The Effect of the Convention Specific Dimensions on Universities Teaching Staff Behavioral Intention

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of participation frequency at the conventions on universities teaching staff’s behavioral intentions. Design –The convention tourism attendees’ behavioral intentions evaluation was conducted through the constructs of site-specific dimensions and convention-specific dimensions. Methodology – In order to test proposed hypotheses, following establishment of measurement invariance across groups, structural equation model was fitted to both groups of participants. Approach – The online questionnaire was conducted among the teaching staff of all universities in the Republic of Croatia. The final sample consisted of 978 correctly completed questionnaires. Findings – Two groups differ in the effect of accessibility. It does not predict behavioral intentions for those that visit one convention per year while it predicts behavioral intentions of the attendees that visit more than one convention per year. Both groups’ behavioral intentions are predicted by their rating of conventions’ social networking and professional education opportunities. Originality of the research – The research findings will help the convention organizers to better understand the needs of both groups’ participants and thereby to encourage their repeated participation and dissemination of positive recommendations.

Factors influencing MICE destination revisit intentions: A literature review

“…Push factors are the intangible or psychological factors intrinsic to event participants that drive them to decide to attend a MICE event. Related studies have indicated the importance of networking and educational opportunities as push motivational factors (Cassar, Whitfield, Chapman, 2020;Dimitrovski, Seočanac, Luković, 2021;Gračan, Barkiđija Sotošek, Torbarina, 2021;Kim, Kim, Oh, 2020;Kim, Lee, Kim, 2012;Lee, Koo, Chung, 2019;Mair, Thompson, 2009;Pavluković, Cimbaljević, 2020;Severt et al, 2007;Yodsuwan, Pathan, Butcher, 2020;Yoo, Chon, 2008;Yoo, Zhao, 2010). The following sections explain these factors in detail.…”

“…Based on the extensive literature review, six motivational factors influencing tourists' decision to re-attend MICE events can be identified. From these, there are two push factors namely networking and educational opportunities (Cassar, Whitfield, Chapman, 2020;Dimitrovski, Seočanac, Lukovići, 2021;Gračan, Barkiđija Sotošek, Torbarina, 2021;Kim, Kim, Oh, 2020;Kim, Lee, Kim, 2012;Lee, Koo, Chung, 2019;Mair, Thompson, 2009;Pavluković, Cimbaljević, 2020;Severt et al, 2007;Yodsuwan, Pathan, Butcher, 2020;Yoo, Chon, 2008;Yoo, Zhao, 2010), and four pull factors namely destination image, travel cost, attractions and accessibility (Abulibdeh, Zaidan, 2017;Al-Dweik, 2020;Choi, 2013;Fitri, 2021;Gračan, Barkiđija Sotošek, Torbarina, 2021;Hashemi et al, 2020;Houdement, Santos, Serra, 2017;Kim, Kim, Oh, 2020;Lee, Koo, Chung, 2019;Mair, Thompson, 2009;Tanford, Montgomery, Nelson, 2012;Weru, Njoroge, 2021;Yoo, Chon, 2008). The next sections will discuss the influence of push and pull factors on tourists' decisions to re-attend MICE events in detail.…”

“…According to Grant (1994) networking opportunities are defined as an individual's interaction for personal contact with others which brings professional benefits to the meeting. Networking opportunities are also described as the interactions among attendees to expand their networking, make business contacts, and gain recognition from peers by participating in MICE events (Gračan, Barkiđija Sotošek, Torbarina, 2021). Networking opportunities are considered a form of socialization (Choe, Lee, Kim, 2014;Lee, Yeung, Dewald, 2010), and also recognized as one of the prime push dimensions (Crompton, 1979b).…”

“…Barkiđija Sotošek (2020 showed that the attendees are mainly motivated to participate in the convention by the opportunity to expand their social network, make business contacts and gain new ideas. Regardless of the number of convention participants each year, social networking and professional education are the most important determinants in selecting a convention to attend (Gračan, Barkiđija Sotošek, Torbarina, 2021). Previous works indicated that the attendees are motivated to attend a convention by the opportunities to keep up with the changes in their profession and to acquire new knowledge (Lee, Min, 2013;Oppermann, 1996;Severt et al, 2007;Yoo, Chon, 2008).…”

Assesment of Convention Participants' Satisfaction Towards the Improvement of Business Tourism Offer: A Case Study of Istria, Croatia

“…Considering the current trend of significant decrease of participants at individual conventions, understanding the evaluations of convention attendees becomes more important than ever (Gračan et al 2021). Business travelers are discerning guests with a high paying power.…”