Comparing business models for event sport tourism: Case studies in Italy and Slovenia

Abstract

A business model (BM) describes how value is created and delivered to consumers. This managerial concept has gained growing popularity in the last few decades. However, it seems the analytical possibilities of a BM framework have not been recognized by sport tourism researchers. This article intends to fill a void that would link the BM concept to the area of sport tourism. Its aim is to examine, from the perspective of the sporting event organizer, the BMs of two cycling tourism events. Using the case study method, this article highlights the interplay of key resources and processes in designing and setting customer value. The findings indicate that although the BMs of the two events differ in many aspects, they both have a strong emphasis on networks and managerial processes aimed at ensuring participant safety and preservation of the environment. Besides providing a better understanding of the BM concept within the context of sport tourism, the findings would be of great interest for event-related sport practitioners and particularly for the design of management and marketing strategies for the sporting events they organize.