As a lucrative tourism sector, the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) sector has been significantly affected by crises in recent years, from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, to the SARS and bird flu epidemics, to the tsunami of late 2004. One of the key effects of such crises has been growing safety concerns when it comes to crisis-struck MICE destinations. In turn, this has impacted on both MICE customers’ perceived risk in terms of purchasing MICE products, and their decision to follow through on planned MICE events. In addition, the MICE sector reveals noticeably differing levels of crisis vulnerability when compared to other tourism sectors; in particular, one of the clear differences lies in the decision making process itself, given that MICE sector buyers sponsor the endusers of MICE products, and are thus heavily liable for the safety of attendees. Not surprisingly, any life-threatening situation in MICE destinations discourages buyers from taking the decision to purchase. In contrast to other tourism sectors where the buyer and end-user are generally one and the same, in MICE tourism customers and consumers remain distinct. Taken together, both the impacts of crisis and crisis vulnerability suggest that crises can affect business continuity in the MICE sector significantly. In turn, MICE suppliers need to understand the impacts of crisis on tourism demand in the MICE sector, and come to terms with the key factors contributing to crisis vulnerability in order to better cope with, and sustain, their MICE businesses through crisis situations. To this end, the core aim of this research is to identify the critical success factors responsible for effective crisis management in the MICE sector. To achieve this, this research has developed three research questions, and investigated these questions through qualitative data collection and analysis of thirty-seven in-depth interviews with MICE suppliers in Thailand. The findings of these interviews provide both rich and substantively meaningful understandings of pertinent crisis management issues. More specifically, through detailed analysis of this data, this research examines the impact of crises on tourism demand in the MICE sector; the factors contributing to crisis vulnerability in the sector; and finally, the critical success factors of crisis management as they apply to the sector. In sum, this research achieves its research aims by providing ten critical success factors (CSFs) which organizations need to implement to successfully manage crisis situations. In summary, the findings of this research provide a contribution to knowledge by highlighting that the characteristics of the MICE product market not only contribute to fragmentation within the MICE sector, but also to both crisis vulnerability and crisis management approaches in a context of MICE tourism. Both the contributions and implications of this research have the potential to contribute to better crisis management in the MICE sector and tourism industry as a whole.

No description available.

The contemporary global food system is plagued by a myriad of problems. In recognition of the problematic nature of the conventional food system, practitioners and researchers have sought, throughout the past century, alternative, sustainable food production, consumption, and exchange systems. Some of the solutions proposed for these problems suggest the establishment of new institutional forms such as that of the food policy council, an organisation which, through the embodiment of a food systems perspective, proposes innovative local and regional level solutions to food systems problems. Over the past two decades numerous food policy councils (FPCs) have been created in North America and Australia. Research on FPCs still remains minimal, leaving many gaps in knowledge as to the role of these organisations concerning the ways that they can and do contribute to the sustainable development of food systems and ‘alternative food movements’. Research to date on the organisational structure of FPCs lacks consideration of organisation theory and the relatively substantial body of literature dealing with evaluation of collaborative, interagency organisations, an organisational type closely related to FPCs. There is a lack of consideration as to definition of the role of FPCs within the broader context of sustainable food systems movements and the procedures and protocol for effectiveness in achieving outcomes and fulfilling these roles. Considering the significant gaps in knowledge, this research focusses on identifying a clear definition of the mission or roles of FPCs and investigates some of the previously unexplored organisational characteristics of FPCs as a foundation for identifying what may lead to ‘best-practice’ organisational structure and process in fulfilling these roles. Since there is limited information and research to date specifically on FPCs, a qualitative and more specifically grounded theory approach was taken to provide an exploratory and reflexive research design framework. This design incorporated a continuous, interactive layering of data collection, classification, and analysis. Following a preliminary literature review, the inquiry focussed primarily on the gathering of information directly from FPCs involving several different types and sources of data. Research findings revealed several aspects of food policy council objectives that can be considered together as defining the organisational role of FPCs. This provides a basis for determining the most effective administrative structure and operations management for fulfilling this role. Findings and analysis also indicated certain components of structure and process that can lead to effectiveness in terms of capacity building and fulfilling organisational roles. A model of FPC structure is developed and presented to summarise these findings, considering those components revealed through the research as contributing most to effective FPC operation. The development of this model from a broad and diverse representative sample, indicates that such modelling of structure and process may be applicable to transferring the concept of and creating FPCs in new locations.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2007. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Economic and Social History, Faculty of Law, Business and Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, 2007. Includes bibliographical references. Print copy also available.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Frances McCarty, committee chair; Derek G. Shendell, co-chair; Ike S Okosun, committee member. Electronic text (140 p. : col. ill., col. maps) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 15, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-108).

Mémoire (M.E.S.R.)--Université du Québec à Chicotuimi, 1997. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Title from title page of PDF (University of Missouri--St. Louis, viewed April 5, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 298-354).

The author's Habilitationsschrift--Freie Universität Berlin. / Includes indexes. Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-313).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Also available in print.