Abstract:
This study examined the buyer behaviour of professional convention
organizers with respect to the selection of a host city. Discrete choice modelling was
employed to analyse data from a choice experiment involving 20 site selection
attributes. The majority of the attributes were found to be statistically significant, but
the most influential factors were cost of the convention venue, food quality, suitability
of the plenary room, the accommodation mix, proximity of participants to the host
site, and the quality of exhibition space. The study finds that, although the
characteristics of the meeting facilities are particularly important, an attractive host
site must offer strengths in a broad range of other attributes, if the site is to be
successful in an escalating competitive environment.
