Contemporary Engagement
Business Models for Sustainable Fashion Resale
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Iris Mohr
This paper examines the disruptive nature of reselling fashion technologies. The collaborative consumption movement, a popular emerging trend, encourages consumers to live in a more collective, sharing economy. This is where the paper addresses the disruptive nature of the reselling technologies, particularly as they impact the fashion industry, prompting an explosion of vintage/second-hand retailing. Secondary market behaviors such as reselling, recycling, gifting, swapping, and reusing are becoming the most significantly growing consumer segments. The notion of a rotating wardrobe has been increasingly frequently accepted. This is especially prominent with younger consumers like Generation Z, who would consider spending more money on sustainably produced and delivered products while showing a strong preference for switching to brands with sustainable initiatives. Mobile apps and personalization have made buying used products as easy as buying new ones.
Featured Assessing the Impact of Social Media User-Generated Content and Online News on Sustainable Destination Branding: The Case of Spring Break in Miami Beach
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Walter Spezzano, Carolin Lusby
The rapid growth of tourism supply and demand has contributed to overtourism, resulting in environmental, social, and economic strain on many destinations. Among these, Miami Beach has been notably affected during spring break, prompting actions to address overcrowding, increased crime and violence rates, and pressure on local resources. To counter these challenges, the destination has been rebranded for the 2024 spring break season through a targeted marketing campaign aimed at mitigating overtourism, promoting sustainability, and discouraging disorderly behavior. A key component of this campaign is a video featuring residents breaking up with spring breakers, which has generated significant online discussion and engagement. Destination branding is a co-creation process involving destination marketing organizations, tourism stakeholders, intermediaries, residents, and consumers. Therefore, this work examines user-generated content across social media and online news about spring break in Miami Beach to explore their combined influence on the destination image. Relying on Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies (CADS), this research investigates how online discourse from these sources shapes public perceptions of the destination and seeks to assess the impact of these perceptions on the effectiveness of the rebranding efforts. Understanding the role of online discourse in destination branding is essential for refining destination brand positioning. By examining the interplay between social media content and news coverage, this work aims to provide valuable insights into how sustainable destination branding can be refined by aligning with evolving public opinion.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Bongs Lainjo
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, endorsed by the United Nations, targets the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequality, enhancement of environmental sustainability, and promotion of economic growth. This study, utilizing 44 distinct sources, examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our findings indicate that AI offers substantial benefits across various domains, such as healthcare, education, environmental management, economic development, and gender equality. Specifically, AI's applications span renewable energy optimization, efficient waste management, enhanced disease detection, tailored educational experiences, and the promotion of gender parity. However, these advancements are not without challenges. The study highlights significant ethical considerations, including algorithmic bias, concerns regarding data privacy, and potential impacts on employment. To maximize AI's potential while addressing these ethical issues, we propose the establishment of governance frameworks for intelligent automation, enhanced professional and public engagement, educational programs, and stringent regulatory measures. An integrated approach that prioritizes ethical considerations is crucial to leveraging AI effectively for the SDGs. This approach involves fostering interdisciplinary research between AI and sustainability sectors, encouraging cooperation between governmental and private entities, and increasing public awareness of AI technologies. The development of environmentally friendly AI policies and the setting of ethical usage standards are imperative. Ultimately, aligning AI advancements with a people-centric, ethically focused framework can significantly accelerate progress towards the SDGs, promoting a just and inclusive future.
