- Email: [email protected]
Eventful Cities: Cultural Management and Urban Revitalisation
Publications in review / Annals of Tourism Research 39 (2012) 503–522
509
(Anglophone) academic with, on the one hand, a sense of humility and, on the other hand, a sense of frustration that much of this work remains inaccessible. Either way, it makes an essential contribution to the tourism literature. Richard Sharpley: School of Sport, Tourism, and rhe Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK. Email
REFERENCES Cohen, E. (1972). Toward a sociology of international tourism. Social Research, 39, 164–182. Cohen, E. (1974). Who is a tourist? A conceptual clarification. Sociological Review, 22, 527–555. Urry, J. (1990). The tourist gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies. London: Sage. Assigned 13 June 2011. Submitted 15 July 2011. Accepted 15 July 2011. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2011.11.006
Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 509–510, 2012 Printed in Great Britain
Eventful Cities: Cultural Management and Urban Revitalisation By Greg Richards and Robert Palmer. ButterworthHeinemann (http://www.elsevierdirect.com/), indices, tables, figures) 2010, xvii + 516 pp. Pbk $49.95. ISBN: 978-0-75066987-0 Linda M. Robson Endicott College, USA Eventful Cities is a bold venture in attempting to provide background information on what makes cities successful in planning and organizing events. The book is organized into 12 chapters, covering a diversity of topics including vision, stakeholders, financial management, marketing and media, impacts, sustainability, and trends. The authors have rightly identified a need to examine the manner in which events fit into the overall vision and structure of a city. This is done to better understand the relationship between events and host cities, as well as provide guidance for developing, managing, and sustaining events to maximize the cultural, economic, and social objectives of the city. The expressed target audience for Eventful Cities are those involved with organizing, designing, evaluating, and funding events within a city. As well, the authors suggest this work could be useful to anyone interested in the broad processes of cultural management and urban revitalization. However, this broad nature of
510
Publications in review / Annals of Tourism Research 39 (2012) 503–522
the intended audience is indicative of a significant problem with the book as a whole. The authors have attempted to provide information about a variety of cities throughout the global community, resulting in a lack of depth or substance. For example, in Chapter 6 (‘‘Finance and Funding for Event Programs’’), the section titled ‘Financial management’ states that the creation of a budget is essential to success; however, there is no guidance as to the manner in which budgets are to be developed. The authors refer to theories and research done in various areas (stakeholder theory, place, experience economy, etc.), without providing a description of these concepts. Individuals without an academic background would have difficulty understanding these references. In addition, the use of lengthy quotations throughout the text actually weakens force of the authors’ arguments. Incorporating these ideas through paraphrasing would have been beneficial. One of the biggest problems with the text is the use of text boxes. In some instances these appear to be case studies; however, they do not provide any analysis of the information. In other cases the information seems unrelated to the previous discussion. Both circumstances add to the disjointed nature of the writing. The authors made a conscious decision not to provide another event planning textbook, noting that several already exist. While this decision is understandable, the fact that there is no reference to the existing event planning processes or professionals leaves a large gap in the information. Increasingly event professionals are being hired as city employees or as third-parties in order to effectively and efficiently plan and execute events. These professionals have experience and training in strategic planning as well as the political policies and procedures that are required. The lack of acknowledgement of these people seems strange. In addition, an examination of the reference list demonstrates a lack of, or outdated, event industry research. For example, Goldblatt’s text, Special Events: The Art and Science of Celebration has just been published in its fifth edition, but this text refers to the first edition. Overall this text provides a very skeletal look at the relationship between events and host cities. It superficially examines some of the major topics, concerns, trends, and suggestions for integrating events in a political arena. The book would likely be of greatest use to someone who wishes an introduction to the global community of events. Linda M. Robson: School of Hospitality Management, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915, USA. Email Assigned 11 January 2011. Submitted 18 July 2011. Accept 21 July 2011. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2011.11.006
509
(Anglophone) academic with, on the one hand, a sense of humility and, on the other hand, a sense of frustration that much of this work remains inaccessible. Either way, it makes an essential contribution to the tourism literature. Richard Sharpley: School of Sport, Tourism, and rhe Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK. Email
REFERENCES Cohen, E. (1972). Toward a sociology of international tourism. Social Research, 39, 164–182. Cohen, E. (1974). Who is a tourist? A conceptual clarification. Sociological Review, 22, 527–555. Urry, J. (1990). The tourist gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies. London: Sage. Assigned 13 June 2011. Submitted 15 July 2011. Accepted 15 July 2011. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2011.11.006
Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 509–510, 2012 Printed in Great Britain
Eventful Cities: Cultural Management and Urban Revitalisation By Greg Richards and Robert Palmer. ButterworthHeinemann (http://www.elsevierdirect.com/), indices, tables, figures) 2010, xvii + 516 pp. Pbk $49.95. ISBN: 978-0-75066987-0 Linda M. Robson Endicott College, USA Eventful Cities is a bold venture in attempting to provide background information on what makes cities successful in planning and organizing events. The book is organized into 12 chapters, covering a diversity of topics including vision, stakeholders, financial management, marketing and media, impacts, sustainability, and trends. The authors have rightly identified a need to examine the manner in which events fit into the overall vision and structure of a city. This is done to better understand the relationship between events and host cities, as well as provide guidance for developing, managing, and sustaining events to maximize the cultural, economic, and social objectives of the city. The expressed target audience for Eventful Cities are those involved with organizing, designing, evaluating, and funding events within a city. As well, the authors suggest this work could be useful to anyone interested in the broad processes of cultural management and urban revitalization. However, this broad nature of
510
Publications in review / Annals of Tourism Research 39 (2012) 503–522
the intended audience is indicative of a significant problem with the book as a whole. The authors have attempted to provide information about a variety of cities throughout the global community, resulting in a lack of depth or substance. For example, in Chapter 6 (‘‘Finance and Funding for Event Programs’’), the section titled ‘Financial management’ states that the creation of a budget is essential to success; however, there is no guidance as to the manner in which budgets are to be developed. The authors refer to theories and research done in various areas (stakeholder theory, place, experience economy, etc.), without providing a description of these concepts. Individuals without an academic background would have difficulty understanding these references. In addition, the use of lengthy quotations throughout the text actually weakens force of the authors’ arguments. Incorporating these ideas through paraphrasing would have been beneficial. One of the biggest problems with the text is the use of text boxes. In some instances these appear to be case studies; however, they do not provide any analysis of the information. In other cases the information seems unrelated to the previous discussion. Both circumstances add to the disjointed nature of the writing. The authors made a conscious decision not to provide another event planning textbook, noting that several already exist. While this decision is understandable, the fact that there is no reference to the existing event planning processes or professionals leaves a large gap in the information. Increasingly event professionals are being hired as city employees or as third-parties in order to effectively and efficiently plan and execute events. These professionals have experience and training in strategic planning as well as the political policies and procedures that are required. The lack of acknowledgement of these people seems strange. In addition, an examination of the reference list demonstrates a lack of, or outdated, event industry research. For example, Goldblatt’s text, Special Events: The Art and Science of Celebration has just been published in its fifth edition, but this text refers to the first edition. Overall this text provides a very skeletal look at the relationship between events and host cities. It superficially examines some of the major topics, concerns, trends, and suggestions for integrating events in a political arena. The book would likely be of greatest use to someone who wishes an introduction to the global community of events. Linda M. Robson: School of Hospitality Management, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915, USA. Email