COVID-19 Disturbance on the Event Management Industry: Studying the COVID-19 Impact on the French Event Management Industry from the Perception of Participants and Professionals

Abstract

This investigation examines the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the French Event Industry. The research is grounded in the global pandemic and its effects on various aspects of the industry, including event management, adaptation to the crisis, and the well-being of the participants. The research approach to carry out this investigation is inductive. Moreover, the study analyses the challenges faced by event organizers and attendees, the resulting changes in event planning and relations, and the impact on the economy of the companies and social interactions. Through qualitative research methods, the study draws on interviews with professionals of the event industry with open-ended questions and some general data of the company of the professional interviewed, and a survey for the participants of the events with open-ended questions to provide a comprehensive analysis of the implications of the pandemic on the event industry. The findings highlight the critical role of technology and digital platforms in ensuring the survival of the industry and the emergence of new trends in event planning and management. The survey resulted in 98.6% of the respondents saying that the events are important (Figure 10). The importance of social interaction between people has been demonstrated, and it showed that everybody reacts differently in a crisis. The study concludes by providing recommendations for industry stakeholders and policymakers to mitigate the impact of future crises and ensure the industry's resilience. Additionally concludes by introducing possible future research on this topic with more time and resources.