Questex Delivers Six Record-Breaking Q1 Events Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels
May 12, 2023
A testament to the industry’s recovery, this year is turning out to be a major success for Questex, a leading information and event services company focused on the experience economy.
With new event activations connecting buyers and sellers at the 2023 editions of six Questex shows — International Beauty Show New York, International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference New York, Bar & Restaurant Expo, World Tea Expo, Vibe Conference and Fierce Pharma Events — the company delivered record-breaking numbers of attendees, exhibitors and revenue and now exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
“Our mission is to bring the experience economy to life for our communities,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Questex. With new onsite experiences like the International Beauty Show’s Powerhouse Pavilion; the International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference’s Healthy You Pavilion; Bar & Restaurant Expo’s Food & Beverage Innovation Center, Japanese Pavilion and NxT Zone; as well as World Tea Expo’s Tea Bar, we delivered extraordinary experiences that attendees will remember.”
During the pandemic, Miller explained that the company brainstormed new ideas for its events and customer experiences, brought all of its first-party data into one database through its proprietary Q Activate tool and kept its community engaged with high-quality digital content.
“All of this work kept audiences engaged with our brands, which allowed our team to deliver first quarter events with the best performance in the company’s history,” Miller said.
International Beauty Show New York, the longest running professional beauty event in the country, and International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference New York, the leading spa and wellness event in the country, co-located in New York to bring together over 30,000 beauty and spa professionals. The International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference grew the event over 10% compared to the 2019 event, while revenue grew 25% compared to 2022 event. Combined, the International Beauty Show and the International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference saw growth of attendees of 22% year over year. New onsite experiences engaged attendees, including the Look & Learn Stage, with cocktails and networking, a graffiti wall and selfie area, a Healthy You Pavilion, a Powerhouse Pavilion that celebrated black beauty entrepreneurs, a Recharge & Hydrate Lounge and a “Say Yes to You” campaign.
Bar & Restaurant Expo, the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of bar and restaurant owners and operators, grew the event 42% compared to the 2019 event. Bar & Restaurant Expo and World Tea Expo grew attendees 19% over 2022.
Vibe Conference, the premiere on-premises beverage event for beverage executives, grew the event 30% compared to the 2019 event. Vibe Conference attracted attendees from across the industry, including chain restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, distributors, consultants and agencies, resulting in a 20% increase compared to 2022. Vibe Conference was the largest event in its 14-year history, attracting the biggest number of first-time operator attendees, demonstrating how strongly the industry is rebounding and retooling for future growth.
All Fierce Pharma events experienced a resurgence. Fierce JPM Week, a hybrid event focused on how pharma and healthcare can thrive, experienced the highest revenue in the event’s history. The Business Development and Licensing (BD&L) Summit, designed for business development and licensing executives to gain exclusive insights on new opportunities, grew attendance 13% from 2022, and Fierce Pharma PR & Communications West, the only conference on the West Coast dedicated to providing life science communicators with timely industry updates and best practices for successful communications strategies in the healthcare environment, increased 30% year over year.
“We are delighted with how our strategy has come to life at our live events since returning from the pandemic,” Miller said. “The forward pacing is extremely encouraging, and 2023 is shaping up to be a banner year for the company.”
Main photo: Bar & Restaurant Expo
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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