Applying the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach to convention site selection

The convention sector is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative areas of the tourism industry. Solving for the most salient determinants in selecting or organizing a destination for conventions and seeing out their success is an important research topic. This study proposes the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach, a decision-making method based on pairwise comparisons between criteria, to construct an evaluation structure with criteria and associated weights of convention site selection for meeting planners. A case study with a three-level evaluation structure is constructed and tested. The findings indicate that the AHP approach is a useful tool to help support a decision in convention site selection.