Preface

This book is based on the doctoral thesis on residents' perceptions of general impacts of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) development. As in other Chinese cities, Hangzhou's MICE policies are primarily determined by the municipal government with comparatively less reference to residents. The research was conducted respectively in 2007 and 2012 after two world leisure expositions were hosted in Hangzhou. However, during the publishing process of the book, the 2016 G20 Hangzhou Summit was also hosted, which brought enormous effects to the MICE industry in the city.

The researcher has found very little prior research into the subject of residents' perceptions of MICE. Nevertheless, as described in the book, there has been increasing competition among cities as each seeks to build conference centres and attract business. Much of the literature reviewed is based on the research into Western cases, but reference is also made to potential differences between China and other places.

Given the lack of previous research in China, the main focus of this book is descriptive and exploratory in nature, but the initial results permit the development of a potential set of causal relationships that are summarised in the main text. This permits a series of four propositions to be examined. It is to be noted that the term ‘proposition' is used rather than ‘hypothesis'. The latter term implies quantifiable relationships that are thought to exist and that can be tested. The literature review reveals a general deficiency about residents' perceptions of MICE and the Chinese situation, so at this stage it is proposed that a relationship between residents and MICE should be tested.

The propositions include:

 

Proposition One

Socio-demographic variables have an impact on residents' perceptions of MICE at the city and personal levels, and on evaluations of Hangzhou's MICE policies. In this respect, generally, it was found that socio-demographics were not discriminating variables, and only employment status and a past experience of MICE attendance had some role of significance.

 

Proposition Two

There will be differences between residents' perceptions of the impacts of MICE policies when the residents' were asked to consider (a) impacts on Hangzhou generally, and (b) impacts on personal daily life. This was found to be generally true, and generally respondents were supportive of MICE policies that generated benefits for the city as a whole.

 

Proposition Three

There will be differences in perceptions that can be caught in psychometric measurements that will enable different clusters to be discerned, whereby some will be supportive of MICE policies and others less so—such differences being determined by the evaluations of social and environmental costs as against economic gains. In short, there is an inherent tension of the economic, social, and environmental aspects within the current state of Hangzhou as a fast developing city in a fast developing nation. This has proved to be the case.

 

Proposition Four

A history of past attendance at MICE will be a variable that shapes support for MICE development and evaluations of MICE policies. This was partially supported.

While distinct factors, clusters and the role of past attendance were found, the overall model proposed in Chapter Three, whereby a mix of civic advantages and personal impacts were thought to generate evaluations of MICE policies, was not wholly supported by path analysis.