Enhancing the experience economy, marketing and sustainability in tourism event stages through smart technologies

Purpose This study aims to examine how smart technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and virtual reality) can be adopted across the phases in an event lifecycle, presenting a holistic framework for event managers and future research. Design/methodology/approach Using the PRISMA method, a systematic literature review identifies key smart technologies and research themes across the event lifecycle. It analyses their intersections with event phases and proposes a comprehensive framework to map these relationships. Findings The results are structured into systematic-quantitative analysis, which explores publication trends, technology types, event categories and key academic contributions; and framework development, which aligns smart technologies with event phases. Originality/value This study integrates key event literature themes into a unified framework. By addressing these themes collectively, it introduces the novel 6Ss of the event lifecycle framework, enhancing technology’s role in event planning and management.