The Largest Gathering of Faculty in the World Focused on Blended Learning, Builds Better Higher Education on the Foundation of Great Teaching

TEMPE, Ariz., May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the future of education evolves to support a world of hybrid teaching models, re-evaluating synchronous and asynchronous learning modes, creating innovative ways to engage students, addressing challenges around inequalities, building new policies and more, Arizona State University (ASU) will present REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit, a free two-day virtual event to build better higher education on the foundation of great teaching June 9-10.

The virtual event will cover:

How to optimize online learning: leading with student success, access to learning via online courses, programs to retain and support studentsEquality first approaches: student engagement, all access and OER, racial justice, innovation in digital learning, inclusive teaching, gateway coursesDeveloping and supporting robust systems: adopting new technologies, leveraging digital tools, online and hybrid course design, async and synchronous learning modelsAdapting to policies that address faculty and student facing challenges: safety measures, risk assessments, communications, mental health, administrative/staff considerations, etc.Lessons from COVID: taking cues from institutions and faculty that have taken action with effectiveness, sharing what’s worked, examples and strategiesEconomic impact: reduced enrollments, reductions in staff, students and families struggling with reduced incomes, job losses, sizable gaps by race, class an institution typeHow to partner with technology companies to drive innovation and learning outcomesTechniques and strategies to support this year’s new-arrival college students through student-centric strategies, responding to student needs, fostering relationships and laying a strong foundation for the future.

Hundreds of downloadable free curated resources are accessible to attendees. In addition, attendees can earn a Professional Development Credential from ASU by attending six sessions.

The Summit offers 84 sessions across nine tracks:

Ask the Experts – ELEConnecting with StudentsEquity FirstHybrid Course DesignLeadershipLeading Student SuccessLesson from COVIDLeveraging Digital ToolsOnline Course Design

Leadership sessions will feature industry trailblazers:

Arizona State University – President Michael M. CrowGeorgetown University – President John J. DeGioiaGeorgetown University – Research Director, Anthony Carnevale Georgia State – Exec. Director, National Institute for Success, Timothy RenickMetropolitan Community College – Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty Middlebury College – Provost, Susan BaldridgeOhio State University – President Kristina Johnson Southern New Hampshire University – President Paul LeBlancSt. Augustine’s University (HCBU – NC) – President, Dr. Christine McPhail UMBC – President, Dr. Freeman A. HrabowskiUT Arlington – Immediate Past President, Vistasp Karbhari

The virtual event will offer Spanish translation and closed caption to make the event more accessible to all attendees. All chats throughout the event will be translated for any users who select Spanish for their language in their profile including sessions, networking lounges and virtual booths.

Register to attend here.

About Arizona State University
Arizona State University (ASU) has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit is produced by Questex.

Media Contacts
Chris Fiscus
Assistant Vice President
Arizona State University
602-541-6254
christopher.fiscus@asu.edu

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

Approach Focuses on the Transformation of Live Events and Entertainment in conjunction with Digital Experiences, Builds Out Year-Round Engagement

NEW YORK, May 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex, a leading information services company, today announces the relaunch and expansion of XLIVE, a brand at the nexus of the event experience. From B2B events to fan engagement, XLIVE will provide event planners, technology vendors, agencies and venues with the news, insight and analysis they need to successfully navigate events in the post pandemic era.

XLIVE will provide year-round engagement via newsletters, website, events and virtual solutions. Its new content hub, XLIVE Global (xliveglobal.com) will cover two areas of the live experience: XLIVE B2B Experience for corporate/event planners, venues, and facilities; and XLIVE Fan Experience for event management, production professionals, producers, marketing agencies and more.

Paul Miller, CEO, Questex said, “As we return to in-person gatherings this is the perfect time to rethink how professionals can deliver better experiences. The burgeoning virtual events market is attracting huge investment and is here to stay. New technology driven innovation has catapulted virtual concerts and conferences, gamification, AR/VR experiences and hybrid options. So, what is the future of event experiences? How will technology influence the future experiences? And how can industry professionals best navigate the shifting landscape? We aim to answer these questions with the new XLIVE.”

Questex brands live in the experience economy, bringing people together in the markets that help them live better and live longer and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences in fast-growing markets. XLIVE, and brands such as LDI, connect to the live audience experience and build on Questex’s audiences and platforms in Hotel, Travel and Technology as well as the recent acquisition of the Digital Signage Expo assets.

The XLIVE portfolio will follow the established and successful Fierce content and event model. This proprietary framework allows Questex to replicate and scale quickly into existing and new verticals. Questex has a robust audience database in the event experience market as well as deep expertise in its other markets.

Victoria Copans is joining Questex to lead the XLIVE content coverage of the transformation of the events industry. Copans will work closely with the Questex content teams for Live Design, Meeting Spotlight and others Questex markets covering live event experiences. Copans has been involved in the events industry for a number of years, including hands-on experience working at an event agency and as the lead contributor for EventMB’s technology beat.

In addition to Questex content contributors, XLIVE will be drawing from the expertise of industry leading voices such as Danica Tormohlen who will be spearheading a video interview series discussing the transformation of the event industry.

XLIVE will continue to be held in-person in conjunction with the Live Design International (LDI) Conference and Tradeshow, with an exhibit floor from November 19-21, 2021 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, XLIVE will have a presence at the Fierce Pharma Meeting Professionals Summit, November 3-4 at Harrah’s Atlantic City in New Jersey.

XLIVE will also be organizing several virtual events, including the XLIVE Pro Summit in August for the B2B experience market and the XLIVE Corporate Events Summit in October.

Registration will open for XLIVE in-person and virtual events this summer. Visit the XLIVE website for all-new content at xliveglobal.com. To sign up for the XLIVE B2B Experience and XLIVE Fan Experience newsletters, click here.

For XLIVE sponsorship opportunities, contact Kevin Gray at kgray@questex.com.

Stay connected to XLIVE on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

About Questex
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, May 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex, a leading information services company, is getting back to business by helping the markets it serves get back to connecting. Questex brought meeting and incentive travel buyers with global suppliers together at the Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (GMITE) May 10-13, 2021 and the club and fitness industry together at SIBEC North America May 17-19. Both events were held at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Every industry we serve has been impacted by the pandemic in some way. The Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Telecommunications and Education markets quickly pivoted to solve new problems, while the Hospitality, Bar + Restaurant and Beauty industries searched for new ways to sustain their businesses. Over the past year, we invested in our data capabilities and innovated to develop digital solutions to keep our communities connected,” said Paul Miller, CEO, Questex.

Miller added, “Now that it’s safe to reconvene, our events play a vital role in helping the communities we serve bring buyers and sellers together to make connections and drive revenue growth. Through the Questex “Be Safe” commitment, our team worked diligently with our partners to ensure that event attendees were able to interact safely again.”

GMITE has become a ‘must attend’ event for hotels and destinations serving the industry and the meeting and inventive buyers who source them. GMITE united 65 fully hosted, high-volume North American incentive buyers and meeting planners who have a combined purchasing power of $1.5 billion together with 64 global suppliers for two and a half days of exclusive networking opportunities and pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings in private, luxury suites. The one-to-one meetings included a few international suppliers who were not able to travel due to restrictions, but who were able to take advantage of the meetings virtually through the Questex hybrid platform.

Many of the buyers and suppliers commented on how pleased they were to be issuing and receiving RFPs and enquiries for programs in 2022 and beyond and to feel the pulse of the meeting and incentive industry coming back to life. “Attending GMITE 2021 was an excellent example of bringing in-person meetings back for our industry,” said Callie Medina, Director, Corporate Events, BMC Software. “This is my first GMITE event and the goals that I had coming here were met 100%. Not only have I found new venues and suppliers, but I think I have also found friends for life.”

COVID’s impact on fitness, sports and health has forced the industry to come up with new ways to maintain or generate revenue streams, update outdated systems and facilities and adjust to new rigorous health and safety regulations. Taking place this week, SIBEC North America brings together top club and fitness operators and owners with suppliers for networking and private one-on-one meetings.

“I want to thank Rob Shannon for having us here at SIBEC and breaking out of the COVID mold and finally getting back to business, finally seeing our friends again, and finally re-engaging with life. This has been the best event I can think of in the last 20 years. Thank you for having the courage and for getting us out here,” said Hillis Lake, New Business Development, Eleiko.

Last month, Questex Asia hosted the 6th CMO Innovation Forum Hong Kong 2021, which brought together over 125 of the region’s top marketing leaders and business decision makers. The event was sponsored by Getty Images and Sitecore and content was be delivered by high-level marketing executives from HK Tramways, CLP, Sun Life, Rosewood Hotel Group, Pearson Education, Tripadvisor, McDonald’s Hong Kong and Mattel Asia Pacific. 

Questex will host the following events in June:

Spatec Spring: June 6-8 in Miami, FLCFO Innovation Summit: June 14-15 in AsiaStreamTV Executive Meetup: June 14-16 in Denver, COInternational Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC): June 20-21, Las Vegas, NVInternational Beauty Show: June 20-21, Las Vegas, NVHotec Design and Operations: June 27-30 in Aventura, FLNightclub & Bar Show: June 28-30 in NY, NY

Following federal and local guidelines, Questex has crafted unique protocols for each event experience, which includes event specific health and safety initiatives, response teams identified for every event and on-site health and safety guidelines.

Learn more about Questex at questex.com. Stay connected to Questex on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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 

Event to Gather Leaders from the Tea Community and Delve into the Many Ways Businesses Can Benefit from Tea

NEW YORK, May 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex’s World Tea Conference + Expo, the leading specialty tea event, will take place June 28-30, 2021 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The live and in-person program will feature more than 40 educational sessions and 40 speakers, welcoming attendees from the global tea industry and key vertical market segments. Registration and details are available at WorldTeaExpo.com (early-bird registration is open through June 14, 2021).

Tim McLucas, Vice President, Bar & Restaurant, Questex, said, “The World Tea Conference + Expo focuses on business-building strategies, new ways to increase sales and reach vertical markets, what’s next in tea, and the latest tea-related products and services. We’re excited to welcome everyone back to Las Vegas this year, and we look forward to engaging the specialty tea community in person, as we explore growing the industry together.”

Some of the leading organizations participating in the event include: Sri Lanka Tea Board, Finlays, Starbucks, Harney & Sons Fine Teas, Zojirushi America Corporation, Langkloof Honeybush, Firsd Tea, Asheville Tea Company, Admari, The Tea Smith, Nepal Tea, Wild Orchard Green Tea, Just Add Honey Tea Company, Urban Teahouse, Sips By, AlaEat, Almendra Americas LLC, Coreshtech Co., FORLIFE, Fuji Merchandise Corporation, Gourmet Kitchenworks (Bredemeijer USA), Haitea, NASA Corporation and Steeped Games, among many others.

Educational Highlights
For the conference program, World Tea Conference + Expo will feature six educational tracks, including: Culinary & Hospitality, Innovation & Technology, Issues & Trends, Marketing, Operations/Personnel and Product Knowledge. Highlights of topics include:

“Specialty Tea’s Growing Popularity” by Sara Delaney, Founder and CEO, 3 Mountains / Sarilla Sparkling and Tima Tea
“Sustainable vs. Certified: Understanding Sustainable Tea Sourcing & Trends” by Art Lopez, Marketing Director, Tea, Finlays
“Better Iced Tea: A Deep Dive” by Chris Macnitt, Tea Development Lead, Starbucks
“The Specialty Tea World in a Hospitality Universe” and “Cocktail Culture Evolved: Tea Behind the Bar” both presented by Adrienne Etkin, Co-Founder, Admari
“Farm to Teacup,” by Jessie Dean, Founder and CEO, Asheville Tea Company
“The Kombucha Tea Revolution and Its Future” by Joshua James Weigel, Co-Founder and CEO, Living Tea Brewing Co.
“The Bubble Tea, Milk Tea and Latte Revolution” by Debbie Christiansen, Co-Owner, Cafe Barnabus
“What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Beverage Industry” by James Tonkin, President and Founder, Healthy Brand Builders
‘Workshop: Mixology 101” by Jeni Dodd, Owner, Jeni Dodd Tea
“Workshop: Expand Your Tea Consumption One Bite at a Time” by Lisa McDonald, Owner, TeaHaus
“That Personal Touch: Hosting Guided Tea Tastings” by Rebecca Grzeskowiak, Wholesale Liaison, The Tea Smith“From Tea Gardens to Grocery Stores – Bringing Specialty Teas to Retail Row” by Janis Grover, President, Grover Global Food
“Tea and Tech: Is Technology the Answer for Transparency?” by Nishchal Banskota, Founder, Nepal Tea
“5 Critical Secrets to Cultivating a Successful Teahouse” by Kristy Jennings, Proprietor, Urban Teahouse
“The Secret Every Tea Seller Needs to Know to Sell to Millennials” by Staci Brinkman, Founder, Sips By

Co-Location & Additional Highlights
World Tea Conference + Expo will be co-located with Nightclub & Bar Show, North America’s premier conference and expo for the bar and restaurant industry, and all World Tea attendees will receive access to the co-located Nightclub & Bar Show. The strategic co-location – which makes this the largest gathering of the beverage industry – will create exciting new opportunities to connect buyers and sellers of tea and tea related products with the bar and restaurant industry.

Additional event highlights include: a Tea Bar, tea-infused culinary demonstrations to showcase the versatility of tea, Skill Building Sessions, and an evening reception and networking opportunities.

World Tea Conference + Expo will attract leading tea companies and professionals from around the globe, in addition to: tearooms and coffeehouses, grocery chains and mass merchants, private label brands, gourmet retailers, convenience stores, distributors, online businesses, restaurants and chefs, foodservice companies, hotels, spas, and manufacturers and beverage developers, among others interested in building their business through tea.

For members of the tea community unable to travel to Las Vegas, Questex will offer a World Tea Conference + Expo hybrid option to provide access to live education, on-site product activations, expo floor features including the brand new Tea Bar and Food & Beverage Innovation Center.

Safety Protocols
The health and safety of exhibitors, sponsors and attendees is Questex’s top priority. Following federal and local guidelines, Questex has crafted unique protocols for each event experience, which includes event specific health and safety initiatives, response team identified for every event and on-site health and safety guidelines. For more details on the on the company’s health and safety protocols, please visit https://questex.com/event-safety/.

Registration and Details
Registration for World Tea Conference + Expo, along with the conference agenda, is now available at WorldTeaExpo.com. Stay connected with World Tea Conference + Expo on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

For World Tea Conference + Expo sponsorship opportunities, contact Jamie Schroeder (U.S. and Canadian Companies) at jschroeder@questex.com or Veronica Gonnello (International Companies) at vgonnello@questex.com.

For Nightclub & Bar Show sponsorship opportunities, contact Jamie Schroeder (Companies G, H, J-S, U, W-Z) at jschroeder@questex.com, Veronica Gonnello (Companies A-F,I,T,V) at vgonnello@questex.com; or Fadi Alsayegh (Foodservice Companies) at falsayegh@questex.com.

About World Tea Conference + Expo
World Tea Conference + Expo is North America’s cannot miss gathering of the specialty tea industry and is focused 100% on specialty teas and related products. Blending fresh ideas, the latest trends and new distribution channels with focused buying, selling, networking and education, World Tea Conference + Expo is your chance to capitalize on this growing category to the fullest. As the hub of the North American specialty tea market, World Tea Conference + Expo serves the $8 billion US tea industry, expected to grow an additional $11 billion.  

About Nightclub & Bar Show
Nightclub & Bar Show is the go-to resource for the bar and restaurant industry. Mirroring the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the hospitality industry, Nightclub & Bar has been providing the specific tools that bar and restaurant owners, operators and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry. Nightclub & Bar Show is part of the Bar & Restaurant Group, a division of the Questex Hospitality Group which also produces VIBE Conference, Nightclub & Bar Awards, and daily content on BarandRestaurant.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:

Aaron Kiel
ak PR Group
919-325-3358 – Office
310-699-4805 – Cell
akiel@akprgroup.com

Sensors Converge Rescheduled for September 21-23, 2021 in San Jose, California

NEW YORK, May 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex today announces the Fierce Technology Group 2021 Advisory Board, a group of distinguished thought leaders in the sensors and electronics industry who are collaborating to shape and guide Sensors Converge, virtual events and the Fierce Electronics communities.

“We are fortunate to collaborate with a talented group of advisors to guide the foundation of both our events and content. We are deeply committed to delivering an event that meets the needs of the sensors and electronics community and the Board’s deep knowledge and expertise plays an important role,” said Charlene Soucy, Senior Director, Sensors and Electronics at Questex.

The 2021 Sensors Converge Advisory Board:

Jennifer Zhao, ams AGZachary Whitman-Allen, Amazon Lab126Jake Galbreath, Arable Labs, Inc.Catherine Liao, BlumioMeeta Roy, Bose CorporationCameron Chell, DraganflyPeter Torelli, EEMBCMelanie Daniels, Intel CorporationChris Svec, iRobotJack Gold, J. Gold Associates, LLCAndy Goldenson, GoogleRaj Bridgelall, North Dakota State UniversityRob Oshana, NXP SemiconductorsBrian Zahnstecher, PowerRoxKapil Kamra, QualcommRoger Grace, Roger Grace AssociatesKenneth L. Graham, Rolls RoyceJohannes Winkelmann, SensirionMary Ann Maher, softMEMSAnthony DePaolantonio, TeslaMike Anderson, The Aerospace CorporationPhil Cheetham, United States Olympic CommitteeChris Jensen, VelentiumWalt Maclay, Voler SystemsNeomar Giacomini, Whirlpool CorporationWill Tu, Xilinx

Sensors Converge is the only in-person event covering the biggest design engineering trends. The event has recently been rescheduled and will now take place September 21-23, 2021 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. Click here to register.

From sensors and chips to the cloud, Sensors Converge covers the technologies and applications driving innovation today. Event highlights include: immersive education through a dynamic educational experience comprised of technical sessions and tutorials conducted by subject matter experts and speakers with practical experience; live training workshops with deep dives into specific technologies presented by speakers and trainers with technical expertise; interactive tech zones & demos on the expo floor; a theater of touchless technology; an Expo Hall with over 200 suppliers showcasing hundreds of the latest sensor technologies; and in-person networking.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with other industry leaders in creating a strong foundation for the Fierce Technology Group events and content,” said Johannes Winkelmann, Head of Global Developer Ecosystem at Sensirion. “We at Sensirion are excited to showcase our newest and most innovative technologies and applications at Sensors Converge in September and welcome the addition of the virtual Sensors Innovation Week, which is an important step on the journey towards uniting the sensors and electronics community globally.”

“I am so pleased to have been asked to participate on the Fierce Technology Group Advisory Board and support the strategic planning of 2021 events and content,” said Neomar Giacomini, EES Components Leader, Whirlpool Corporation. “Sensors Converge is where I come to meet engineers and learn about the latest technology applications. I’m excited to have the opportunity to immerse myself in the Sensors Converge learning experience and hear from real engineers sharing real stories and also have the opportunity to explore the exhibit hall and see hundreds of the latest sensor technologies in action.”

Sensors Converge offers two registration options. The All-Access Pass provides access to the entire event and the Expo Hall Pass offers access to the Expo Hall only. Early bird rates end July 30. For more information, visit: https://www.sensorsexpo.com/register.

For exhibit or sponsorship opportunities, click here.

To apply for press registration, click here.

Stay connected with Sensors Converge on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

About Sensors Converge
For 36 years, Sensors Expo & Conference has brought together the design engineering community to network, share ideas, and define the future roadmap for the sensors industry. In 2021, we’re excited to curate a live, in-person experience called Sensors Converge, where the industry can come together, safely, to collaborate and conduct business. Sensors Converge is part of the Fierce Technology Group, a division of Questex, which also produces the Best of Sensors Awards, Fierce Sensors, and daily content and newsletters on Fierce Electronics at www.fierceelectronics.com.

About Questex
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
Ashley Secondini
Senior Marketing Manager
T: 617 219 8358 
E: asecondini@questex.com

Quarterly “MICE Meeting Planner Sentiment Survey” Now Open for Submissions

NEW YORK, May 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex is getting back to business and is successfully bringing buyers and sellers together in-person. The company’s 15th annual Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (GMITE), which connects the largest selection of meeting and incentive buyers with global suppliers, took place at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, May 10-13, 2021.

In adherence to Questex’s comprehensive “Be Safe” commitment, GMITE brought together 65 fully hosted, high-volume North American incentive buyers and meeting planners who have a combined purchasing power of $1.5 billion together with 64 global suppliers for two and a half days of exclusive networking opportunities and pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings in private, luxury suites. The one-to-one meetings included a few international suppliers who were not able to travel due to restrictions, but who were able to take advantage of the meetings virtually through the Questex hybrid platform.

Last month, Questex Asia hosted the 6th CMO Innovation Forum Hong Kong 2021, which brought together over 125 of the region’s top marketing leaders and business decision makers. In addition, Questex’s SIBEC North America takes place May 17-19 in Phoenix, Arizona bringing the club and fitness industry together.

“It was a tremendous feeling to witness over 100 buyers and sellers convene with excitement and enthusiasm. The Questex team was delighted to be back to organizing live events and the feedback was extremely positive all around,” Paul Miller, CEO of Questex said.

The event’s program kicked off with a welcome address from Miller, followed by a state of the industry presentation by Matt Turner, Editor, of Questex Luxury Travel Advisor, Travel Agent Central and Meeting Spotlight, who shared that buyers sourcing meetings and incentives see the USA, Mexico and The Caribbean as areas showing the most growth in the next 12 months.

Michael Dominguez, President & CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, expanded on the trends presented by Turner in a keynote presentation addressing how we can understand behavioral changes for the meeting and incentive industry using “affective forecasting.” The interactive session set the stage for a realistic yet positive future for the MICE industry. 

Many of the buyers and suppliers commented on how pleased they were to be issuing and receiving RFPs and enquiries for programs in 2022 and beyond and to feel the pulse of the meeting and incentive industry coming back to life. “Attending GMITE 2021 was an excellent example of bringing in-person meetings back for our industry,” said Callie Medina, Director, Corporate Events, BMC Software. “This is my first GMITE event and the goals that I had coming here were met 100%. Not only have I found new venues and suppliers, but I think I have also found friends for life.”

Tracking and predicting buyer sentiment has always been at the forefront of the GMITE ethos. In a year where the industry is being closely monitored, the Questex Travel & Hospitality Group has launched a quarterly “MICE Meeting Planner Sentiment Survey” which is now open for submission. Here is the link to the survey. The survey will open quarterly, and results will be analyzed and published on www.meetingspotlight.com. It will gather intelligence from North America’s most well-regarded meeting and incentive planners and will paint a picture of where the industry is now and predictions for the future.

For suppliers interested in attending future GMITE events, please complete the inquiry form. For planners sourcing programs and interested in attending future GMITE events, please contact Andrea Hutchinson, Senior Manager, Marketing & Buyer Acquisition at ahutchinson@questex.com.

To learn more about GMITE visit www.gmiteevent.com   
Follow GMITE on Facebook and visit the GMITE LinkedIn page  

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:  
Andrea Hutchinson  
ahutchinson@questex.com  
212-895-8283 

LONDON, May 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hospitality Insights, the industry’s trusted investment and development news platform from Questex, has released the Q1 2021 results of the quarterly Investor Sentiment Assessment in collaboration with ABP Invest. Hospitality Insights provides deal-makers with the latest information on trends and opportunities and is the official news arm of top global hospitality conferences, including; The Annual Hotel Conference, The International Hospitality Investment Forum and The Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum.

The assessment was launched at the start of the pandemic in an effort to monitor buyer and seller sentiment during a time where tracking investors’ appetites became more crucial than ever. The data captures overall proportions of dry powder in hospitality, interest and allocation in various investment segments, regions, and asset classes, yield expectations, potential threats, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.

“The sharp improvement in Investor sentiment for Hospitality is best depicted by the difference between those who expected an improvement versus those who expected a deterioration. During the inaugural Quarterly assessment amidst the Covid crisis in March 2020 that difference was 14%; this increased to 30% in Q3’20, 40% in Q3’20 and to 69% in Q1’21.   Furthermore, in our latest Assessment, 75% of investors have a Positive sentiment on Hospitality for the ensuing 12 months compared to 18% Neutral and 6% Negative,” said Thanos Papasavvas, CFA, Founder & CIO, ABP Invest.

This quarter’s findings provide a bit of relief as we head further into 2021. Investors are expecting a ‘significant improvement’ in economic conditions over the next 12 months doubled from 21% at the end of last year to 40% in Q1 2021. In addition, 75% of all investors now have a ‘positive’ or ‘strongly positive’ investment sentiment for the hospitality industry.

“We are delighted with this fifth quarterly assessment, providing a unique insight within the hospitality industry, capturing investor sentiment and thought. The shifting trends of investment opportunities, the yield expectations across investment types and the latest concerns on the industry (beyond economic uncertainty) are all valuable insights. Furthermore, a new question capturing a snapshot on ESG – who’s actually taking it seriously and who is paying lip service?” says Papasavvas.

Over the course of the past 14 months, the assessment was only open to a select group of investors that actively attend the Questex portfolio of hospitality events and provide a healthy representation of the entire hospitality investment ecosystem; including institutional investors, private property owners, family offices, private equity and high net worth individuals. As the investor pool grows, Questex will be opening up submissions to vetted investors who wish to participate and in turn, have the opportunity to debrief with fellow contributors on the findings. Those interested can complete this brief form.

The Q2 assessment will open in just a few weeks. Sign up for Hospitality Insights’ newsletters here to stay up to date and follow the company page on LinkedIn here.

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, Hospitality & Travel 
aaldridge@questex.com  
212-895-8284