ABSTRACT
The study evaluated the challenges of event management as a growing trend in hospitality industry in Aba Metropolis. The specific objectives were to ascertain the socio-economic characteristics of event managers in Aba metropolis, identify the types of events present in Aba metropolis, ascertain the challenges faced by event management in the hospitality industry in Aba and investigate how the identified challenges affect the hospitality industry in Aba Metropolis. This study employed the use of descriptive survey with the help of a questionnaire. The population of the study was 132 event managers of purposively selected from Aba metropolis in Abia state. In choosing the sample, the entire population was used. The data realized was analyzed using descriptive statistics in the form of carts and tables of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation respectively. The study found that the major type of events engaged in by the event managers include; weddings, burials, birthdays, traditional holidays, national events etc. The major challenges facing the event management industry in the area include; Insecurity, overcrowding, difficulty choosing a good location, climatic conditions in times of unfavorable seasons, multiple taxation, budget and cost control challenges, limited power supply and legal regulations. The effect of the above named challenges include; low income generation in the hospitality industry, people are becoming apprehensive in participating in events due to poor security, increased climate change resulting from poorly planned events, increased expenses resulting from poor financial management and budgeting and lack of interest in the event industry thus leading to monopoly. The study recommended that further studies can be carried out to ascertain the effect of event management challenges on the successful planning of an event.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
i
Approval
ii
Certification
iii
Dedication
iv
Acknowledgement
v
Table of contents
vii
List of table
viii
List of Figures ix
Abstract
x
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 3
1.3 Objectives
of the Study 4
1.4
Research Question 4
1.5
Significance of the Study 5
1.6
Scope of the Study 5
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual
Framework 7
2.1.1 Concepts of Events 7
2.1.2 Concept of Event Management 8
2.1.3 Typology of Events 9
2.1.4 Characteristics of Events 10
2.1.5 Planning of Events 17
2.1.6 Challenges of Event Management 20
2.1.7 Solution the Challenges of Event Management 21
2.2 Theoretical
Framework 21
2.3 Empirical
Literature 22
2.4 Summary
of Review of Related Literature 24
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Research Design 26
3.2 Area
of the Study 26
3.3 Population
for the Study 27
3.4 Sample
and Sampling Technique 27
3.5 Instrument
for Data Collection 27
3.6 Validation
of the Instrument 28
3.7 Reliability
of the Instrument 28
3.8 Data
Collection Technique 28
3.9 Data Analysis Technique 28
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
4.1 Socio-Economic
Characteristics of the Respondents 30
4.2 Discussion
of the Findings 37
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings 39
5.1.1 Restatement of the Problem 39
5.1.2 Description of
Methods Used 39
5.1.3 Major Findings 40
5.2 Conclusion 40
5.3 Recommendations 40
References 42
LIST
OF TABLES
Table 4.1 Questionnaire Distribution 30
Table 4.2 Distribution of Respondents according to age
30
Table 4.3 Distribution of respondents according to
educational level 33
Table 4.4 Distribution of respondents based on Income 34
Table 4.5 Mean response on the management challenges facing
event management in the hospitality industry in Aba 35
Table 4.6 Mean responses on the effect of event
management challenges on the hospitality industry in Aba 36
LIST
OF FIGURES
Figure 4.1 The
gender distribution of the respondents 30
Figure 4.2 Distribution of respondents according
marital status 32
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE
STUDY
Event
management is an exciting and growing industry, as well as a unique career
opportunity for everyone with a passion for the planning and organizing of
events, such as concerts, conventions, parties, weddings, and other gatherings.
According to Ramsborg and Miller (2008). Event management is the application of
project management to the creation and development of large scale events such
as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, formal parties, concerts, or
conventions. It involves studying the brand, identifying the target audience,
devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the
technical aspects before actually launching the event.
The process of planning and coordinating the event is
usually referred to as event planning and can include budgeting, scheduling,
site selection, acquiring necessary permits, coordinating transportation and
parking, arranging for speakers or entertainers, arranging decor, event
security, catering and emergency plans. The events industry now includes events
of all sizes from the Olympics down to business breakfast meetings. Many
industries, charitable organizations, and interest groups hold events in order
to market themselves, build business relationships, raise money or celebrate
achievement.
According to Burns, (2010) Event management is
considered one of the strategic marketing and communication tools by companies
of all sizes. From product launches to press conferences, companies create
promotional events to help them communicate with clients and potential clients.
A number of elements such as music, live entertainment or even the particular
venue may be used to influence the tone and atmosphere of an event.
Chen et al.,
(2009) held that event managers may also use news media to target their
audience, hoping to generate media coverage which will reach thousands or
millions of people. They can also invite their audience to their events and
reach them at the actual event.
According to Holleran (2005), sustainable event
management (also known as event greening) is the process used to produce an
event with particular concern for environmental, economic and social issues.
Sustainability in event management incorporates socially and environmentally
responsible decision making into the planning, organization and implementation
of, and participation in an event. It involves including sustainable
development principles and practices in all levels of event organization, and
aims to ensure that an event is hosted responsibly. It represents the total
package of interventions at an event, and needs to be done in an integrated
manner. Event greening should start at the inception of the project, and should
involve all the key role players, such as clients, organizers, venues,
sub-contractors and suppliers.
The hospitality industry is changing at a rapid rate
due to technological advancements that will require future professionals to be
skilled in technology while conserving natural resources to sustain our
environment. Leisure professionals will need to exceed guest expectations from
a growing clientele and accommodate their ever-changing needs to stay relevant.
Future leaders must be able to analyze and identify current trends to
understand future consumer behavior by conducting research while maintaining
ethical behavior to uphold integrity within the industry (Bladen et al., 2012).
In the past several years, Nigerian have experienced
unthinkable disasters resulting from terrorist activity. The September 11
attacks at Abuja on a peaceful, sunny morning with no warning. War with Boko
Haram has made our country and our people more vulnerable to terrorist activity
and, even with the war at an end, the Department of Homeland Security warns
that terrorism remains a very real threat for the foreseeable future. In this
climate, any organization that runs events should be prepared for anything that
could happen – to protect its exhibitors, speakers, attendees, employees, and,
to the greatest degree possible, the continuity of its events. Inherent in this
is the impact on the organization's reputation. It's entirely possible that one
ruined or badly handled event might mean years of rebuilding reputation and
attendance (Getz, 2007).
The likelihood is that the event planner or manager is
the person most likely to have to deal with any disruption to an event. This
study is aimed at helping those individuals prepare themselves to deal with the
threats and hazards that might befall a conference or exposition and to prevent
or, at the very least, minimize the impact of a disaster.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
Before
you begin any kind of planning or assessment, it is important to determine risk
to decide on what potential disruptions to concentrate what are usually limited
resources. It's not possible to be prepared for every possible disruption; you
have to concentrate on what is most likely to occur. This universally accepted
risk management equation will help with this effort:
Risk
= Probability + Consequence.
Probability, quite logically, refers to the likelihood
of something happening, while consequence refers to its impact. For example,
the probability of a meteorite hitting your event facility is likely quite
small, although the consequences from such an event would be huge. The risks on
which you want to concentrate are those in which both the likelihood of
occurrence and the potential consequences are in the medium to high range. Keep
this in mind as you go through the emergency management process.
Most of all, keep things in perspective. Any
consequence that involves potential critical injury or loss of life must take
precedence over less critical outcomes. It's important, therefore, to
prioritize the risks as well as identifying the ones to focus on.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF
THE STUDY
The
main objective of this study is to evaluate the challenges of event management
as a growing trend in the hospitality industry in Aba Metropolis, Abia State.
Specifically, the study will;
1. Ascertain
the challenges faced by event management operators in Aba metropolis,
2. Identify
the types of events managed by the event operators
3. Investigate
how the identified challenges affect the management of events in Aba Metropolis
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTION
The
following research questions will guide this study:
1. What
are the challenges faced by event management operators in in Aba Metropolis?
2. What
are the types of events managed by the event operators?
3. How
does this challenges affect the management of events by the event operators in
Aba metropolis?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The
study will be of immense benefit to various stake holders including event
managers, the hospitality industry, researchers and policy makers in the
following ways;
It will present in a precise manner, the importance of
event management as regard to human security and how to event managers can come
up with appropriate techniques to curb the problems of insecurity in events
especially in Nigeria where insecurity has become the order of the day.
To event managers and potential managers, the findings
of the research, suggestion and recommendations based on the findings will be a
good guide for future management of resources, allocation, security threats and
challenges facing the industry.
Researchers will also be benefit as this study will
expose them to so many related areas in the course of carrying out his research.
This will enhance their experience, knowledge and understanding of event
management. The research report will also serve as a reference material to
students of hospitality industry and tourism management, especially those with
a bias in event management.
Finally, this study is intended to unveil those
factors that are responsible for the challenges within the industry in event
management and planning while also highlighting the control mechanisms required
for a successful event management, which will arm policy makers and help them
come up with appropriate policies that can be useful in the hospitality
industry.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
The
research is intended to cover the event management within the hospitality
industry, its control measures and productivity/growth within the country.
However, due to the diverse nature and scope of the country and the time frame
required for the report of the research, the research has been scaled down to a
case study of Aba, in Abia State,
Nigeria.
Login To Comment