LONDON, July 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hospitality Insights, a division of Questex, launches the second quarterly Investor Sentiment Assessment, in partnership with ABP Invest, an advisory firm providing strategic outlook and research on geopolitics, economics, markets and FX and a frequent keynote speaker at Questex events. The assessment captures the intentions of investors with over $150 billion in assets under management. 

“The Investor Sentiment Assessment is an important index for the hotel investment sector particularly at a point in time when the industry is reeling against the backdrop of an estimated $200 billion wall of money bearing down on it,” shares Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Travel & Hospitality, Questex. “It’s encouraging to see investors are as committed as ever to hospitality as an asset class and we expect Q4 2020 and certainly Q1 2021 and beyond to be active with regards to deal making and transactions.”

The Q1 assessment, which is available for download here, was launched at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, at a time when the sector was reeling, and this latest edition tackles the second phase of the outbreak, as the sector tentatively reopens around the world.

Thanos Papasavvas, founder & CIO, ABP Invest, said: “There has been a marked improvement on investors’ economic sentiment in this quarter’s Hospitality Insights Investor Sentiment Assessment, with 65% of investors expecting improved economic conditions over the next 12 months. Yet, whilst the broader economic sentiment has improved markedly since March, the investment sentiment for hotels has not had the same turnaround, with reduced positive sentiment and increased uncertainty. This has also led to an increase in the number of investors who think the hotel investment market cycle is in a contraction (65%) compared to 53% last quarter.”

Papasavvas added, “In terms of investment preferences, Germany stood out as the preferred investment location overtaking the UK, Italy and Spain. We believe this was instigated predominantly, but not only, by Covid-19. From an economic perspective, Germany’s contained levels of Covid-19 alongside the most generous fiscal support amongst any other government in percent of GDP terms, helps provide economic support and stable consumer sentiment. From a social perspective, a further two elements have also converged in our view: the constrained travelling opportunities from Covid-19 and the broader concerns on climate change which have both created a shift towards ‘staycations’ with Germans ‘finding their own country’ again.”

One key theme that has emerged is the investor interest in what is now a mainstream asset class, with M&A expected to flood out of this crisis. A vast majority of respondents classify themselves as net buyers (78%), with an optimal holding period of 6-10 years, which holds consistent with responses from our Q1 assessment. Travel will return, is the feeling, with pent up demand from both travellers and investors fuelling hope and keeping the focus on the sector.

The Q3 edition of the Hospitality Insights Investor Sentiment Assessment will be reserved for Hospitality Insights subscribers only. For more information on subscriptions, please contact Peter Kealy, Delegate Sales Representative, pkealy@questex.com.

About Questex
Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Media Contact
Alexandra Aldridge
Marketing Director, Questex Travel & Hospitality
212-895-8284
Aaldridge@questex.com

NEW YORK, July 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex’s Fierce AI Week, the virtual event focused exclusively on the application of AI to drive business, customer and process value for emerging and large enterprises, today announces Shankar Arumugavelu, Senior Vice President and Global CIO at Verizon will participate in a Fireside Chat with Fierce Telecom’s Editor in Chief, Linda Hardesty. Arumugavelu and Hardesty will discuss Verizon’s innovative customer experience through artificial intelligence (AI). In addition, Bindu Reddy, CEO/Co-Founder of Abacus.ai will deliver a keynote address on August 11. Fierce AI Week will take place August 10-12, 2020. Register to attend here.

Over three days, Fierce AI Week will offer a discuss, debate and define format of keynote presentations, vertical industry sessions focused on electronics/manufacturing, healthcare, telecom/technology and biotech/pharma and an AI Pitch Tank where start-up companies pitch new ideas.

Fierce AI Week will host dozens of speakers including thought leaders from a myriad of industries that will share real-world approaches to applying AI including machine learning, drug discovery and medical research. Bob Evans, the creator of Cloud Wars and former EVP at Oracle, SAP and InformationWeek, will outline his perspective on what AI means to the way we work today and into the future.

Additional speakers include:

• Rajeev Ronanki, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Anthem
• Arvind Ramanathan, Technology Leader, Argonne National Laboratory  
• Neil McRae, Managing Director & Chief Architect, BT
• Peter Richardson, Vice President of Pharmacology, BenevolentAI  
• David Shacochis, Vice President, Enterprise Technology, CenturyLink  
• Matt Hayes, Executive Director, Access Engineering, Cox Communication  
• Kaladhar Voruganti, Vice President, Technology Innovation, Equinix  
• James Hamrick, Senior Medical Director, Flatiron Health
• Aashima Gupta, Director, Global Healthcare Solutions, Google Cloud
• Ian Bernstein, Founder, Misty Robotics  
• Bertrand Bodson, Chief Digital Officer, Novartis  
• Amy West, Head of U.S. Digital Strategy, Novo Nordisk  
• Brendan Gallagher, Chief Connected Health Officer, Publicis Health
• Rob Wilmot, Chief Architect, Red Hat North America  

Fierce AI Week will gather more than 3,000 C-level, technology, automation, marketing and AI specific professionals as well as investors and channel partners. Companies currently registered to attend include Abbott Laboratories, ExxonMobil, Microsoft, Nestle, Verizon and more.

“Artificial Intelligence is helping us to discover, identify, automate and learn how to drive new levels of business, customer and process value out of organizations, both big and small,” said John Siefert, Group President, Market Development and Executive Producer of Fierce AI Week. “We have a spectacular line up of industry thought leaders from various industries who will define their approach to applying AI and will provide practical solutions and outcomes to event attendees. This first of its kind virtual event will set the standard in defining what it means to be fierce in application of AI.”

Event sponsors include Equinix, Linguamatics, an IQVIA company, Red Hat and XMOS.

To register for Fierce AI Week, click here. For sponsorship and speaking opportunities, contact Rhiannon James at rjames@questex.com.

Stay connected with Fierce AI Week on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Questex
Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Media Contact
Kate Spellman
Chief Marketing Officer
Questex
kspellman@questex.com
212 895 8488

World Tea Conference & Expo Reconvenes in July 2021

NEW YORK, July 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex, the parent company of World Tea Conference + Expo, today announces the event will be forced to cancel, as the Colorado Convention Center has declared no large-scale events can take place in the building for the rest of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. World Tea Conference + Expo was originally scheduled to run October 15-18, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.

World Tea Conference + Expo has been the hub for tea industry professionals to come together with their passion of tea to learn, grow their businesses, and network with their peers, while building lasting partnerships and friendships. The 2021 edition is scheduled to take place July 14-16, 2021 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. This will be the first time in 18 years the event has been forced to cancel. Our thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by the current situation and our number one priority remains keeping our entire community safe. 

Our team is working through all of the logistics that are involved with cancelling an event. We understand that you will have questions and concerns. All attendee registration tickets purchased for the original World Tea Conference + Expo 2020 dates will be honored for a full credit towards the 2021 event. Exhibitors will be contacted soon with information. Please contact Tim McLucas, Vice President, Hospitality Group, at tmclucas@questex.com with immediate exhibitor inquiries. 

Additional updates regarding World Tea Conference + Expo will be published on worldteaexo.com.

About Questex
Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Media Contact
Kate Spellman
Chief Marketing Officer
Questex
kspellman@questex.com
212 895 8488

NEW YORK, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COVID-19 has created a complicated new reality for universities and colleges to educate students at a distance. REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit, hosted by ASU, takes place July 13-14, addressing this head on by bringing together an extraordinary line up of Educational innovators, thought practitioners and influencers to assist faculty with the preparation of online and blended learning for fall 2020. Click here to register to attend. The virtual conference, free for faculty, will address student experience, engagement, course design, discipline insights and other critical issues that are arising daily.

“Higher education faculty have been tremendously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With little training or support, in a very short amount of time, they pivoted to teach online,” said David Levin, University Entrepreneur in Residence, Arizona State University and Executive Producer of REMOTE. “REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit was design to equip faculty with tools, tips and techniques and a reflection on the pedagogy that would be effective for them get back to school this fall.” 

A diverse group of more than 100 speakers from 60 universities and institutions, the program includes keynote presentations and 88 half hour sessions focused on disciplines, best practices and policy over two three-hour days which include networking chats and live Q&A’s where attendees can directly ask questions and speakers will answer in real-time. In addition, there will be a live track of 12 sessions featuring Every Learner Everywhere experts in digital instruction and pedagogy.

Keynote speakers include:

• Michael M. Crow, President, Arizona State University will kick-off the event. President Crow will share his observations on the wider situation across higher education and on the opportunity for faculty to seize this moment to drive change to create a system fit for the 21^st Century. 
• Kristie Ornelas, Senior Director of Cisco Customer Experience and Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern, founder, and bestselling author will discuss the future of higher education, lessons learned in remote learning and how technology companies can accelerate the ongoing transformation.

Selected featured speakers include:

• Ariel Anbar, Professor, Arizona State University
• Mike Caulfield, Director of Blended and Networked Learning, Washington State
• Tom Thomas Cavanagh, Vice Provost for Digital Learning, University of Central Florida
• Cathy Davidson, Distinguished and Founding Director of the Futures Initiative at the Graduate Center, CUNY
• Christy Fogal, Mathematics Professor, State University of NY/Monroe Community College
• Jose J. Vazquez, Clinical Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Economics

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit will take place in an interactive environment, which replicates the look and feel of a conference and allows attendees to discover immediate ways to improve online class delivery and to obtain navigation assistance around blended delivery. The digital environment provides multiple theaters where attendees can filter the extensive Agenda by areas of interest. Seven presentations run simultaneously every half hour, broken out by topics. The event optimizes networking among attendees with themed Lounges based on types of disciplines and common topics within each. Attendees can join chat rooms to meet and connect with others and share in “free-form” conversations. At the end of each day, attendees are invited to attend a Virtual Happy Hour to share highlights, favorite sessions and talk about the value the Summit.

To date, the Summit has over 17,000 registrants from more than 150 universities and institutions registered to attend. The majority of registrants are professors, instructors, lecturers, teaching professionals, instructional designers, provosts, deans, and department chairs and administrators. Fifty-eight percent of registrants are involved in hybrid teaching (online and on-campus), 35 percent are fully online and seven percent are on-campus only.

Summit sponsors include Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Pearson, Cisco, Chegg, Course Hero, Microsoft, McGraw Hill, Cengage, Macmillan Learning, Soomo, Association of College & University Educators (ACUE), CogBooks, iDesign, Respondus and Six Red Marbles. Media partners include The Chronicle of Higher Education and Times Higher Education. The publishers, platforms and innovators have generously donated to the ASU Foundation with their sponsorship to allow a “free for faculty” model.

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit is produced by Questex.

Learn more about REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit here. View the complete speaker line up here. To register to attend the Summit, click here or stay connected on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts
Kate Spellman
Chief Marketing Officer
Questex
kspellman@questex.com
212 895 8488

Carrie Peterson
Sr. Manager, Media Relations | ASU EdPlus
Arizona State University
CarriePeterson@asu.edu
480 884 1541

Introduces Fierce AI Week to Examine the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Drive Business, Customer and Process Value

NEW YORK, July 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As companies transform digitally and infrastructure becomes more agile, the prospect of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) has never been more promising. Questex today announces it has entered the AI marketplace, which is expected to reach $390.9 billion by 2025 (Grand View Research, Inc.). 

Fierce AI will follow the established and successful Fierce content model and the first initiative will be a week-long virtual event focused exclusively on the application of AI to drive business, customer and process value for emerging and large enterprises. The event will offer a discuss, debate and define format of keynote presentations, vertical industry sessions and an AI Pitch Tank where start-up companies pitch new ideas, followed by a Fierce AI content site, newsletter and live events over time.

Scheduled to take place August 10-12, Fierce AI Week will deliver three days of presentations as well as tracks focused on electronics/manufacturing, healthcare, telecom/technology and biotech/pharma. Fierce AI Week will host dozens of speakers including thought leaders from a myriad of industries that will share real-world approaches to applying AI including machine learning, drug discovery and medical research. Fierce AI Week will gather C-level, technology, automation, marketing and AI specific professionals as well as investors and channel partners.

Fierce AI is the first new market to launch through the new Fierce model.

“We decided to enter this vertical due to market demand. Not only do we have a robust audience database in this area but we also have deep expertise in this topic through our other Fierce market brands,” said Paul Miller, CEO, Questex. “Our proprietary framework of delivering world-class content, strong audience interaction and identifying and launching events allows us to replicate and scale quickly into new verticals organically.”

To register for Fierce AI Week, click here. For sponsorship and speaking opportunities, contact Rhiannon James at rjames@questex.com.

About Questex
Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.             

Media Contact
Kate Spellman
Chief Marketing Officer
Questex
kspellman@questex.com
212 895 8488