DOCTORAL DISSERTATION SUMMARY: Generational cohorts affiliation as a basic behavioural determinant of congress tourism participants

Sa？etak Purpose Tourism, as a rapidly transforming area in the sphere of supply and demand, is experiencing constant and rapid change, both at the international and the domestic markets. Such rapid development leads to the emergence of specific forms of tourism. One such form is congress tourism, an important segment of tourism with notable qualitative, quantitative and financial effects on the economy of each particular country which, as such, is becoming increasingly significant by affecting the extension of the tourist season. The development of congress tourism brings multiple benefits for both: organizers and the destination, through the development of infrastructure and innovating supply. In recent decades, the meetings industry has experienced significant growth and has become a truly global phenomenon. Large business gatherings, especially those international, contribute to economic benefits, but also to the image of the hosting destination. Business gathering are the promoters of the destinations. At the same time they are extending the tourist season. Satisfied participants often return to the destination in a private arrangement. Just like for most organizers, the main economic objective of organizing a congress is profit making. In everyday business, especially in times of global financial crisis, there is an increasing pressure on the congress organizers to ensure positive financial effects of business meetings. Since attendance, or the number of participants, is the best predictor of financial results, attracting more participants becomes their main task, commonly described by the term "delegate boosting". With the increase in the number of congresses and conferences, understanding of participants' congressional experience assessment is becoming more important than ever. At the same time, many companies are looking for ways of reducing operating expenses. Business trips are among the most common elements on which budget cuts are applied, resulting in a declining congress and conference attendance of national and international participants. The main purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework to understand convention attendees' evaluation of convention experience based on generational cohort belonging, in order to better understand their return intention. Since there are four generational cohorts in the labor market, this research was conducted with the purpose to identify behavioral intention of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and Millennials regarding their congress experience. Specifically, the evaluation of