Acceso usuarios
Tomas Pernecky
Fifteen years ago the study of events as a specific field of inquiry did not exist. Today, students' interest in taking up courses in event management is met with rapid growth of programs catering to this specialized body of knowledge. These developments are parallel to the increasing number of events being held around the world. Events are now seen as important phenomena, with cities and nations recognizing the social, economic, and cultural potential of major, hallmark, and mega-events. Not only are these seen as a vital part of tourism's export economy, events can also provide people with meaningful social and cultural encounters, eventuate in lasting memories, and give hosting destinations a competitive advantage. The growth of events, however, comes with concerns of sustainable practices and leadership. While the first has been addressed by a number of events scholars, sustainable leadership remains largely unchartered territory in the domain of Event Studies. This article addresses some of the key issues and developments in the events sector, and outlines the more problematic areas concerning leadership and sustainability by drawing on the Rhineland/Honeybee leadership model.
