Factors affecting the decision-making process when choosing an event destination: A comparative approach between Vilamoura (Portugal) and Marbella (Spain)

Julie Houdement (), José Santos () and Francisco Serra ()
Additional contact information
Julie Houdement: Bournemouth University (UK), Postal: Bournemouth University, United Kingdom, http://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/
José Santos: University of Algarve (Portugal), Postal: Escola Superior de Gestão, Hotelaria e Turismo, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal, http://esght.ualg.pt/en
Francisco Serra: University of Algarve (Portugal), Postal: Escola Superior de Gestão, Hotelaria e Turismo, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal, http://esght.ualg.pt/en

Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, 2017, vol. 5, issue 2, 127-145

Abstract: Business travel is nowadays a key component of tourism industry and an important instrument for reducing seasonality. Literature has identified several attributes that affect the decision-making process when choosing a destination to hold an event. The main objective of this research is to determine their importance and how they influence the decision-making process. Vilamoura in Portugal and Marbella in Spain are the destinations under analysis, as they are important seaside destinations where business travel has contributed to a successful meeting industry. In order to achieve the study’s aim, a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews both to event organisers and suppliers has been conducted. The findings confirm the hypothesis that underpinned the study, demonstrating that destination image is the main determining site-selection factor. This investigation, proposed as an exploratory examination for further research, could constitute a useful resource for event professionals to improve their destination promotion and their positioning.

Keywords: Business Tourism; Decision-making Process; Destination Image; Meeting Industry; Site-selection Attributes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z32 Z33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.cieo.pt/journal/J_2_2017/article6.pdf Full text (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:jspord:0936

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being is currently edited by Patrícia Pinto

More articles in Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being from Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve University of Algarve, Faculty of Economics, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal, Coordinator of the Centre: Prof. Patrícia Pinto, E-mail: pvalle@ualg.pt. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Silvia Fernandes ().