ABSTRACT
Most research into events focuses either on their tourism aspects or social impacts. This collected volume proposes that there is another paradigm which we should be considering. This is that certain events primarily have a commercial function; that is, they are staged with the objective of bringing buyers and sellers together with the view of facilitating sales. In introducing this volume, this chapter has three parts. The first conceptualises industrial events and examines the benefits that buyers and sellers gain from them. The second sets out a typology, describing the main characteristics of each type. These events include world’s fairs/ international exhibitions, trade shows, industry-themed consumer shows and product launches. The third section considers linkages to tourism and social impacts associated with these events.
