CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION
This study aims to identify convention attendees’ motivations for using convention specific SM. In addition, this study has identified the key demands and usages of convention specific mobile applications and how generation affected their motivations of using convention SM, selection of convention information sources and attitude toward mobile applications. The findings revealed that the convention attendees used various convention specific SMs. LinkedIn and Facebook were the most popular SM for the respondents while Twitter and blogs were used less frequently. This study identified that the key underlying dimensions of motivations for using convention specific SM are (1) to build community with other convention attendees and (2) to share up-to-dated information among convention organizer and attendees. The identified underlying factors were consistent with the finding
of Dholakia et al. (2004), reflecting socializing and information seeking dimensions as reasons for participating SM. The respondents were categorized into three age groups: Generation Y, Generation X, and Baby Boomer. There was no difference among generations on motivations of using convention SM. Therefore it is recommended that convention organizers should provide convention specific SM, preferably using LinkedIn and Facebook with up-to-date convention information along with functionality of convention attendees’ communication across all generations.
The convention attendees used various information sources to obtain convention information. The results show that the most frequently used convention information sources was from their previous attendance. As an association convention repeats annually in its nature and the majority of association convention attendees have previously attended the association convention, the “previous attendance” information source is logical. This finding is also consistent with the researchers (Gursoy & McCleary, 2004; Lehto et al., 2006) who identified an individual’s experience is an important factor influencing his/her information search behavior and information channel choice. Websites have emerged as a popular information source in today’s business, which includes the meeting industry. Therefore, it is not surprising that the association’s website was the next most utilized information source. It was notable that direct mails from the convention organizer were still the key information source for the convention attendees of all age groups. The most used ICT device during the convention was a smartphone equipped with internet access. This result shows that convention organizers and meeting planners should consider smart phones as a new and critical on-site communication platform in today’s convention management. The respondents expect convention organizers to provide the following mobile applications: Exhibitor directory search; convention floor plans; and convention itinerary planner by its order.
The findings from a chi-square test used to examine the relationship between generation and selected type of convention information source revealed that the Baby Boomer generation used trade publication advertisement and previous convention attendance experience more as the major convention information sources among the three generations. The findings discovered that the Baby Boomer generation still use printed trade publication advertisements. In addition, their relatively older age and longer work years suggest more previous convention experience. Therefore it is logical previous convention attendance experience was as the main convention information source for Baby Boomers compared to other generations.
Contrarily the Baby Boomer generation rarely used their employer as the convention information source while “employer” was the main information source for Generation Y. For the Generation Y respondents, their younger age likely indicates less convention experience than other age groups, thus “employer” was their primary convention information source ahead of previous attendance. With the realization of key information sources, the convention organizer should utilize both traditional methods and websites for marketing of a future convention.
From a practical perspective for both convention organizers and attendees, this study provides insights about how generation can impact the convention mobile application. Consistent with the findings of Weber and Ladkin (2004) and Fenich et al. (2011), the Generation Y and Generation X groups intended to use more mobile application for their convention experience than the Baby Boomer group. Convention organizers can utilize this finding to develop a generation tailored convention mobile application development and effective marketing of such feature.
Despite the important findings of this study, the results may not represent the entire facets of convention attendees’ attitudes toward SM due to the fact that the responses were collected from the selected convention only. In addition, the respondents were male driven due the profile of the selected convention. Nevertheless, this study can be used as a basis for more extensive examinations of the use of SM at conventions, such as the effect of other factors (e.g., education and gender) on SM usage as well as for empirical testing of convention attendees’ attitudes toward convention SM and mobile applications.
It is critical to understand that today’s conventions encompass diverse multi-generations in regard to technology acceptance, resulting in more complex convention planning in utilizing new technology. Today’s convention goers want to be consistently updated on convention information and get in touch with other convention attendees before, during, and after a convention. Therefore, today’s convention organizers will need to build convention specific SM and identify the key convention mobile applications, thus improving convention attendees’ satisfaction.