A Curated Collection of Authenticity Research Published in Event Management: A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

Authenticity, a prominent discourse topic in tourism studies, is closely connected with event management. This review of authenticity studies in Event Management journal identifies three key research trends: object-based authenticity; authenticity, co-creation, and co-destruction; and a sustainability focus towards authenticity. Specifically, object-based authenticity has still been predominant in event experiences, while co-creation and co-destruction are increasingly considered pathways for (de)construction of authenticity, with both positive and negative impacts on events and their host communities, which paves the way to a stronger focus on sustainability of events, extending to destination management and local communities. Building on these key themes, this review suggests potential directions for future research and provides imperatives for a sustainable future in event management research and practice. Recommendations include embracing a multi-stakeholder approach to authenticity to generate benefits to host destinations and communities and engaging with various notions of authenticity to fully capture the event experiences’ intricacy.