Main aim of this work is to assess the market for convention tourism in terms of Czech Republic and to explain the organization of a specific congressional event. Theoretical part of this work is focused on convention tourism, its form, specifics and function. Practical part includes market analysis of the meeting industry. Its objective is to assess the status of the industry both in the national economy of the Czech Republic and international competition. Further analysis focuses on evaluation of the congressional potential of Prague and assessment of the impact of economic recession on this sector. Practical contribution of this work is a manual or a handbook that would provide readers guidance for organizing a conventional event. The process of organization is outlined with specific examples.

iv ABSTRACT URBAN CONVENTION HOTEL DESIGN CRITERIA AND A DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR ANKARA CASE Gizem, Balik&ccedil / ioglu M.Arch. / Department of Architecture Supervisor: Part-time Inst. ilhan Kural September, 2004 154 Pages The aim of this study is to define the design criteria for urban convention hotels based on national and international market trends. The second aim is to design an efficient, flexible, and valid convention hotel program for Ankara case based on this research. The existing hotel structures in Ankara are assumed to be insufficient to meet the convention requirements of international and national market needs. In the study, the space requirements of different markets and their program matrix reflected on major convention hotels in different continents are analyzed. The basic design criteria in terms of architectural space requirements and functional needs of the venues are defined. The economical, social and cultural impacts of the convention hotels in urban scale are listed in order to define a sustainable and efficient program in city scale. A feasibility study is done based on the space requirements, user groups and use frequencies of the convention venues in capital city. The second assumption of this study was that Ankara needed a 500 room convention hotel in order to accommodate the existing and future tourism stock of the city. A program based on the requirements of prior research is prepared and a design proposal is given for a site located in Ankara.

This study firstly aims to identify facility features of the convention centers and then propose a method in order to identify users&rsquo / priorities and evaluate what extent these were provided by the convention centre. Data has been collected using self-administered questionnaires from three group of users / attendees, employees and meeting planners. The study has been conducted in istanbul L&uuml / tfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Center as a case, because of being the most remarkable convention center of Turkey. Each participant will be required to assess this convention center in terms of their priorities of expectations and features provided. The results have been evaluated statistically, and significant differences between the level of importance and performance of the facility features have been presented. This research is expected to be useful for constitution of design criteria of convention centers and effective management of the facilities, in terms of both identifying the features of convention centers and providing a method evaluating the performance of the facilities from the users&rsquo / perspective.

Several researchers have attempted to understand the destination selection criteria that are important to event planners (Crouch & Ritchie, 1998; Getz, 2003; Oppermann, 1996). However, an examination of the previous studies indicated that only limited understanding of the destination selection criteria has been provided. There is little research that compares event planners belonging to different professional associations and their rating of destination selection criteria. This study examined the differences that exist between three groups of event planners in rating thirteen destination selection variables. The study provides more understanding in the search of an optimal combination of destination selection mix based on multiple dependent variables. This study found significant differences in ratings of five out of thirteen destination selection variables by event planners who were the members of three different associations. Therefore it is providing a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature. From a practical standpoint, this study can help by providing information about how planners of different events feel about certain destination criteria at the time a destination selection is made. All parties with a vested interest in the event industry may use this information to appropriately position their services in the market and tailor their products to better compete for the limited number of events in an environment where the space to host such events continues to grow.

O trabalho estuda os eventos programados na cidade de São Paulo que a caracterizam enquanto significativo pólo de atração de fluxos desse segmento. Os eventos programados têm sido objeto de estudo principalmente das áreas de Turismo e de Marketing. Aqui, voltou-se mais especificamente para a área de Arquitetura e Planejamento Urbano. Busca, portanto, compreender os eventos enquanto acontecimentos programados não só no seu contexto organizacional, mas principalmente mediante uma óptica espacial. / This research analyzes the scheduled events in the city of São Paulo that characterize it as a significant attraction pole of flux of such segment. The scheduled events have been especially studied in the Tourism and Marketing fields. Herein, we specifically highlighted the Architecture and the Urban Planning fields. Therefore, it aims to comprehend the events as programed occurrences not only in its organizing context, but also through a optical space.

O trabalho estuda os eventos programados na cidade de São Paulo que a caracterizam enquanto significativo pólo de atração de fluxos desse segmento. Os eventos programados têm sido objeto de estudo principalmente das áreas de Turismo e de Marketing. Aqui, voltou-se mais especificamente para a área de Arquitetura e Planejamento Urbano. Busca, portanto, compreender os eventos enquanto acontecimentos programados não só no seu contexto organizacional, mas principalmente mediante uma óptica espacial. / This research analyzes the scheduled events in the city of São Paulo that characterize it as a significant attraction pole of flux of such segment. The scheduled events have been especially studied in the Tourism and Marketing fields. Herein, we specifically highlighted the Architecture and the Urban Planning fields. Therefore, it aims to comprehend the events as programed occurrences not only in its organizing context, but also through a optical space.

Este trabalho estuda as edificações denominadas Pavilhão e Centros de Exposição, com total da área coberta para exposições superior a 20.000m², na cidade de São Paulo. Inicialmente são apresentados os antecedentes das atividades que precederam as atuais Feiras de Negócios e Exposições Industriais e seu rebatimento no espaço desde a antiguidade clássica, passando pelas feiras medievais e pela revolução industrial na Europa até as Exposições Universais, num passado mais recente. A partir desse levantamento é detalhada a operacionalidade dessa tipologia, seus agentes e as relações entre as suas principais atividades, o local onde se encontram e outros equipamentos urbanos com funções complementares. Em seguida, são analisados os exemplos nesta Capital e em outras cidades, procurando extrair os componentes que confi guram um pavilhão ou centro de exposições. Com essa análise chega-se a um programa geral proposto e à representação gráfi ca do arranjo físico dessas edificações (fl uxograma). Por fim, a partir do estudo da dinâmica das feiras e exposições são identifi cadas características que podem influenciar e/ ou determinar a necessidade e confi guração dos espaços. São então apresentadas as principais conclusões sobre o tema central, como contribuições em futuros estudos de exemplares desse tipo de edifi cação, seja para reforma, requalificação ou novas implantações. / This paper studies the types of buildings called Pavilions and Exhibition Centers of a covered area in excess of 20,000 sq. m. (215.28 sq. ft) as exhibition space existing in the city of São Paulo. First, a survey is presented on the background of the developments that preceded the current Trade Fairs and Industrial Shows and their reverberations in space, from Classical Antiquity, through Medieval Fairs and the Industrial Revolution in Europe to the Universal Exhibitions. Based on that framework, the operationality of this typology, its agents and the relations underlying its main activities, their location and other urban facilities with complementary functions are detailed. Next, examples from our state capital and from other cities are reviewed, in an attempt to draw the components that characterize a pavilion or exhibition center. These approaches lead the way to a proposed general program and to the graphic representation of the physical layout of these buildings (fl ow chart). Finally, a study on the dynamics of fairs and exhibitions identifi es the characteristics capable of exerting an infl uence and/or determining the need and confi guration of spaces. The main conclusions on the core theme are then set out as a contribution to future studies on this type of construction, whether for the purpose of construction renovation or retrofi tting or for new implementation.

Este trabalho estuda as edificações denominadas Pavilhão e Centros de Exposição, com total da área coberta para exposições superior a 20.000m², na cidade de São Paulo. Inicialmente são apresentados os antecedentes das atividades que precederam as atuais Feiras de Negócios e Exposições Industriais e seu rebatimento no espaço desde a antiguidade clássica, passando pelas feiras medievais e pela revolução industrial na Europa até as Exposições Universais, num passado mais recente. A partir desse levantamento é detalhada a operacionalidade dessa tipologia, seus agentes e as relações entre as suas principais atividades, o local onde se encontram e outros equipamentos urbanos com funções complementares. Em seguida, são analisados os exemplos nesta Capital e em outras cidades, procurando extrair os componentes que confi guram um pavilhão ou centro de exposições. Com essa análise chega-se a um programa geral proposto e à representação gráfi ca do arranjo físico dessas edificações (fl uxograma). Por fim, a partir do estudo da dinâmica das feiras e exposições são identifi cadas características que podem influenciar e/ ou determinar a necessidade e confi guração dos espaços. São então apresentadas as principais conclusões sobre o tema central, como contribuições em futuros estudos de exemplares desse tipo de edifi cação, seja para reforma, requalificação ou novas implantações. / This paper studies the types of buildings called Pavilions and Exhibition Centers of a covered area in excess of 20,000 sq. m. (215.28 sq. ft) as exhibition space existing in the city of São Paulo. First, a survey is presented on the background of the developments that preceded the current Trade Fairs and Industrial Shows and their reverberations in space, from Classical Antiquity, through Medieval Fairs and the Industrial Revolution in Europe to the Universal Exhibitions. Based on that framework, the operationality of this typology, its agents and the relations underlying its main activities, their location and other urban facilities with complementary functions are detailed. Next, examples from our state capital and from other cities are reviewed, in an attempt to draw the components that characterize a pavilion or exhibition center. These approaches lead the way to a proposed general program and to the graphic representation of the physical layout of these buildings (fl ow chart). Finally, a study on the dynamics of fairs and exhibitions identifi es the characteristics capable of exerting an infl uence and/or determining the need and confi guration of spaces. The main conclusions on the core theme are then set out as a contribution to future studies on this type of construction, whether for the purpose of construction renovation or retrofi tting or for new implementation.