An events industry takes shape : a study of the UK and Poland

This thesis investigates the differences - or gaps - between the developed events industry in the UK and the emerging events industry in Poland by conducting an innovative and rare cross-cultural qualitative autoethnographic methodology incorporating 24 in-depth interviews with senior and director-level event organisers at landmark venues in both the UK and Poland. The interviews are supported with the researcher's observations and immersion in the field in both London and Warsaw for 10 years, respectively. The research objective was to identify factors which shape an events industry as it develops so that conclusions could be drawn to help narrow the disparate behaviours and practices of organisers in the one global marketplace for international events. The findings have impacts upon locations where events management is an emerging industry and international clients and foreign consumers are exposed to gaps in areas of standards, quality, service, and risk at wherever an event takes place around the globe. The conclusions of this study show it is necessary for an events industry to shape a socio-professional community of practice to facilitate opportunities for organisers to learn their behaviours and practices through formal education, networking, knowledge sharing, and engaging with professional associations for training and accreditation. In emerging locations without a developed socio-professional construct because the events industry is in the process of forming its shape, it is necessary to evolve a culture whereby organisers recognise the need to create their own self-learning environment by observing other organisers and other events - particularly at international level, such as learning from their international clients and foreign consumers. A further unexpected finding is the need for an international professional association for organisers involved with providing international events, to facilitate organisers in emerging locations with acculturation learning from already developed industries and from the behaviours and practices of foreign organisers.