Wide-Ranging Sessions Will Bring Hotel Leaders Together to Tackle Guest Loyalty, Profitability, AI and Other Operational Challenges

MIAMI, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hospitality Show, an annual gathering of hotel owners, operators, brands and suppliers, has completed its 2026 Center Stage lineup. Eight Center Stage sessions are scheduled for November 3–4 in the Expo Hall at the Miami Beach Convention Center, covering decisions hotel teams face every day, from keeping guests loyal and managing costs to using AI and finding new talent.

Center Stage speakers include Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Jason Reader, Chief Operating Officer of Davidson Hospitality Group; Keryn McNamara, Chief Information Officer of Aimbridge Hospitality; Gustaaf Schrils, Chief Information Officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts; Warren Fields, Chief Executive Officer of Pyramid Global Hospitality; and Jeremy Tobin, Senior Vice President of Starwood Capital Group.

The Center Stage program includes:

• “What Hotel Guests Actually Value: New Consumer Insights” — Strickland, Reader and Fabien Gnemmi, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, will discuss consumer research on what brings guests back and what leads them to spend more.
• “From Amenity to P&L Driver: Repositioning Hotel F&B for Profitability” — Jill Ziemba of Atrium Hospitality, Richard Garcia of Crescent Hotels & Resorts and Mark Weiss of Loews Hotels & Co will examine how food and beverage contributes to hotel profitability.
• “Real-World Use Cases for Implementing AI in Hotel Operations” — McNamara and Schrils will join Dan Fernandez of Concord Hospitality and Jacqueline DeChamps of Towne to discuss how they’re using AI in revenue, labor, guest service and back-of-house operations.
• “Are We Worth the Cost?” — Fields, Tobin, Lily Hu of Crescent Hotels and Kirk Pederson of PM Hotel Group will tackle a question hotel owners are increasingly asking: What are they getting for their management fees?

Additional Center Stage programming includes “PIPs Under Pressure,” “How Smarter Energy Use Drives Hotel Profitability” and a discussion on building hospitality’s future workforce, along with the 2026 HTNG/AHLA TechOvation Award semifinals.

Elsewhere on the program, Peter Chambers, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Montage International, and Priya Chandnani, Executive Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Sage Hospitality Group, will discuss how AI is changing the way travelers find and book hotels. Sarah Phelps, Vice President of Games Hospitality for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, will speak about sports and entertainment that drive demand. Miami chef and World Central Kitchen board member Karla Hoyos will share what she has learned about building teams by working with local immigrant communities to provide opportunities for immigrant women, as well as maintaining quality at scale.

“Hotels are navigating rising costs, staffing challenges, rapid technology advancement, and ever-changing guest demand,” said Brandy Rand, Vice President of Hospitality at Forge (formerly Questex), which produces The Hospitality Show with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). “At The Hospitality Show, they can meet and talk with people who are facing the same decisions and hear what’s actually working at other hotels.”

The broader program also features previously announced speakers Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton; Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International; and Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at The Walt Disney Company.

For the full agenda and registration, visit thehospitalityshow.com.

Media Contacts:
Sarah Belizaire (646) 552-1118 sarah.bb@bbcomms.global	Greg Cohen (917) 714-8237 greg.cohen@bbcomms.global

About The Hospitality Show
The Hospitality Show is an event for the entire hospitality ecosystem with one goal: operating hotels more efficiently. Produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Forge (formerly Questex), the event brings together top industry leaders, senior executives of hotel brands, owners, operators, management companies, procurement specialists, and their teams. The Hospitality Show 2026 takes place November 2-4, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, FL.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets. For more information, visit forgelive.com.

About AHLA
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at ahla.com.

Live Design International Wins Slam Dunk Award: Best New Idea and StreamTV Show Wins Best Attendee Acquisition Model

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — B2B events and media company Forge announces today that Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by NKBA and produced by Forge, has been named Greatest Trade Show of 2025 at Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Grand Awards. North America’s largest trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath design, KBIS combined record scale with thought-leadership programming and new ways to reach the industry, including its first Podcast Studio and Ambassador Program.

KBIS highlights include:

• Scale with momentum: Attendance grew 28% since 2019. KBIS drew over 650 exhibitors across 500,000 net square feet, anchoring Design & Construction Week (DCW), which brought together 120,000+ professionals from 165 countries.
• Reach that outlives the event: The first-year Podcast Studio posted a 10% engagement rate, the highest of any program in the 2025 show cycle. The new Ambassador Program extended reach to more than 600,000 across platforms.
• Thought leadership at the core: NEXTStage featured 70 speakers across 18 sessions and drew 220+ speaker submissions, more than double the prior cycle. Every LUXURY Lounge session was standing-room only.
• Media impact: The show generated more than 1.8 billion media impressions. The redesigned Best of KBIS Awards alone produced 100+ media placements.
• A qualified, loyal audience: 71% of attendees hold verified purchasing authority, 87% were satisfied with their experience and 84% of exhibitors said they were likely to return.

Live Design International (LDI) the premier event for live entertainment technology and design professionals, won the Slam Dunk Award: Best New Idea of 2025. LDI won for transforming education into live entertainment through the Inaugural VJ Challenge.

StreamTV Show, the streaming industry’s fastest-growing event, won in the Best Attendee Acquisition Model category. StreamTV Show won for its reinvention of event marketing through persona-driven audience acquisition.

“We’re honored that the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show has been recognized with the Greatest Trade Show Award,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Forge. “KBIS is owned by NKBA, and we’re proud to be their strategic partner and the producer of this prestigious event. We are equally proud that Live Design International received the Slam Dunk Award: Best New Idea award and StreamTV Show won the Best Attendee Acquisition Model award.”

Miller added, “This recognition reflects the incredible work of our teams who continually challenge themselves to create experiences that go beyond traditional events. By bringing people together in meaningful ways, fostering connections and building communities that extend well beyond the show floor, they’ve helped set a new standard for what our industry can achieve. I’m grateful for their creativity, passion and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers.”

Pizza Expo Columbus and ClimaTech were finalists in the awards program.

Additionally, Linette Dao, Senior Marketing Director, Industrial Group and Alexandra Lombardo, Events Operations Manager, Event Performance Group were honored as 2026 TSE Women to Watch.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contact
Kate Spellman
Chief Commercial Officer
Forge
kate.spellman@forgelive.com

PepsiCo to Present Opening-Night Celebration Alongside American Express, Hyatt and Other Sponsors

MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hospitality Show, an annual gathering of hotel owners, operators, brands and suppliers, returns to Miami Beach November 2–4, 2026. The show will kick off with “Miami Nights,” a spectacular opening-night party celebrating the food, music, energy and culture of one of the world’s greatest hospitality destinations.

“Miami Nights” will be held Monday, November 2, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. in the Grand Foyer of the Miami Beach Convention Center. The party will feature Miami-inspired food and drinks, music from an internationally acclaimed DJ, salsa dancing and experiences reflecting the city’s Cuban and Latin influences.

PepsiCo, the title sponsor, will serve signature cocktails and mocktails at bars throughout the reception. The company will also host a VIP area and specialty food experience.

American Express will have a dedicated lounge within the Miami Nights VIP area, giving guests a quieter place to catch up with colleagues and make new connections.

Hyatt will offer guests a first look at Rita Rosa, a new bar concept planned for the Grand Hyatt Miami. A Miami street food station will give guests an early taste of the new concept.

“We’re going all in for opening night, bringing together the entire hotel industry for our biggest party yet,” said Brandy Rand, Vice President of Hospitality at Forge (formerly Questex), which produces The Hospitality Show with The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). “Thanks to PepsiCo, American Express, Hyatt and our other generous sponsors, expect a full Miami experience – from music, food, cocktails, dancing and a few surprises. It’s going to be a big night.”

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will present a performance by Mr. Pauer, a two-time Latin Grammy-nominated DJ and producer whose music blends Afro House, Latin House, Caribbean rhythms and other sounds from around the world.

Technogym will bring live salsa dancers to the party, while HotelPAC will host a cigar-rolling demonstration reflecting Miami’s Cuban roots. HBO will present an upscale, wizarding-inspired cocktail experience, with the theme carried through the drinks, décor and presentation.

Miami Nights is included with registration for The Hospitality Show. For more information and to register, visit www.thehospitalityshow.com.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

Media Contacts:
Sarah Belizaire	Greg Cohen
(646) 552-1118	(917) 714-8237
sarah.bb@bbcomms.global	greg.cohen@bbcomms.global

About The Hospitality Show
The Hospitality Show is an event for the entire hospitality ecosystem with one goal: operating hotels more efficiently. Produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Forge (formerly Questex), the event brings together top industry leaders, senior executives of hotel brands, owners, operators, management companies, procurement specialists, and their teams. The Hospitality Show 2026 takes place November 2-4, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, FL.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets. For more information, visit forgelive.com.

About AHLA
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at ahla.com.

New Market Structure Brings Greater Focus, Accountability and Scale to Forge’s Go-to-Market Strategy

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forge, the B2B events and media company, formed by the combination of Emerald and Questex, today announces its portfolio leadership team, establishing a market-focused structure designed to accelerate growth, strengthen customer relationships and bring the full scale of Forge to the industries it serves.

The new structure organizes Forge around four market portfolios, each led by an experienced executive with responsibility for market strategy, growth and performance. The leaders will work across Forge’s portfolio of events, media brands, digital products and year-round communities to create greater value for customers and audiences.

The new structure comes as Forge continues to expand its presence in high-value markets. Most recently, Forge announced the acquisition of Becker’s Healthcare from Pamlico Capital, adding 16 annual conferences, more than a dozen digital publications, newsletters, podcasts and executive communities serving hospital, health system and healthcare executives. Becker’s joins Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences, Forge’s existing portfolio serving pharma, biotech and payer audiences, creating a scaled platform spanning the healthcare value chain.

The acquisition reflects the opportunity at the center of Forge’s market strategy: bringing together complementary brands, audiences, content, events and capabilities to create deeper relationships with customers and greater value across entire industries.

The company will organize its business around the following market segments:

• Gannon Brousseau – Group President of Luxury, Design & Hospitality
• Jessica Cole – Group President of Healthcare & Life Sciences  
• Lindsay Hubley – Group President of Lifestyle & Outdoor
• Rhiannon James – Group President of Technology, Media & Advanced Industrials  

Each leader reports directly to Paul Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Forge.

“This is an important step in how we will operate and grow Forge,” said Miller. “We are bringing the company closer to the markets we serve, with leaders who understand the customers, communities and opportunities within them. This structure gives our teams greater focus and accountability while allowing us to leverage the scale, data, technology and capabilities of Forge across every market.”

The market structure is designed to connect Forge’s businesses more closely around the needs of customers and audiences, while creating opportunities to expand relationships across events, content, digital products, data and year-round engagement.

“Forge brings together an extraordinary collection of brands, audiences and capabilities,” noted Miller. “Our opportunity now is to connect those assets in smarter ways — within markets and across markets — and turn our scale into meaningful growth for our customers and our business.”

The leadership team will work closely with Forge’s centralized Centers of Excellence and Event Performance and Corporate leadership, which provide capabilities and expertise across content, experience, brand, digital architecture and other critical functions. Together, the market and functional teams will create a more integrated go-to-market model while maintaining the deep market expertise that has made Forge’s brands successful.

The appointments build on Forge’s strategy to create a more connected, scalable B2B platform, one that can serve customers throughout the year, not only around individual events or media properties.

“Our goal is simple: put the customer at the center, bring more of Forge to every relationship and create more opportunities to move markets,” Miller added.

About Forge

Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contact

Kate Spellman
Chief Commercial Officer
Forge
kate.spellman@forgelive.com

Fierce Pharma Week Comes to Europe with the Inaugural Gathering for Europe’s Life Sciences Leaders in Basel, Switzerland in June 2027

Fierce Pharma Week 2027 Takes Place September 20-23 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fierce Pharma Week, the premier gathering for pharmaceutical industry leaders, produced by Forge’s Fierce Pharma, delivered a powerhouse event bringing over 3,500 executives, innovators and strategic decision-makers to explore the future of pharma. Fierce Pharma Week took place September 14-17 in Philadelphia, PA.

The event offered tailored content tracks and community zones dedicated to the Pharma Marketing, PR & Communications, Commercialization and Medical Affairs communities, enabling attendees to learn, network and engage across disciplines.

The Conference Program tackled the most critical issues in cross-functional communication, go-to-market strategy, commercialization and customer engagement. With more than 200 sessions across 14 content tracks, Fierce Pharma Week featured keynotes, panels, sessions and case studies with thought leaders from across the life sciences ecosystem. This year, three new tracks were introduced to help biopharma leaders tackle the challenges associated with Sales Enablement, Market Access, and Data Analytics and Commercial Intelligence.

With a strong focus on storytelling, Fierce Pharma Week brought together a star-studded lineup of personalities to deliver powerful stories of resilience and healing including:

• Damon Wayans, Emmy-Nominated Writer, Actor, Comedian, Producer, Star of In Living Color, My Wife and Kids and Poppa’s House
• Tamsen Fadal, New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, podcast host of The Tamsen Show and leading women’s health advocate
• Maria Menounos, Emmy Award-winning journalist, television host, NY Times bestselling author, actress and entrepreneur with a diverse career in the entertainment industry

Additionally, more than 475 industry thought leaders from AbbVie, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Avidity Biosciences, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, BMS, CSL Behring, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Merz Therapeutics North America, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Sun Pharma USA, Teva and more presented at the conference.

Highlights of Fierce Pharma Week

• The Fierce Pharma Marketing Awards honored the most compelling, influential and innovative pharma companies and their agencies. The awards program celebrates the innovators and leaders that are making a difference and meeting global health challenges. In conjunction, the 4th Annual CINEHEALTH International Health and Wellness Film and Video Festival took place. View the winners here.
• The Exhibit Hall buzzed with over 125 partners where attendees explored innovative solutions.
• The Spotlight Stage offered deep dives into specific topics, product demonstrations and introductions to new services.
• Attendees participated in over two dozen experiential activations including a Headshot Lounge, a Puppy Park, Aura Readings, a Golf Simulator, an Espresso Bar, a Mocktail Experience and more.

“Uniting industry leaders from marketing, commercialization, medical affairs and communications creates unique opportunities for our attendees and sponsors across different job functions to break down silos and find a unified voice. This has led to 41% growth among our biopharma attendees,” said Jennifer Woods, VP/Market Leader, Fierce Life Sciences/Healthcare Events. “We are really excited to replicate our success at Fierce Pharma Week with an expanded footprint. Our Fierce Pharma Engage event, which takes place on the West Coast in Spring 2027 will for the first time add programming for commercialization, market research and competitive intelligence, in addition to our marketing and medical affairs sessions. Additionally, we recently launched the inaugural Fierce Pharma Week Europe in Basel, Switzerland in June 2027, which will allow Fierce Pharma to extend our live event footprint to our European audience.”

Industry professionals that were not able to attend Fierce Pharma Week in-person, can attend Fierce Pharma Virtual Week and catch up on the highlights from selected sessions, September 29 – October 1, 2026. Click here to register for free.

Upcoming Fierce Pharma Events
Fierce JPM Week 2027: January 12-13 in San Francisco, CA
Fierce Pharma Engage 2027: March 30-April 1 in San Diego, CA
Fierce Pharma Week Europe 2027: June 28-30 in Basel, Switzerland
Fierce Pharma Week 2027: September 20-23 in Philadelphia, PA

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Angelique Alcover at aalcover@questex.com.

Stay connected via LinkedIn.

About Fierce Pharma
Fierce Pharma is the go-to destination for the news and trends shaping the industry. Our focus daily is on news about approved drugs and every aspect of pharma’s operations as well as the people who move pharma forward. Our coverage also feeds longer-form content, podcasts and events. In staying on top of the news, our journalists have developed a loyal audience. Critically, we explain the news—often complicated technology or business maneuvers—and put it in context that brings it home for our readers and listeners in their work lives.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contacts
Meryl Franzman
Fierce Pharma Week
mfranzman@questex.com

Jesse Case
Fierce Pharma Week
jcase@questex.com

Attendance Paces Ahead as New Exhibitors, Broadband Nation Connect, Interactive Working Groups and the Inaugural Data Center Excellence Summit Expand the 2026 Experience

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forge’s Broadband Nation Expo 2026 is building strong momentum ahead of its November 18–20 event in New Orleans, with attendee registration currently pacing ahead of last year and 50 internet service providers (ISPs) already confirmed to attend.

Under the theme “Broadband & Beyond: The Next Era of End-to-End Connectivity,” the 2026 event will bring together service providers, network operators, government leaders, infrastructure investors, technology companies and a growing community of data center and digital infrastructure executives to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the next era of connectivity.

This year’s event is also introducing new ways for the industry to move beyond traditional conference sessions and actively participate in the conversation—from collaborative working groups and new tracks and networking events to curated buyer meetings through Broadband Nation Connect.

“Broadband Nation Expo has always been about bringing the people building and operating networks together, but this year we’re taking that a step further,” said David Drain, Show Director, Broadband Nation Expo. “With 50 ISPs already confirmed and registration pacing ahead, we’re seeing strong demand from the community to connect in person, work through the challenges facing the industry and build the partnerships that will move broadband forward. We’re designing the 2026 event to make those conversations happen.”

Solving the Industry’s Biggest Challenges—Together
New for 2026, Solving the Industry’s Biggest Challenges Working Groups will give attendees the opportunity to move beyond listening and actively participate in small-group conversations around some of broadband’s most pressing issues.

Industry leaders will come together to share experiences, discuss what’s working—and what’s not—and explore potential approaches to challenges impacting operators and communities across the country.

The new formats complement a conference program featuring over 100 speakers and conversations spanning broadband deployment, funding, network economics, fiber and wireless strategy, AI, workforce, investment and the evolving connectivity landscape.

Connecting Buyers and Sellers Through Broadband Nation Connect
Business-building will also take center stage through the return of Broadband Nation Connect, the event’s curated hosted buyer program designed specifically for U.S. internet service providers.

Qualified ISP participants receive a VIP conference pass, up to eight curated one-to-one meetings with technology providers selected around their specific business challenges and growth priorities, and a $750 travel stipend.

The program facilitated more than 200 meetings in 2025, creating new partnerships and business opportunities across the broadband ecosystem.

For sponsors and technology providers, Broadband Nation Connect creates an opportunity to move beyond traditional lead generation and sit down directly with qualified network decision-makers looking for solutions.

New and Returning Companies Join the 2026 Expo Hall
The 2026 Expo Hall will bring together an increasingly diverse mix of established and emerging companies spanning fiber infrastructure, network technology, AI and automation, cybersecurity, network intelligence, engineering, deployment and connectivity.

Returning industry leaders include CommScope, AFL, Calix, Clearfield, CCI Systems, Ribbon Communications, Vecima, Zyxel Communications, Ooma, Praxedo and Network Connex, among others.

They will be joined by a significant group of new participants, including Render Networks, 1Finity, Actifai, F-Secure, Google Fiber, Ookla, Wesco, MaxCell, Avion Networks, BDI Datalynk, ExitLag, FiberOptic.com, Intracom Telecom, SNO Smarter Fiber Networks and Wirewerks.

Broadband Nation Expo is also supported by organizations representing the breadth of the connectivity ecosystem, including NCTA, ACA Connects, Fiber Broadband Association, NATE, SCTE and TIA, alongside industry media including Fierce Network and ISE.

The expanding mix reflects an industry increasingly focused not only on building networks, but on making them smarter, more efficient, secure and ready for the next generation of connectivity demands.

Broadband Meets the Infrastructure Powering AI
For the first time, Broadband Nation Expo will be co-located with the inaugural Data Center Excellence Summit, bringing together two increasingly interconnected infrastructure communities.

As AI drives unprecedented demand for compute, power, fiber and connectivity, the Data Center Excellence Summit will bring data center operators, hyperscalers, cloud providers, infrastructure investors, utilities and technology leaders into the conversation alongside the broadband community.

Speakers from organizations including Google, NTT Global Data Centers, Oracle, Equinix, Crusoe and Johnson Controls are among the industry leaders participating in the expanded 2026 program.

Attendees receive access to both Broadband Nation Expo and Data Center Excellence Summit with one pass, creating more opportunities to explore how broadband, data centers, AI infrastructure and connectivity are converging.

More Ways to Connect in New Orleans
In addition to conference programming and the Expo Hall, Broadband Nation Expo 2026 will offer 20+ hours of networking designed to create meaningful connections throughout the event.

Attendees will also experience the Fierce Network Innovation Awards live at Broadband Nation Expo for the first time, with the Awards Ceremony and Reception taking place November 19 and celebrating the companies and technologies advancing the future of wireless, broadband, cloud and beyond.

From curated one-to-one meetings and interactive working groups to networking receptions, the Expo Hall and the new Data Center Excellence Summit, Broadband Nation Expo 2026 is designed to give attendees more ways to learn, connect, collaborate and do business.

Broadband Nation Expo takes place November 18–20, 2026 at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans. The Data Center Excellence Summit takes place November 18–19. Register for Broadband Nation Expo and Data Center Excellence Summit.

Sponsorship & Exhibit Opportunities
Companies looking to connect with ISPs, network operators, government leaders, infrastructure investors and digital infrastructure decision-makers can explore remaining 2026 sponsorship and exhibit opportunities. Explore sponsorship and exhibit opportunities. Or contact Scott Gruntorad at sgruntorad@questex.com.

About Broadband Nation Expo
Broadband Nation Expo is the premier industry event uniting the entire broadband ecosystem – from service providers and policymakers to technology innovators and community leaders. The event serves as a catalyst for collaboration, driving solutions to bridge the digital divide and ensure universal high-speed internet access. Produced in collaboration with the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Broadband Nation Expo will take place November 18-20, 2026 at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans in New Orleans, LA.

For more details, visit Broadband Nation Expo.

To stay connected with the latest updates, follow Broadband Nation Expo on LinkedIn and X.

About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) – the trusted association for the connected world, represents more than 400 organizations that enable high-speed communication networks and accelerate next-generation technology innovation. As a member-driven organization, TIA advocates for our industry in the U.S. and internationally, develops critical standards, manages technology programs, and improves business performance, all to advance trusted global connectivity.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contact
Katie Williams
Broadband Nation Expo
kwilliams@questex.com

Becker’s to Join Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences to Create a Scaled Platform Across Healthcare, Life Sciences and the Full Care Continuum

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forge, the B2B events and media company [formed by the combination of Emerald and Questex after the acquisition by Apollo Funds in July 2026], today announces it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Becker’s Healthcare (“Becker’s”), a leading media and events platform serving hospital, health system and healthcare executives, from Pamlico Capital. The acquisition will include all of Becker’s media and events assets, including its 16 annual conferences, more than a dozen digital publications, and its portfolio of newsletters, podcasts and executive communities.

The acquisition will significantly expand Forge’s presence in healthcare and life sciences by combining Becker’s with Forge’s existing healthcare portfolio, Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences (“Fierce”). The combination of Becker’s and Fierce will create a scaled 365-day omnichannel platform reaching key decisionmakers across the majority of the healthcare ecosystem, spanning the value chain from biotech, pharma to hospitals, health systems and payers, through over 35 live events, trusted media, digital products, newsletters, podcasts and year-round executive communities.

“Becker’s sets the agenda for the business of healthcare,” said Paul Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Forge. “Its daily reporting reaches the leadership of every major health system, hospital and payer in the country, and its stages are where those leaders gather. Combined with Fierce Healthcare and Life Science’s reach, we will be able to serve healthcare decisionmakers across the full continuum of care, with significant opportunity to grow as these markets grow.”

Becker’s Healthcare was founded by Scott Becker with a vision to deliver news and insights to healthcare leaders and decisionmakers across North America. That vision guided the firm through significant growth and expansion of the company’s content and event offerings. Jessica Cole has served as President and CEO since 2010, growing Becker’s into one of the country’s most influential healthcare media companies.

“Becker’s was built by staying relentlessly focused on the needs of the people who run healthcare, and by a team that treats that as a personal responsibility,” said Cole. “Joining Forge gives our team a bigger platform to do exactly that, with more reach, more data and more ways to connect our audiences across the industry. The grit, commitment to clients and white-glove service that has always defined Becker’s remains at our core, now with more speed and a bigger vision for what’s ahead.”

“Becker’s is exactly the kind of business we looked to invest in when we formed Forge: a category leader with an exceptional management team, deep audience trust, durable first-party data, marquee live events and a year-round engagement model, operating in a market with powerful long-term tailwinds,” said Shahid Bosan, Managing Director at Apollo. “Bringing Becker’s together with Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences under Forge will create meaningful scale across healthcare and life sciences, and we see significant opportunity for the company to accelerate growth by connecting these complementary audiences, brands and capabilities.”

The acquisition also reflects Forge’s strategy to build scale and depth in markets with strong secular tailwinds, where the underlying industries are growing, and the need for trusted communities, content and connections is growing with them. Healthcare and life sciences are an increasingly important part of the global economy, with technology, demographics, innovation and changing models of care continuing to reshape the industry. These are large, dynamic markets benefiting from powerful long-term growth drivers including an aging population, continued healthcare investment, advances in technology and life sciences, and the increasing complexity of how care is financed and delivered. These structural trends are creating sustained demand for trusted information, expertise, connection, and business opportunities across the healthcare ecosystem.

“This acquisition is an important example of our strategy to build positions in attractive, high-growth markets where we can create greater value by bringing together audiences, content, data and marketplaces,” Miller added. “We see significant opportunity to continue investing in businesses where we can build scale, deepen our relationships with decisionmakers and create more ways for customers to engage throughout the year.”

BrightTower acted as lead financial advisor, and Holland & Knight LLP acted as legal counsel to Becker’s Healthcare in this transaction. JEGI LEONIS acted as financial advisor, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP acted as legal counsel to Forge.

About Forge

Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

About Becker’s Healthcare

Becker’s Healthcare is a Chicago-based B2B multimedia and events company and the go-to source for healthcare decisionmakers. Through its digital products, executive communities and live events, Becker’s reaches over 1.5 million leaders and executives via its digital products and welcomes more than 15,000 attendees across its live events each year. It’s an audience spanning nearly every seat at the healthcare leadership table, built by a team committed to growth, focus, and initiative.

For more information, visit www.beckershealthcare.com.

Media Contact

Kate Spellman
Chief Commercial Officer
Forge
kate.spellman@forgelive.com

2027 conference theme, “Enabling Intelligence in the Physical World,” will explore the technologies powering Physical AI, robotics, intelligent sensing and the next generation of connected systems

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forge’s Sensors Converge, North America’s largest electronics event for design engineers, today announces the opening of its 2027 Call for Speakers, inviting engineers, technologists, researchers and industry leaders to help shape the technical program for next year’s event, taking place June 8–10, 2027 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California.

Under the 2027 conference theme, “Enabling Intelligence in the Physical World,” Sensors Converge will explore how advances in sensing, processing, connectivity and AI are enabling machines, devices and systems to perceive, understand and interact with the world around them.

In another first for the event, attendees can secure their place via early access to Sensors Converge 2027. A limited-time Early Access offer is now available, giving attendees the opportunity to claim a FREE Expo Pass before full registration officially opens later this year. Click here for more information.

“Intelligence is increasingly moving beyond the screen and into the physical world, creating tremendous opportunities for the engineers designing the sensors, systems and technologies that make it possible,” said David Drain, Show Director, Sensors Converge. “Our 2027 theme, ‘Enabling Intelligence in the Physical World,’ reflects where the industry is headed. We’re looking for the engineers and innovators actually building these technologies to bring their ideas, challenges and real-world experiences to Sensors Converge.”

Call for Speakers Now Open: Enabling Intelligence in the Physical World

The 2027 conference program will examine the technologies and engineering challenges required to bring intelligence into real-world devices, machines and environments—from sensing and perception through processing, connectivity and action.

Sensors Converge is seeking original, technical and practical submissions across seven conference tracks:

• Physical AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems
• Edge AI, Intelligent Sensing & Sensor Fusion
• Connected Sensor Systems & Distributed Intelligence
• Sensor Design, Integration & Developer Ecosystems
• Human, Health & Wearable Sensing
• Mission-Critical Systems, Safety & Security
• Resilient & Sustainable Systems

Proposals may address areas ranging from AI/ML, sensor fusion and multimodal perception to low-power design, digital twins, cybersecurity, real-time control, test and validation, developer tools, system architecture and deployment.

Priority will be given to sessions that provide technical depth, real-world engineering applications, original research or technology, data-driven insights and actionable lessons attendees can apply to their own work. Commercial product pitches and highly promotional presentations are discouraged.

Proposals may be submitted as technical presentations, training/tutorials, hands-on workshops, lightning talks or panel discussions.

The Call for Speakers is open through October 16, 2026, with speaker acceptance notifications scheduled for December 7, 2026.

Submit a proposal here.

For the First Time, Attendees Can Register Before Full Registration Opens

Momentum for Sensors Converge 2027 is already building.

For the first time, attendees can secure a FREE Expo Pass before full registration officially opens. The limited-time Early Access offer gives engineers and technology professionals the opportunity to get Sensors Converge 2027 on their calendars now.

The Expo will bring together technologies spanning sensors, processing, connectivity, embedded systems, AI, robotics and electronics, giving engineers the opportunity to discover and experience the technologies enabling intelligence in the physical world.

Full registration, including opportunities to upgrade to Conference and VIP experiences, will open later this year.

Claim a FREE Expo Pass.

About Sensors Converge

Sensors Converge is North America’s largest electronics event for design engineers, bringing together the sensing, processing and connectivity technologies powering the next generation of intelligent products and systems. For more than four decades, Sensors Converge has united engineers, technology leaders, innovators and suppliers to discover new technologies, solve real-world design challenges and accelerate product development.

Sensors Converge 2027 takes place June 8–10, 2027 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contact
Charlene Soucy
Sensors Converge
csoucy@questex.com        

BOSTON, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This morning, Trialynx was announced as the winner of DPHARM Idol Disrupt at the 16th annual DPHARM: Disruptive Innovations to Modernize Clinical Research 2026 event. DPHARM is a part of Forge’s Fierce Life Sciences.

“DPHARM Idol Disrupt is disruptive innovation in action, not just words. It’s a wonderful platform that showcases our brightest ideas and hopes as an industry. It brings together sponsors, sites, patients and solution providers and pushes all to do better together,” said judging moderator Sean Lynch, Innovative Capabilities Head, Innovative Trial Operations, Novartis.

Trialynx represented by Angie Schwab, MS, PMP, Founder and CEO, demonstrated how its technology is accelerating study startup and reducing the manual effort required to design and document clinical trials.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the DPHARM Idol Award. Being part of DPHARM Idol challenged us not only in how we build technology and bring it to the world, but in how we make it accessible. Our mission is to bring sponsors, CROs, and sites together in one shared digital experience that everyone can be part of. Once you experience what’s possible when we move beyond documents and work from shared, real-time information, there’s no denying the power of a digital future,” said Angie Schwab, MS, PMP, Founder and CEO, Trialynx.

The competition was fierce as the six DPHARM Idol Disrupt finalists each had six minutes to present how they are solving critical challenges in clinical development before a panel of judges representing pharmaceutical sponsors, healthcare organizations, patient advocates, and life science investors.

“Trialynx is more than a digital protocol solution; it is a collaboration platform that unites the early upstream study design work of clinical development with the downstream study startup and operational planning of clinical operations. Furthermore, Trialynx helps companies realize the benefits of Digital Data Flow with CDISC USDM support from an ICH M11 with the downstream study startup and operational planning of clinical operations. Furthermore, Trialynx helps companies realize the benefits of Digital Data Flow with CDISC USDM support from an ICH M11-compliant structured protocol design,” said Joe Dustin, Senior Director, Digital Clinical Development, Sanofi, and a 2026 DPHARM Idol Disrupt judge.

“Trialynx can transform clinical trials by turning fragmented, document-based study design into an intelligent, structured digital workflow that enables faster, better-informed and more efficient trials,” said Ventislav Dobrev, Global Clinical Integration Lead, Digital Biomarkers, Roche.

The DPHARM Idol Disrupt 2026 finalists:

• Areti Health, represented by Ilya Gluhovsky, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO
• Deep Intelligent Pharma, represented by Brooklyn Montgomery, Director, Business Development
• Delve Health, represented by Nico O’Kuinghttons, Chief Commercial Officer
• Loopa Logic, represented by Steven Moreno, Co-founder
• Tilda Research, represented by Ram Yalamanchili, CEO and Founder
• Trialynx, represented by Angie Schwab, MS, PMP, Founder and CEO

The DPHARM Idol Disrupt 2026 judges:

• Tiffany Bratts, EdD, MPH, MS, Director, Clinical Patient Engagement and Inclusion, Gilead
• Elspeth Carnan, PhD, VP, Trial Delivery Support, Bristol Myers Squibb
• Martina DiMeglio, Clinical Research Lead, Clinical Trials Office, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson Health
• Ventsislav Dobrev, Global Clinical Integration Lead, Digital Biomarkers, Roche
• Joe Dustin, Senior Director, Digital Clinical Development, Sanofi
• Esther Dyson, Author, In Defense of Limits: Human Time and AI Scale (2027)
• Yusuf Ghadiali, Executive Director, Global Clinical Operations & Planning, Daiichi Sankyo
• Hassan Kadhim, Executive Director, Clinical Operations Process and Performance Excellence, Summit Therapeutics
• Sabina Kineen, Patient Advocate, Lived-experience Expert, Fabry Support & Information Group
• Doug Schantz, Head of Clinical Key Relationship Excellence, Bayer
• Anthony K. Taylor, DHSc, MSPharm, PMP, Director, Clinical Site and Patient Insights, AbbVie
• Donna Usiskin, Chief Strategy Officer, New Enterprise Ventures

The moderator of judges was Sean Lynch, Innovative Capabilities Head, Innovative Trial Operations, Novartis.

For more information on DPHARM, visit DPHARMConference.com.

About DPHARM
DPHARM^®: Disruptive Innovations to Modernize Clinical Research offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear senior clinical operations executives and innovative thought leaders report on innovations that are modernizing clinical trials and reducing patient burden. The concept of DPHARM was founded by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, who continue to play a key role on the steering committee to deliver a highly relevant and engaging program. DPHARM takes place September 15-16 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, MA.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Media Contact
Allyson Adams
DPHARM
aadams@questex.com