ognizant Communication Corporation

The following excerpts are from a book review by Don Getz, University of Calgary, appearing in the journal Event Management (2000), Vol. 6, pp. 205-206:

This book is a significant and unique addition to the event literature, both in terms of its research base and the Scandinavian perspective. It is a compilation of material, basically from Sweden and to a lesser extent Norway, that demonstrates the strength of event research in that part of the world. The contributing Scandinavians are drawing from traditional disciplinary approaches including economics, geography, other social sciences, and tourism, and are not from departments that have event management programs.

It is difficult to see this book being used as a text in event management programs, or outside Scandinavia, but it has real value in advancing theory and methods of event evaluation. It belongs in every tourism and event library.

The following excerpts are from a book review by Hubert B. Van Hoof, Northern Arizona University, appearing in the Journal of Travel Research (2001, August), Vol. 40, p. 117:

The study of the various impacts of events has seen a tremendous growth over the past two decades.

Evaluation of Events: Scandinavian Experiences, which is a result of this trend, emphasizes "the importance of systematically evaluating the various impacts of events, as an adjunct to the planning and policy development activities of public and private sector organizations" (p. 2). The reason it primarily looks at Scandinavian events is twofold. First, there is a lack of books that look at events from a European perspective (most existing books offer U.S. or Australian perspectives). Second, it is the result of a 4-year research program into the economics of events conducted by the Stockholm School of Economics and sponsored by the city of Stockholm. With the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics in their own backyard, many of the contributing researchers in Scandinavia had a mega-event to sink their teeth into.

The editor has succeeded very well in bringing together scholars from various disciplines to present their views on event impacts, and each chapter offers a nice combination of theory and practical application. This is a book that can be recommended to anyone interested in the topic, and it will be of definite interest to those looking for different ways in which events and their impacts can be analyzed.

Chapter 1. Event Evaluations
Lena L. Mossberg

1.1  Introduction
1.2  Definitions
1.3  Events Tourism Evaluation
1.4  The Framework of the Book

Chapter 2. Traveling to Events
Magnus Bohlin

2.1  Background
2.2  Theoretical Framework
2.3  Empirical Studies
2.4  Conclusion

Chapter 3. Effects of Events on Destination Image
Lena L. Mossberg

3.1  Background
3.2  Theoretical Framework
3.3  Empirical Study
3.4  Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Locals - Local Knowledge, Participation, and Identity
Monica Hanefors

4.1  Background
4.2  Theoretical Framework
4.3  Empirical Study
4.4  Conclusion

Chapter 5. Learning Effects - The Case of the Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games 1994
Bente R. Løwendahl

5.1  Background
5.2  Theoretical Framework
5.3  Empirical Study
5.4  Conclusion

Chapter 6. Financial Effects of Events on the Public Sector
Tommy D. Andersson and Lars A. Samuelsson

6.1  Background
6.2  Theoretical Framework
6.3  Empirical Study
6.4  Conclusion

Chapter 7. Event Economics: Top-Down Approaches
Lars Hultkrantz

7.1  Background
7.2  Theoretical Framework
7.3  Empirical Study
7.4  Conclusion

Chapter 8. Beyond Intermezzo? On the long-Term Industrial Impacts of Mega-Events - The Case of Lillehammer 1994
Olav R. Spilling

8.1  Background
8.2  Theoretical Framework
8.3  Empirical Study
8.4  Conclusion

Chapter 9. Event Strategies in Practice

9.1  Events as Part of the Destination Marketing
9.2  Destination Marketing as Part of the Communities Competition
9.3  Attitudes of the Locals Toward Events
9.4  The Decision Process of Events Related to Public Financing