Technological and demographic factors as agents of change in the development of business events

The published work and Commentary that comprise this PhD thesis examine the field of business events, with particular focus on the shifting relationships between supply and demand in the business events market that have arisen as a result of the ongoing technological and demographic changes in the external macro-environment within which this market operates. The extant body of research into the market for business events such as conferences, meetings and other face-to-face gatherings pales in comparison with the extensive volume of investigations undertaken by the research community focusing on leisure tourism, cultural events and sports events. Nevertheless, this comparative neglect of the business events market cannot be justified when we take into account the essential role played by such events in the efficient functioning and development of the commercial, political, and intellectual activities of those who attend them, as well as the considerable economic benefits that business events bring to the venues and destinations in which they are held. The high-spending, high-yield nature of business events is the key factor behind the intense competition that exists between supply-side stakeholders in this sector. In the 21st century, as competition among the expanding supply of conference venues and destinations has intensified, the case to be made for conducting research that focuses on the effective functioning of the business events market has become increasingly compelling. Following a discussion of the research context within which my research activities took place, this Commentary gives details of the specific research objectives that guided my own investigations. It then identifies the pragmatism paradigm as the approach adopted in my research, a stance which supports the use of the mixed methods approach that I employed in connection with my data collection, and one which reflected my desire to produce socially useful knowledge. This is followed by a critical reflection on my research publications in this area. It comprises a portfolio of 25 publications, dated from 1992 to 2014. In different empirical contexts, and using a varied range of research methodologies, appropriate to the different research questions, this Commentary takes as its primary focus the impacts of technological and demographic factors on the marketing of conference venues and destinations, as well as on the design of business events. The Commentary highlights the original nature of my research in this field as well as its contribution to the ongoing discussions in academic and practitioner domains on the subject of how the business events industry must evolve in order to provide value to a new generation of participants living in a world increasingly shaped by advances in electronically-mediated communication.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Greenwich

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Davidson, Robert I.

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Kuenzel, Sven
• Catchpowle, Lesley

• HD Industries. Land use. Labor

Language dc:language

en