Abstract

This study examines factors of importance for the pricing of virtual academic conferences based on information on their quality attributes. Data are based on 76 virtual conferences held or planned to be held in the field of tourism and related fields between April 2020 and December 2021. The distribution of fees is skewed with a median price of US$61 and an average of US$126. One fourth of the conferences is free of charge, although there is a trend toward increased prices the longer the time elapse from the outbreak of the pandemic, ceteris paribus. Count data model estimations show that the conference fee depends on size, academic field, and location of the host. A one-day conference is on average US$60 cheaper than a two-day event while pure tourism conferences are on average US$34 more expensive than those in related fields. Conferences in the United Kingdom have the lowest fees while hybrid format is a factor of specific importance for the pure tourism events. Reputation of the host university and whether the conference is held by an association are aspects of no significance for the fee.

摘要

本研究根据有关其质量属性的信息，检查了虚拟学术会议定价的重要因素。数据基于 2020 年 4 月至 2021 年 12 月期间在旅游及相关领域举行或计划举行的 76 场虚拟会议。费用分布偏斜，中位价为 61 美元，平均为 126 美元。四分之一的会议是免费的，尽管在其他条件不变的情况下，大流行爆发后的时间越长，价格有上涨的趋势。计数数据模型估计显示，会议费用取决于主持人的规模、学术领域和位置。为期一天的会议平均比为期两天的会议便宜 60 美元，而纯粹的旅游会议平均比相关领域的会议贵 34 美元。英国的会议费用最低，而混合形式对于纯粹的旅游活动来说是一个特别重要的因素。主办大学的声誉以及会议是否由协会举办对于费用而言是没有意义的方面。