International event tourism and urban changes: Trajectories of global convention cities (1995–2020)

Abstract The aim of this study is to determine the trajectories of global convention cities, in order to identify and explain the strong interactions between urban policies and changes and the dynamics of hosting international conferences around the world. To accomplish this aim, the major convention cities are calibrated so that their relative positions over 24 years alongside their policies for urban change can be analyzed. To do this, we undertake a factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) combined with ascending hierarchical classification to establish a hierarchical ranking and a typology. The hosting dynamics observed reveal the strong links between material and nonmaterial urban changes and a city’s attractiveness as a convention destination. At present, the situation still reflects the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic. It has already had technical, technological, and health-related consequences for convention processes. These new factors need to be considered in further studies on convention tourism and urban changes