News

Sep 22, 2014
Newton, Mass.-based Questex Media Group, which has more than over 100 digital media products and over 50 conferences, tradeshows and events, was bought by L.A.-based Shamrock Capital Advisors for an undisclosed sum. The company was acquired in partnership with senior management. “Shamrock Capital is the perfect partner for Questex at this point in our evolution,” said Kerry Gumas, Questex Group president and CEO. He added, “They have a deep understanding of the media, communications and entertainment sectors and the customers we serve. They support our ongoing business initiatives and they… more
Sep 22, 2014
With UBM confirming it’s in discussions to possibly buy Advanstar Communications and Questex Media Group being bought last week by Shamrock Capital Advisors, yet another trade show organizer, U.K.-based Clarion Events, also is rumored to be on the sales block, according to The Sunday Times. Clarion, which currently is controlled by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, is the largest trade show organizer in the U.K., and the sales price is reported to be $327 million. Clarion's Executive Chairman Simon Kimble  and VSS Managing Partner Jeffrey Stevenson have not responded to a request for comment.… more
Sep 21, 2014
Hit the ground running at your next industry event! Make contact and connections with others in your field before you arrive at the venue so that your face-to-face meetings are productive and not centered around “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” questions. New technology is popping up daily to address this very issue. Below are a few new and old, but good, ways to network prior to an event. Event Web Site Many events offer a web portal that requires a login and profile. This isn’t just an extra hassle put in place to annoy you.  In most cases, this… more
Sep 21, 2014
Hit the ground running at your next industry event! Make contact and connections with others in your field before you arrive at the venue so that your face-to-face meetings are productive and not centered around “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” questions. New technology is popping up daily to address this very issue. Below are a few new and old, but good, ways to network prior to an event. Event Web Site Many events offer a web portal that requires a login and profile. This isn’t just an extra hassle put in place to annoy you.  In most cases, this… more
Sep 18, 2014
The 25th edition of Tarsus Group’s Labelexpo Americas, held Sept. 9-11 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., was the busiest one yet, with 16,029 attendees flocking to the showfloor to see the latest innovations in the labels and labeling industry. This year’s attendance figure broke records and was up 12 percent, compared with the 2012 edition of the biennial event. The showfloor also saw an increase of 10,000 net square feet this year to 195,000, and the number of exhibitors also increased to from 413 in 2012 to 441 at this year’s event. On the second day of the… more
Sep 18, 2014
U.K.-based UBM confirmed that it is in talks to acquire Advanstar Communications that “may, or may not, lead to a transaction.” The statement was made after Reuters reported that UBM was in advanced stages to buy Advanstar for a $900 million pricetag. Representatives for Advanstar declined to comment. Advanstar serves the fashion, licensing, life sciences and powersports industries with its portfolio of 54 trade shows, 100 conferences, 30 publications, and nearly 200 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. It runs the two largest… more
Sep 17, 2014
Global Experience Specialists has continued to expand its offerings by acquiring Blitz Communications, an audio visual (AV) services provider for the live events industry in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Blitz Communications has offices in London and Manchester, U.K. and is the in-house AV service provider at five major U.K. conference and exhibition venues – ExCeL London, Earls Court, Olympia, Manchester Central, and the NEC. “The addition of Blitz Communications allows us to provide a full suite of AV services across the U.K., Europe and the Middle East,” said Steve Moster… more
Sep 17, 2014
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) delivered on its theme, “come together, leave inspired” to more than114,000 attendees during the course of their show, which took place Sept. 8-13 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Pre-registration numbers were at 98,169 attendees and by the close of the show registration was at 114,147 attendees, representing 112 countries. Those numbers are a 13.9 percent increase, compared with IMTS 2012. IMTS covered more than 1.3 million net square feet of exhibit space and hosted 2,035 exhibiting companies. Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions… more
Sep 16, 2014
Still two months away, and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Attraction Expo 2014 already has a sold out its showfloor at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Nearly 1,000 exhibitors from approximately 40 countries will showcase their latest products and services for more than 17,000 attraction industry buyers on the 500,000 net square foot showfloor when the show runs Nov. 18-21. The IAAPA Attractions Expo trade showfloor is the global industry's largest marketplace, where owners, CEOs, and managers of amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment… more
Sep 16, 2014
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) entered into a reciprocity agreement with the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) during the recent IEIA Open Seminar in Hyderabad, India. The agreement demonstrates IAEE's and IEIA's commitment to the international exhibitions and events industry, and it provides additional global opportunities for IAEE and IEIA members to connect to develop new exhibitions and face-to-face events.  "I am excited about entering into this agreement with our friends and colleagues at IEIA to offer a new benefit and… more
Partner Voices
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