion questionnaire using two scales, one for memorable tourism experience and one for event quality factors. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the psychometric properties of revised versions of the two scales. Multiple regression analysis showed that memorable tourism experiences were significantly predicted by the event quality factors, with the authenticity, entertainment, venue quality, and event competition dimensions having the most significant contributions. Theoretical and management implications are discussed.

Temporary Communitas at an Iconic Cricket Event: An Ethnographic Study

The nature of events demand uniqueness and memorability, but the specific elements of experience that produce these have not been deeply examined, particularly over the course of the event experience. Much of this relies heavily on event places and the social relations they facilitate. This research used the concept of temporary communitas and built on the Event Experience Scale (EES) through an ethnographic study of an iconic multi-day, spectator driven sporting event. Solicited participant diaries of eight friends and family who travelled to attend the 2017 Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne, Australia, were collected pre, during and post-event to capture the event experience as it emerged over time. Qualitative analysis of the ethnographic accounts revealed four event experience themes (competition, emotions and atmosphere, special experience and interactions), which collectively were connected to a strong sense of temporary communitas. These themes were evident across the event cycle, providing insight into the nuances of the event experience, and highlighting the importance of understanding the social relations generated in the event place pre- and post-event. Consequently, it is suggested that revision to the existing EES instrument is required to more comprehensively assess for temporary communitas as part of the event experience. Future studies could usefully test the factor structure of the EES with and without the suggested additional temporary communitas items and compare both models on the basis of their reliability and validity.

Using Communication Boundaries to Minimize Athlete Social Media Distractions During Events

Sport organizations regulate athletes' use of social media for many reasons including the protection of the organization's reputation. Several strategies have been introduced to minimize issues related to the negative consequences athlete social media use may present, yet whether these strategies also work to address social media distractions experienced by athletes during major sport events is not well known. Utilizing communication privacy management (CPM) theory, the purpose of the current research was to examine the aspects of social media that sport administrators perceive to be distracting to athletes and what support and management mechanisms are utilized to address such concerns during major sport events. Semistructured interviews ( N = 7) with Australian national sport organization (NSO) administrators were conducted. Sport administrators reported several aspects of social media that are perceived to distract athletes including personal and performance criticism and a fixation with social media profiles. Social media could also be used to manage athlete temperament. As a result, organizations highlighted both proactive and reactive communication boundaries and mechanisms that could be used to address concerns including content restrictions, best practice case studies, engaging in conversations, and monitoring. Opportunities for sport practitioners are described including conducting consultation sessions with athletes to better understand their needs regarding their social media use.

Meeting Planners: Views of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Motivations Across Two Continents

Interpretation of, and commitment to, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) differs from country to country, resulting in variances in implementation. It is theorised that these variances originate from organisational and cultural context. There is limited research dedicated to contextual variances of CSR in the meetings industry. As such, the objective of this paper is twofold: first, to understand whether Meeting Planners in America and Western Europe differ in their current and future motives for engaging with CSR. Second, to establish whether the differences in motivation are influenced by their conceptual understanding of CSR or the wider socio-economic and political. The authors analysed over one thousand self-reporting questionnaires from Meeting Planners across the two continents. Results were analysed using un-related t-tests in order to establish if the two groups differ in their underlying motives to engage with CSR. An exploratory factor analysis was used to determine how Meeting Planners conceptualised CSR across the two continents. Results suggests similar strategic motives to engage in CSR. European Meeting Planners identify egoistic motives to engage in CSR. In contrast to America, CSR practice in Europe will change in the future as value-driven motives become prevalent. The paper provides evidence of context as a defining factor in CSR, where ubiquitous constructs of CSR cannot be easily applied to Meeting Planners. The findings demonstrate the incongruent nature of CSR practice. The results advance the application of CSR to Meeting Planner’s practice in both America and Western Europe, re-igniting the definitional debate of CSR within the meetings industry.

Prioritising SERVQUAL Dimensions to Improve Trade Show Performance

The purpose of this paper is to examine the suitability of SERVQUAL for trade shows. Theobjective is to identify the significant SERVQUAL dimensions and their relative importance toincrease the purchase intention of visitors to a trade show. The study uses a survey of 400visitors to a big trade fair. Structural equation modelling was used to determine the relativeimportance of the dimensions. Results suggest that SERVQUAL is well suited for assessing theservice quality of trade shows. The tangibility and assurance are the two most significant factorsinfluencing the purchase intention of trade show visitors. Exhibitors should enhance tangibilityin trade shows by methods such as display of product or product prototypes, brochures, andscreens. Further, they should increase assurance by displaying medals and awards won, qualitycertifications achieved, testimonials of past satisfied consumers, and experienced salespeople atthe trade show counters. Trade show organisers should attract big brands for the exhibition toenhance assurance. The present study contributes to the ongoing debate on the relevance ofSERVQUAL in the trade show context. The study demonstrates that SERVQUAL is a decentmeasure to study service quality in trade shows even though the majority literature claimsotherwise. Further, the present research prioritises the SERVQUAL dimensions, helpingmanagers to design customer-oriented sales strategies.

Asian Convention Venue Engaging in Sustainable Practice: The Driving and Hindering Factors

This study aims to identify the factors that drive or hinder convention venue to implement sustainable practices. The response from 136 Asian convention venue senior managers shows that improving the corporation image of the venue is the primary driving factor for management team to engage in sustainable practices, while lack of resources is the major hindering factor. The significant differences in the driving and hindering factors were identified among management teams from different-sized convention venues in Asia. The importance and suitability of sustainable practices were revealed from the perspective of different-sized convention venues. The insights from this study deepen the understanding of sustainability in convention management and provide valuable implications for industry practitioners.

Investigating Social Capital Development in Embedded Festivals: The Case of The Cygnet Folk Festival

This article adopts Claridge’s (2018) tri-dimensional social capital lens to explore how social capital is developed in an embedded festival setting. The study was based upon a quantitative survey and semi-structured in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders of the embedded Cygnet Folk Festival (a regional festival located in Tasmania, Australia). Results indicated that embedded festivals could generate unique social capital by co-opting the local infrastructure and providing volunteer opportunities. While all dimensions of social capital were detected, it appeared that embedded festivals may be particularly effective in generating the structural and cognitive dimensions of social capital; the findings of this study support the notion that embedded festivals differ in the manner in which social capital is produced and in their ability to create a sense of community in the host location. This paper concludes with a range of theoretical and practical implications for the effective management of social capital development in festival settings.

Seeing is Believing: Special Olympics Events and the Society of the Spectacle

The purpose of this research project is to better understand how one global sport for development agency takes advantage of events to build partnerships. This study demonstrates how the current social context, as theorized in Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, facilitates the implementation of what we label as a “seeing-is-believing” strategy. This strategy allows Special Olympics to capitalize on society’s fascination with events to activate partners. Accordingly, a conceptual model that synthesizes and contrasts the aims of commercial spectator sports and sport for development events is provided. This model demonstrates that events are effective partnership-building arenas because, on one hand, they offer opportunities to efficiently evaluate mission attainment. These opportunities exploit our familiarity with events and the unthreatening passivity of watching. On the other hand, events provide pretexts for getting over the initial awkwardness sometimes associated with interacting with athletes identifying with intellectual disabilities. Theoretical and practical implications of the concepts that make the seeing is believing strategy work will also be provided.