Hospitality, Hotel, Restaurant, Bar and Associated Businesses Such as Travel, Gyms, Salons and Spas are Interconnected Markets Fueling $6.8 Trillion in Consumer Market Spend by 2030
NEW YORK, May 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questex lives in the experience economy bringing people together in the markets that help communities live better and live longer and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences in fast growing markets. Questex today announces it is combining its hospitality, hotel real estate investment and related businesses in the wellness and travel markets into one portfolio consisting of four sub-markets deeply integrated within Hotel Investments, Hotel Operations, Food & Beverage and Travel & Wellness. This will give Questex and its customers the ability to tap into adjacent verticals as these markets continue to intersect.
Questex is focused on extending a leadership position in each of its core sectors. The hospitality, hotel, restaurant, bar and related businesses such as travel, gyms, salons and spas are all interconnected and Questex’s new Hospitality portfolio connects owners, investors and operators through events and content. The global hospitality industry, including wellness, is worth more than $6.8 trillion and is growing at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 15%. Operators across these businesses share similar needs around information, products and solutions, which offers Questex an opportunity to scale for growth while serving each of the sub-markets with sector specific research, insights and connections to drive its businesses forward.
Despite a challenging two years for the hospitality and travel sectors, Questex’s portfolio of 2022 media and events are pacing 70% higher in revenue than 2021 and only 10% down on 2019 revenue levels which itself was a record high for the Hospitality, Travel & Wellness Group before the pandemic began in 2020.
Capital investment into the experience economy via the underlying real estate and operating platforms is increasing as consumers spend more of their income on experiences. Questex’s prominence within the hospitality real estate investment sector led by its International Hospitality Investment Forum event is a platform for further growth, connecting capital with the real estate and operators in the growing sector.
“Questex is focused on fast-growth sectors to drive its growth,” said Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Questex, who will manage this new group. “Our new portfolio ties to our mission of serving the communities that help people live better and live longer by bringing them together though business experiences and solidifies our strategy of connecting buyers and sellers building for the future. With a deep understanding of each of the industries we serve and the professionals working within the experience economy, our events and content helps our audiences find the information they need to help them make smart decisions and grow their businesses.”
Questex’s Q Activate technology framework will help the new hospitality portfolio deliver deep insights into the verticals. With a focus on audience engagement, Questex’s forward-thinking approach combines event and content intelligence with trends and demographics to deliver insight into audience interests.
The new Questex Hospitality portfolio leadership team:
Jill Birkett, Vice President/Market Leader, will lead Travel & Wellness Operations and industry veteran, Ruthanne Terrero will expand her responsibility and will serve as Head of Content for the Travel & Wellness group properties. The Travel & Wellness Operations portfolio includes: Luxury Travel Advisor, Luxury Travel Advisor’s ULTRA Summit, Travel Agent University, Meeting Spotlight, Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange, Caribbean & Mexico Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange, Travel Agent, American Salon, International Beauty Show, American Spa, International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference, Spa Industry Association, Spatec, Sibec and Club Industry.
Amy Vaxman will expand her responsibility and will serve as Vice President/Market Leader for the Hotel Operations market. This portfolio includes: Hotel Management, Hotel ROI and the Hotec portfolio of hosted buyer meetings.
Tim McLucas will head the Food & Beverage market as Vice President/Market Leader. This portfolio includes: Bar & Restaurant, Bar & Restaurant Expo, World Tea News, World Tea Conference & Expo, World Tea Academy and Vibe Conference.
Joe Stather, Vice President/Market Leader, has joined Questex from CBRE to lead the Operational Real Estate Investment portfolio. In this newly created position, Stather will be responsible for leading Questex’s industry leading hospitality real estate investment events and media. The Operational Real Estate Investment portfolio includes: International Hospitality Investment Forum, Resort & Residential Investment Forum, The Annual Hotel Conference, Israel Hotel Investment Summit and Hospitality Insights.
Khajavi added, “We are in a very strong position with the right people, the right products and the right processes. Jill, Ruthanne, Amy and Tim are all terrific leaders that deeply know their markets and we’re pleased to grow their careers and elevate them from within. Additionally, Joe is a well-known advisor in the real estate investment industry and will be a tremendous asset to lead our real estate investment portfolio.”
These changes clearly benefit the communities Questex serves by combining insights across the entire Hospitality, Wellness, Travel and Fitness spectrum, connecting buyers and sellers to help grow their businesses.
To learn more about Questex, visit 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