Examining the Role of Multidimensional Value in Convention Attendee Behavior

Abstract

This study delves into what causes convention attendees to perceive low or high multidimensional value (MDV) by examining the psychographic and demographic profiles of different tiers of MDV convention attendees (low-, middle-, and high-MDV attendees in this study). This study adopts functional, emotional, and social values to represent MDV. Using cluster and discriminant analyses, findings show that whereas low-MDV attendees negatively perceive convention experiences according to dimensions of the MDV, convention quality, and behavioral intentions, high-MDV attendees favorably evaluate convention experiences along the same dimensions. The demographic profile of high-MDV attendees includes more doctoral degree holders and academic faculty. Positive word of mouth, professional education, and social networking play more powerful roles than site-specific dimensions in discriminating low-, middle-, and high-MDV attendees. An understanding of the different tiers of MDV attendees enables convention planners to better comprehend distinct evaluative perceptions and, thus, to cultivate and sustain high MDV, resulting in loyalty and profit.

The Genuine Needs of Conference Attendees: An Analysis by the Modern Quality Function Deployment

“…Adequate and flawless IT requirements and free Internet facilities at conference venues also emerge as important attributes expected by attendees. The findings also support that offering free time for leisure and recreation activities is valued more than pre-arranged social activities by attendeesthey usually skip the social activities of conference programs (Ladkin, 2006;Kim et al, 2012;Lee & Min, 2013)-, as the earlier alternative is given higher priority among the needs in the location and social aspects category.…”

The norm activation model and theory-broadening: Individuals' decision-making on environmentally-responsible convention attendance

“…Convention travelers tend to stay in the host city longer, spending money on travel activities (e.g., accommodations, transportation, leisure pursuits, shopping, foods and beverages), and also tend to revisit the destination in the future (Oppermann, 1996;Park & Boo, 2010;Spiller, 2002). The positive economic impacts of conventions on the host community have led many destinations throughout the world to seek conventions and invest in convention facilities, convention centers, and related transportation (Lee & Min, 2012;Weber & Ladkin, 2003). However, it is not surprising that given the industry's significant demand for resources, contemporary concern and considerable attention have been focused on environmental issues relating to this sector.…”

Religious tourism and spiritual leadership development: Christian leadership conferences

“…Similarly to the literature, gender was dichotomous (Lee & Min, 2013;Mair & Thompson, 2009). Age (Grant & Weaver, 1996;Lee, Choi, & Breiter, 2016), travel party composition (Tkaczynski & Rundle-Thiele, 2013;Tkaczynski & Toh, 2014) and past experience (Lee & Min, 2013;Lu & Cai, 2011) were also categorical. Denomination was also categorical based on the religious literature (Bellamy & Castle, 2004;Brewer, Jozefowicz, & Stonebraker, 2006).…”

“…Lack of novelty, the opportunity to experience other events or time and/or financial constraints represent key inhibitors for conference revisitation (Mair & Thompson, 2009). Consequently, past experience is an alternative option method utilised within both tourism (Petrick, 2002;S€ onmez & Graefe, 1998) and conference attendance (Lee & Min, 2013;Mair & Thompson, 2009) to accurately predict behaviour due to a potentially linear relationship between attendance and loyalty (Lu & Cai, 2011).…”