The role of information technology use in American convention and visitors bureaus

Abstract

As American convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) passed the turn of the new millennium, advancements in information technology (IT) have made possible approaches to improve communication, coordination, and collaboration that were previously unimagined. Using a case study methodology this study sought to develop an evolutionary model for IT use by American CVBs. The results provide insight into the current status of IT use in American CVBs and the short-term challenges faced by these organizations. It was found that organizational capability influences IT use and leads to distinct implementation effects. Additionally, advancements in IT did not spread uniformly across four information activity dimensions and appear to occur in five recursive and sequential stages, namely: substitution, enlargement, gestation, reconfiguration, and setback.