Managing Events, Festivals and the Visitor Economy: Concepts, Collaborations and Cases

This edited text, intended to support a research-informed approach to learning and teaching, presents an array of concepts, collaborations and in-depth cases related to managing events, festivals and the visitor economy. Authors offer an array of philosophical, political, cultural, and ethical perspectives on how to achieve this across a range of contexts, from Cambodia, China, Egypt to the British cathedral city of Lincoln. Though recognising individual difference, each chapter unites in their common pursuit of supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). This is significant as utilising the UNSDGs as a normative organising framework for how we all think about, plan, and manage a 'good' visitor economy is increasingly ubiquitous. It is with this in mind that each chapter provides explicit links to the UNSDGs and policy and/or practical implications, along with a series of critical self-assessment questions to reflect on the chapter's key arguments. This collection aims to satiate what appears to be an increasing appetite of readers and students alike who seek exposure to rigorous debate in and out of the classroom.

Mike is a Reader in Events at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, UK. Previously, Mike was a Senior Lecturer in Management and formerly Programme Director of the MSc International Events Management and MSc Sport Management at Coventry Business School, Coventry University, UK. He has held visiting positions at Pace University (New York, US), Berlin School of Economics and Law (Berlin, Germany), and Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan). His work spans across management, organisational, and development studies, specifically examining the relationship between events, local communities, urban development, and the visitor economy. Most of Mike's work focuses on large scale events like the Olympics and the cities and urban neighbourhoods that play host. He frequently works with global organisations like the International Olympic Committee and regional events organisations to evaluate the impact and legacy of sports and cultural events. To date, Mike's case study work spans across London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games (e.g. Gold Coast 2018), and regional events.