The green and gold decade: building a successful and resilient major events sector
Coined the Green and Gold Decade leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, this period sees Australia hosting an unprecedented number of global major events. Whilst this pipeline of major event planning and delivery is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for supporting a successful and resilient major events sector leading up to the Games, challenges remain given the sector works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing in the process with increased risk, rising costs and consumer uncertainty.
In seeking to provide evidence-based solutions to these challenges, an interdisciplinary team of Griffith University experts conducted a novel pilot project over 2022-23 which sought to generate innovative insights into major event management. These insights informed the development of a checklist for optimising the operations of major events to enhance the visitor experience.
Drawing on the expertise of researchers in the fields of tourism management, sport management, health and health systems, architecture, organisational behaviour and transport management, the checklist was developed following in-depth observations by the team at two major events on the Gold Coast:
- Groundwater Country Music Festival, 28 - 30 October, 2022.
- Pan Pacific Masters Games, 4 -13 November, 2022.
To capture the diversity of major events, it was important that these events varied in terms of type and format (spectator driven; mass participation). Following the observational phase, a two-round online panel survey was conducted among the project team to narrow down and refine the final checklist items.
With a view to optimising the visitor experience pre-, during and post-event, these items cover the breadth of major event operations including digital communication, health, onsite logistics, accessibility, Indigenous engagement, environmental sustainability, volunteer engagement, safety, transport and pedestrian movement and marketing and promotions.
Project partners
The project team wishes to thank Major Events Gold Coast and Events Management Queensland for their support in facilitating data collection for this project.
Project funding: Griffith Business School Spotlight Seed Funding.
Core team
Professor Leonie Lockstone-Binney
Event and tourism volunteering, volunteering legacies, event studies, event management education and commemorative events.
Professor Sarah Gardiner
Destination marketing and development, tourism, economic and event development strategies, consumer behaviour and market analysis.
Associate Professor Jamie Ranse
Public health, emergency and in-event health services for mass gatherings.
Professor Kevin Filo
Synergy between sport and charity, sport events, and community sport and fundraising.
Dr Caroline Riot
Elite athlete development and management, Olympic studies, community sports development, women and sport studies, health and physical activity promotion.
Interdisciplinary experts
Professor Matthew Burke
Deputy Director of the Griffith University's Cities Research Institute, Burke is presently leading projects on demand-responsive transit, e-scooter regulation and ownership, community transport, and planning frameworks including Movement & Place.
Dr Carys Chan
Work–life interface, flexible/remote working, self-efficacy, work-related stress and burnout, and leader–subordinate interactions.
Professor Karine Dupre
Tourism and cities, placemaking, design solving, sustainability and resilience, experience and heritage.
Professor Simone Fullagar
Simone Fullagar, FAcSS, was appointed as Professor of Sport Management at Griffith University in mid 2019. She leads the Women and Girls in Sport research group that aims to contribute to greater equality in all aspects of sport.
Professor Louise Gustafsson
Rehabilitation and therapy, aged care, disability, public health and health services.
Dr Peta-Anne Zimmerman
Dr Zimmerman is an internationally respected clinician, educator and researcher in: infection prevention and control, low- and middle income setting health, emerging infectious disease, outbreak preparedness/response and learning and teaching. Peta-Anne frequently consults for WHO and other international health agencies.
Research assistants
- Vanessa Hunter
- Madison Bland
Project outputs
Click the button below to access a copy of the Optimising the Operations of Major Events to Enhance the Visitor Experience checklist.
Previous outputs leading up to the project
Contact
For enquiries about the project and checklist, contact Professor Leonie Lockstone-Binney.