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Tourism and Hospitality
Special Issues
New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events
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New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events

A special issue of Tourism and Hospitality (ISSN 2673-5768).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 January 2023) | Viewed by 26515

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jane Ali-Knight

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Business School, Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH14 1DJ, UK
Interests: festival and event lifecycles and management; access and inclusion at events; yoga tourism; destination development and leadership
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gary Kerr

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Business School, Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH14 1DJ, Scotland, UK
Interests: science festivals; accessibility and inclusion at festivals and events; dementia accessibility; festival business models; international festivals education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Because of their nature, festivals and events were one of the first industries to be hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which caused an unprecedented threat and crisis in the sector, with high profile events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Dubai World Expo, along with heavy hitting cultural festivals such as Edinburgh’s Festivals and vital small scale community events all being cancelled or forced to move into the previously unexplored virtual world. This disengagement with audiences, supporters, stakeholders, and the supply chain has had a huge impact on the industry in terms of jobs lost, cash flow challenges, increasing safety and security demands, and decreased audience engagement and confidence.

However, as some global destinations start to move out of lockdown and the sector begins to reopen, there is limited literature examining the impact that COVID-19 has had on events and festivals (Miles and Shipway, 2020). Different business models and ways of approaching event delivery are starting to emerge that are mindful of event digitalisation, contingency planning, physical distancing, altered funding models, and consumer reticence and resilience.

This Special Issue aims to explore the evolving role and contribution of festivals and events in contemporary society, further exacerbated by the events of 2020. It will examine how the experiences of the past year have prompted festival and event organisers, funders, and audiences to reimagine how events will be designed, delivered, supported, and evaluated in the future, and their value to individuals, organisations, and destinations.

We invite papers that engage with festivals and events in the following topics (these are indicative, but not exhaustive themes):

  • Delivering future festival and event design and experience
  • Festival and event audience motivations, sentiment, behaviours, and propensity to travel
  • Reimagining of festival and event space and place
  • Different business models for the monetisation and commercialisation of festivals and events
  • Access, inclusion, and diversity within festivals and events
  • Emergence of different festival and event delivery models, i.e. virtual and hybrid
  • Relationship between festivals and events and their host communities and destinations
  • Innovation and creativity of the festival and event product.

Reference: Miles, L. and  Shipway, R. (2020) Exploring the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Catalyst for Stimulating Future Research Agendas for Managing Crises and Disasters at International Sports Events. Event Management 24. 537-552.

Prof. Dr. Jane Ali-Knight
Dr. Gary Kerr
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tourism and Hospitality is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • festivals and events
  • business models
  • contingency planning
  • audience sentiment
  • future forecasting
  • digitization

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 368 KiB  
Article
Building the Virtual Dancefloor: Delivering and Experiencing House Music Events in the Time of COVID-19
by Alex W. Grebenar
Tour. Hosp. 2024, 5(1), 32-50; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp5010003 - 23 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2154
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent social lockdowns necessitated an immediate cessation of events, replaced entirely by virtual events—a concept present in the existing events literature, but one not fully conceptualised. This article explores the virtual event experience during the pandemic through the [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent social lockdowns necessitated an immediate cessation of events, replaced entirely by virtual events—a concept present in the existing events literature, but one not fully conceptualised. This article explores the virtual event experience during the pandemic through the lens of a case study, Love to Be events, a long-established house music brand which produced a series of successful virtual events during the lockdowns and beyond. This research also offers discussion on the potential for virtual events—in contrast to what this research terms ‘venued events’—to become a notable and profitable element of the events industry in the longer term. This article presents a substantial literature review considering multiple relevant areas, centring on the event experience and virtual event potential. This article also presents primary qualitative data in the form of a semi-structured interview with Marc Dennis and Tony Walker, DJs and founders of Love to Be, conducted in Autumn 2020 via Zoom, and analysed using a thematic analysis as well as a comparison with other pandemic virtual events. The original contribution to the events studies literature is two-fold; firstly, a novel conceptualisation of event experience during this historic moment, documenting the practical and philosophical nature of events at that time. Secondly, by synthesising primary and secondary data, it offers theoretical principles on how virtual events may develop to become a notable and profitable element of the industry. This article concludes with suggestions for future research, in the hope that this exploratory research will stimulate further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
15 pages, 729 KiB  
Article
Maintaining Connections during the Pandemic: Rural Arts Festivals and Digital Practices
by Enya Moore and Bernadette Quinn
Tour. Hosp. 2023, 4(4), 499-513; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4040031 - 25 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
During the COVID lockdowns of 2020/21, the transmission of live or recorded concerts grew exponentially as festival makers embraced digital technologies to a greater degree. Investigating how this digital pivot interrupted festival-making practices is now important given that online and hybrid modes will [...] Read more.
During the COVID lockdowns of 2020/21, the transmission of live or recorded concerts grew exponentially as festival makers embraced digital technologies to a greater degree. Investigating how this digital pivot interrupted festival-making practices is now important given that online and hybrid modes will potentially be used in conjunction with in-person events in the future. This task has relevance for rural areas where digital infrastructures can be under-developed. Yet, place-based, community-organised festivals can play a significant role in sustaining local communities. In this context, we explore the recent digital programming practices of music festivals in West Cork, Ireland. Methodologically, the study adopted a qualitative research design and generated data from fieldwork observations and in-depth interviews with festival practitioners in West Cork. This area was chosen for study because it is characterised by intensive arts and festival activity, high tourism activity, and a significant level of social change. The findings show that the ability of festivals to move practices online was variable and highly resource dependent. Overall, they suggest that in times of crisis the role of festivals became even more important than normal. Festivals played an important role in sustaining social connectivity, cultural participation and employment, with festival organisations demonstrating a strong sense of care and responsibility towards participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
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19 pages, 5780 KiB  
Article
Placemaking in the Periphery: Leveraging Liminoid Spaces for Host Promotions and Experience Creation at the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup
by Christopher J. Hayes
Tour. Hosp. 2023, 4(2), 214-232; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4020013 - 26 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3390
Abstract
This research explores the concept of placemaking in the context of sports events tourism, using the case study of the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosted in Japan. The study investigates how host cities used liminoid spaces between transport hubs and stadiums to create [...] Read more.
This research explores the concept of placemaking in the context of sports events tourism, using the case study of the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosted in Japan. The study investigates how host cities used liminoid spaces between transport hubs and stadiums to create a festive atmosphere and articulate the identity of the place itself. Employing a novel ethnographic methodology centred around walking and participatory methods, the researcher occupied a dual tourist-researcher role, immersing himself in the liminoid space. Findings suggest that the use of such spaces was innovative and successful in creating a sense of place and developing a festive atmosphere through which visitors moved. However, the study acknowledges that these strategies may not be applicable to all sports events and that the direct experiences of visitors through ethnographic methods do not allow for empirical claims about the success of strategies or their longitudinal effects. Nevertheless, the study highlights the potential of placemaking in the periphery of sports events to enhance the visitor experience and promote the identity of the host destination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
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15 pages, 20096 KiB  
Article
Emerging Venue Considerations for Event Management: The Case of Ireland
by Domhnall Melly, Emmet McLoughlin and Kelly Maguire
Tour. Hosp. 2023, 4(1), 187-201; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4010011 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5298
Abstract
Event venues represent a focal point for infectious disease transmission among attendees and event stakeholders, creating lasting uncertainty within the industry post-COVID-19. There is now a need to investigate emerging venue considerations for the event industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Read more.
Event venues represent a focal point for infectious disease transmission among attendees and event stakeholders, creating lasting uncertainty within the industry post-COVID-19. There is now a need to investigate emerging venue considerations for the event industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Ireland as a case, a quantitative questionnaire was used on a sample of event managers. Event venue monitoring for COVID-19 is lacking, while risk mitigation procedures focus more on attendees already at the venue rather than avoiding infected persons entering the venue. Risk assessments now comprise COVID-19 risk; however, a lack of resources means regular health and safety has shown signs of weakening. Government and local authority resources and financial support are required. Pre-venue procedures of symptom screening and proof of vaccination, combined with venue procedures for disinfection of venue spaces, table service, and appropriate ventilation have proven to be effective COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures. Additionally, ICT (information and communications technology) could disseminate up-to-date health guidelines through customer-centric digital environments representing enhanced information sharing to avoid uncertainty and support pro-social intentions of event attendees and compliance with event venue COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
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50 pages, 44177 KiB  
Article
Post-Pandemic Lessons for Destination Resilience and Sustainable Event Management: The Complex Learning Destination
by Jesse Carswell, Tazim Jamal, Seunghoon Lee, Donna Lee Sullins and Kelly Wellman
Tour. Hosp. 2023, 4(1), 91-140; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4010007 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6380
Abstract
This paper aims to share post-pandemic lessons for destination resilience and the sustainability of events. It offers a new perspective that reimagines the space and place of events as learning destinations enmeshed in complex systems. Complexity arises due to the interactions and interrelationships [...] Read more.
This paper aims to share post-pandemic lessons for destination resilience and the sustainability of events. It offers a new perspective that reimagines the space and place of events as learning destinations enmeshed in complex systems. Complexity arises due to the interactions and interrelationships between numerous stakeholders, activities, and events in the social–ecological destination system, where boundaries are porous, and issues and actions from afar can impact the local community. The case presented here describes the micro-level activities and actions undertaken to engage with destination resilience and sustainable event management and certification at a learning destination in Texas, USA. These situated efforts are shown (i) at the campus-wide level for the university and (ii) with the collaborative, learning-oriented activities undertaken by students in event management classes to pilot test the Sustainable Event Certification Checklist that was developed. They corroborate the general characteristics and criteria of the complex learning destination summarized in the paper, along with identifying and discussing the skills, literacies, and lessons learned to advance destination resilience and the sustainability of events. Participants in the learning destination draw on practical knowledge and develop soft skills to engage in adaptive planning proactively and collaboratively with other stakeholders to address emergent challenges and practical problems in the complex destination and sustainable event domain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
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24 pages, 523 KiB  
Article
Festival Participation, Inclusion and Poverty: An Exploratory Study
by Karen Davies, Mary Beth Gouthro, Nic Matthews and Victoria Richards
Tour. Hosp. 2023, 4(1), 51-74; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4010005 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5302
Abstract
Music festivals (in the UK) have the potential to enhance the quality of life of attendees and participants, and therefore it might be argued they should be accessible to all. However, the barriers to participation that some may face when seeking to access [...] Read more.
Music festivals (in the UK) have the potential to enhance the quality of life of attendees and participants, and therefore it might be argued they should be accessible to all. However, the barriers to participation that some may face when seeking to access and engage with festival experiences can often be attributed to the issue of marginalisation due to poverty. Utilising the three discourses of social inclusion put forward by Levitas as a framework, the study explores what UK music festival organisations are doing and could do to make their events more accessible to people living in poverty. Through an analysis of a series of festival websites and semi-structured interviews with festival organisers, some of the financial considerations that can influence participation and act as a barrier to making festivals an inclusive aspect of our cultural life were identified, and solutions were explored. The paper found that despite the social benefits of attending, those living in poverty have become an increasingly marginalised group of festival goers as a result of the disproportional rise in costs associated with attendance, which often goes beyond only the ticket price to include hidden extras. Whilst several festivals undertake outreach work and donate to charitable organisations, only a handful have specific initiatives that improve access for those living in poverty beyond spreading out the price of the ticket via instalments and volunteering opportunities. Findings suggest whilst many music festivals are starting to recognise the importance of the issue, few have specific initiatives but are willing to consider what they can do moving forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Models and Paradigms for Future Festival and Events)
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