Julie Whitfield

Measuring and Examining the Relevance of Discretionary Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism Some Preliminary Evidence from the U.K. Conference Sector

This article investigates the implementation of environmentally focused discretionary corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the U.K. conference sector. A new framework is proposed that organizes and communicates information detailing business performance regarding 10 environmental policy initiatives (expressed by the acronym GREENER) using a CSR response scale (expressed by the acronym VENUE). This GREENER VENUE framework fills a void in the CSR literature by focusing on discretionary practices, by exhibiting psychometric and conceptual properties enabling its application within a multitude of contexts. Grounded in theory, the framework is simple to implement, practical, easily understandable, and highly relatable. Applying the GREENER VENUE framework to data collected via a self-administered Internet questionnaire of the U.K. conference sector reveals the majority of conference venues are classified as Eager. The study also examines the efficacy of the proposed framework toward influencing U.K. venues’ performance on a range of environmentally friendly best practices relative to environmental accreditation.

Why and How UK Visitor Attractions Diversify Their Product to Offer Conference and Event Facilities

Conference and event organizers are becoming increasingly competitive in choosing venues that are designed to make an impression. Visitor attractions are, therefore, no longer as much of an unconventional choice as they once were. In light of this realization, such venues have marketed themselves not only on the provision of cultural/entertainment facilities, but also conference and event facilities. Drawn from a wider survey population undertaken in 2001, this research is based upon a postal questionnaire of 75 visitor attractions from across the UK. The survey results identify that many visitor attractions first entered the market place to diversify their revenue base and did not invest heavily into providing a complete conference and event product. Indeed, the research identifies that cosmetic changes remain the most common refurbishment activities undertaken in order to initially create such facilities offered by many visitor attractions. However, the results highlight that since opening, visitor attractions have changed their strategies and are now willing to invest in their product. Such venues are increasingly aware of the intense competition within the market place and the need for investment to maintain a place in the ever-growing competitive environment and to be able to supply a unique product. As such, the extent of structural changes involving the conversion and/or extension of the physical building increased in popularity once the conference facilities had opened. Exponential smoothing identifies that between the decades 1990–1999 and 2010–2019, there is predicted growth in visitor attraction offering conference facilities of 76%.

Scoring environmental credentials: a review of UK conference and meetings venues using the GREENER VENUE framework

This paper investigates frameworks to conceptualise, monitor and compare corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance at individual conference venues, and provides a new comparative framework that organises and communicates information detailing business performance on 10 environmental policy initiatives (EPIs) (expressed by the acronym “GREENER”) using a CSR scale (expressed by the acronym “VENUE”). This GREENER VENUE framework reduces the gap in the CSR literature by accentuating discretionary practices, and by exhibiting conceptual and psychometric properties enabling the frameworks application to broad and diverse contexts. Its use is grounded in theory: the framework is practical, simple to implement, easily understandable and highly relatable. Applying the GREENER VENUE framework to data collected via a self-administered internet questionnaire of 191 UK conference and meeting venues reveals that the biggest groups of such venues are classified as “Eager” on a rising scale from Eternal denial (11%), through Unmotivated (16%), to Nonchalant (30%) and so to Eager (36%), and finally, the top group, Venerated (7%). The paper also investigates the relative influence of all 10 EPI variables of the GREENER measure – considered simultaneously – towards enhancing firms’ behaviour on an inventory of 18 well-known environmental best practices (EBPIs).

Discretionary corporate social responsibility: introducing the GREENER VENUE

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual comparative framework measuring the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the UK conference sector.Design/methodology/approach – A self‐administered internet‐based survey was conducted to examine the implementation of ten environmental policy initiatives, expressed by the acronym “GREENER”, using a CSR response scale, expressed by the acronym “VENUE”.Findings – The greatest proportion of UK venues can be classified as “Eager”, with a quarter of respondents being deemed as “Unmotivated” or in “Eternal denial” regarding their implementation of CSR. It was also found that both size of venue space and venue type have significant effects on the level of CSR implementation.Research limitations/implications – Environmental performance indicators are not the only components of CSR, there are others, including social, economic and ethical. Further research may expand the framework from a uni‐dimensional environmental framework ...

Event sponsorship by alcoholic and non‐alcoholic drinks businesses in India

Purpose – This paper aims to examine event sponsorship decision making by the Indian drinks industry, comparing the non‐alcoholic and alcoholic drinks sectors.Design/methodology/approach – Data regarding event sponsorship activity, perceptions of event sponsorship, motives to sponsor, form of investment and structure of sponsorship was obtained from a sample of 61 drinks producers in India through a questionnaire. Mann‐Whitney and logistic regression were employed to compare the alcoholic and the non‐alcoholic sectors.Findings – The results suggest that the alcohol and non‐alcohol drinks sectors sponsored a similar level of events, but in investment volume terms, sponsorship from the non‐alcoholic sector is far greater than that of the alcoholic sector. While the two sectors are similar in many ways, the emphasis placed on certain motives for sponsoring events was different, with alcoholic drinks businesses placing greater importance on reaching niche audiences and increasing media coverage than non‐alcoh...

The North Cyprus conference sector: establishing a competitive advantage.

North Cyprus had recently positioned itself as a conference destination. Given external and internal factors such as political isolation and the over dependency on casino tourism, policy makers have recognized the importance of the conference sector in creating sustainable growth for North Cypruss tourism-driven economy. Increasingly, Turkish conference organizers are choosing North Cyprus as a destination to host conferences. As such, Turkish conference organizers were questioned via an Internet-based questionnaire to determine attributes considered important within the conference destination selection process. An Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) was performed; the findings identified that North Cyprus was perceived as a high performer with reference to: ease of accessibility, distance of destination, conference venue and accommodation price, safety and security, climate, hospitality, quality, quantity, and availability of hotel rooms. However, in relation to North Cyprus, a unique application of IPA identified macro- and microdestination attributes that North Cyprus should improve on: transportation within destination, availability of technological resources, the range of conference venues, conference staff training, destinations marketing activities, and quality of local restaurants. The findings provided implications for destination managers in terms of branding, as well as conference venue and accommodation providers in terms of targeting conference organizers more effectively and promoting North Cyprus to conference sector stakeholders.

A Temporal Analysis of Conference Venue Refurbishment Within the U.K. Conference Sector

Abstract This paper examines conference venue refurbishments within purpose-built venues, hotels, educational establishments, and visitor attractions across the U.K. conference sector. The main data relate to six refurbishment activities undertaken to create a venue conference product. Additionally, refurbishments undertaken since the conference facilities opened, and future plans for refurbishments across the four venue classifications are examined. The refurbishments examined are those of upgrading furnishings, upgrading décor, complying with health and safety legislation, the implementation of modern conference technologies, converting and/or extending the venue to supply or improve conference facilities and the provision of disabled access. The results show that initial level of initial investment across all venue classifications is not sustained, and a decline in future investment is apparent.

Price competitiveness and government incentives for simulating the meetings industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which price competitiveness accounts for the observed precipitated decline in the number of meetings taking place in Macau from 2009 to 2012, in spite of the rapid growth in overall tourism, diversification in its tourism offering, and the sizable expansion of its capacity and facilities for hosting business tourism over the same period. Design/methodology/approach – Analyzing historical as well as comparative data in a cross-section analytic design, the study suggests an implied competitive price range (using comparative accommodation prices as a proxy) beyond which financial incentives may be ineffectual in attracting meetings Findings – Examination of price levels as a proxy of competitiveness in attracting meeting events in the single case of Macau proved inconclusive. Other factors beyond mere price competitiveness likely account for the declining number of meetings in Macau from 2009 to the end of 2012. Originality/value – Overall, the ...

Sector Differences in Conference Facility Refurbishment

What influences the probability that a conference facility will refurbish? This is an important question as such information can inform conference organisers when selecting a venue. This paper presents an econometric analysis of the probability of conference venue refurbishment with a particular focus on the sector differences (purpose-built, educational establishments, visitor attractions and hotels) and time since previous refurbishment. We test the hypotheses that there are scale and growth effects and whether the presence of disabled facilities influences the probability that a conference venue will refurbish.