This research examines the satisfaction level of exhibitors and visitors in order to effectively manage exhibition services provided by organizers, and the perception level of organizers about the exhibition service. By doing this, it would be able to...
This research examines the satisfaction level of exhibitors and visitors in order to effectively manage exhibition services provided by organizers, and the perception level of organizers about the exhibition service. By doing this, it would be able to make exhibition service providers to prepare better rating system for operation of international exhibition service and to upgrade the current service. This research also suggests the direction of continuous improvement for local providers of a exhibition service.
This research was processed in two different directions. First, survey questionnaire distributed to employees who work for exhibition service companies resided in Seoul, Korea, and second, survey took account of exhibitors and exhibition visitors that have participated any kind of international exhibitions which were held in COEX from March 27 to May 3, 2003.
The result of the study can be concluded as follows:
First, the attributions of exhibition service was differentiated according to positions of exhibition organizers', exhibitors', and visitors'. Therefore, all factors related to the exhibition such as exhibition organizers, exhibitors, and even visitors must be considered in order to evaluate the exhibition service accurately. For instance, the exhibition organizers perceived the facility that accommodates customers and the convenience of location as important factors when they host the exhibition while exhibitors considered the information of the exhibition, parking facility, rest area, ventilation facility, and cooling and heating system as important factors. Visitors, on the other hand, were most likely to have rest area, emergency equipment and informative brochures in the place of exhibition.
Second, this research also found that exhibition service providers might have to segment the exhibitors and visitors for successful operation of the service. Among exhibitors of international exhibitions in Korea, large exhibitors that tried to advertise and to sell their products regarded the scale and the information of the exhibition as important factors while small exhibitors, trying to obtain useful information from the exhibition, regarded the safety and cleanliness as important factors. In addition, exhibition visitors who needed information of the products were likely to satisfy with amenities related to tourism while those who just visit to the exhibition without any purpose were likely to satisfy with the quantity and quality of tourism resource nearby. Therefore, the results implies that success of exhibition depends on how well satisfied all elements of the exhibition such as exhibition organizers, exhibitors, and visitors are and how the exhibition is differentiated with others.
Third, exhibitors and visitors were satisfied overall, but the basic factors of the exhibition still need to be improved. In addition, this study proposes exhibition organizers to take further suggestions from exhibitors or visitors about the attributions of exhibition so as to enhance service. Continuous efforts for better exhibition service and aggressive investment for better customer-friendly environment is needed, which increase participants' satisfaction.