Events Management: An International Approach (2nd edition)

The field of events management has witnessed a period of exponential and largely uninterrupted growth in the past three decades. This growth is apparent in the increase in the number and scale of events that are being organized worldwide, the significant rise in employment that the sector provides and the development of theory and research that underpins the study of the field as an academic subject. As both students and researchers in the field of events management since the early 2000s, we have witnessed truly remarkable changes in the development of the subject. The very first qualification in events management was launched by George Washington University in 1994 as a Professional Certificate Program to meet the needs of professionals in an emergent field. Just over two decades later, there are a plethora of both general and specialized BA, BSc, MA, MSc and even PhD programmes, targeted at students who have chosen events management or related specialist fields such as event sponsorship, sport and experiential marketing for their future careers. So what does this text offer to these students? Like the first edition, it takes an explicit international approach to the study of the subject. It seeks to prepare students for the realities of working in a sector that is becoming increasingly international. As in the case with businesses in other sectors of the economy, the increased mobility of workers, the breaking down of trading barriers and developments in information and communications technologies, has meant that many event organizations are now competing in a global market place. The text therefore seeks to highlight key critical global issues affecting events, with a special emphasis being placed on international events, as well as demonstrate that local forces and cultural issues within event destinations must be addressed if an event is to be successful. In this second edition of the text we also focus on some of the key drivers of change within the events industry and explore new theoretical advances that have occurred in the study of the subject. In lieu of the extended case studies, we have added four new chapters to the text. Social media and its impact on event consumption and production is now the focus of one of the introductory new chapters of the text, as well as a key theme that is developed throughout. There is also a more deliberate focus on the strategic use of international events in tourism, which is achieved by introducing a new chapter on the subject in the contemporary issues section of the text as well as by emphasizing this topic in chapters in previous sections. This second edition also closes with a chapter seekingwhich seeksseeking to look ahead to the future of international events management.We have once again been extremely fortunate in being able to assemble a high profile international team of authors, which include distinguished professors, lecturers, professional trainers and industry professionals. They have made it possible for the text to have a truly international flavour by featuring cases from across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and also Australia. It is our pleasure to offer this second edition of Events Management: An International Approach to readers seeking an international perspective on event management, which addresses the challenges and opportunities of working in a global world. We hope that it can be source of inspiration and guidance as you seek to meet the formidable challenges presented by international events management.Nicole Ferdinand Paul