CONVENTIONS AS MEGA-EVENTS - A NEW MODEL FOR CONVENTION-HOST CITY RELATIONSHIPS

Conventions represent a special form of tourism with a high degree of ecological differentiation from the host society. The encapsulation of conventioneers in highly planned convention activity creates an intrusion-reaction response from the host city - particularly when the convention reaches a size threshold that makes it a mega-event. Conventions can be analytically distinguished from conferences and the characteristics of conventions as mega-events can be identified. In place of the intrusion-reaction model, an interactive-opportunity model is proposed through the use of case studies. A sociological perspective demonstrates how interaction benefits (rather than merely economic benefits) can transform the convention-host city relationship.