Perception and Valuation of Digital Events – A Case Study Based on a Digital Tourism Trade Fair in Germany

Abstract

The aim of our study is to analyze digital events using the example of a tourism trade fair. The focus is on the question of how people experience digital events. For this purpose we evaluate the transmission of information, the acceptance of technical possibilities and the overall evaluation of an event. We use a qualitative empirical research design based on a single case study. The results show that participants have hardly any problems in dealing with digital technologies. However, the participants miss the social interaction and emotional immersion at digital events. This shows a big difference to physical events. Future immersive applications may be able to circumvent this shortcoming by addressing several senses and thus also emotionally involving visitors to digital events. The study contributes to research on the perception of digital events and gives organizers valuable advice on what to pay special attention to when organizing them.