Questex is taking the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) to Asia with the launch of a new event in the third quarter of 2024.
As part of the expansion, Questex is partnering with Australia’s Intermedia Group to collaborate on the IHIF Asia launch as well as the Intermedia Group’s AHICE (Asian Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition) South-East Asia event in Singapore in late February 2024.
The new events in Asia continue to bolster the global expansion of the Questex Hospitality portfolio. Following the recent acquisition of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference and the launch of The Hospitality Show, created in collaboration with the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Earlier this year, IHIF in Berlin delivered the largest event in its history with 2,500 delegates attending. More than 30 percent of the delegates were new and sponsor and exhibitor revenue grew almost 20 percent and delegate revenue grew 12 percent.
The global hospitality industry is a $4.8 trillion market and is expected to grow by over 10 percent annually to reach $6.8 trillion by 2026. Operators across these businesses share similar needs around information, products and solutions, which offers Questex and The Intermedia Group an opportunity to scale for growth while serving each of the sub-markets including bars and restaurants, spas, salons and hotel management with sector-specific research, insights and connections to drive its businesses forward.
The Intermedia Group is one of Australia’s largest B2B media companies. Its portfolio includes print, websites and live events, such as AHICE Asia Pacific, AHICE Aotearoa, AHICE Aloha and AHICE South-East Asia, which serve the needs of the hotel industry across Asia Pacific and notably in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hawaii.
What They Said
“Our strategy is to focus on our core sectors and extend leadership positions through organic growth and the acquisition of new capabilities and assets," Questex CEO Paul Miller said. "It is exciting that we continue to build in this tailwind market. Now with hospitality investment and management events in Europe and the United States, partnering with The Intermedia Group to launch two events in Asia is the perfect collaboration to extend globally and continue our leadership position in the investment and hospitality industry.”
Simon Grover, managing director, The Intermedia Group said: “We look forward to collaborating with Questex on the launch of these two events. For over 25 years, Intermedia has been a leader in the hospitality publishing and events sector in Asia Pacific and through our expertise in top-level content and event management, together we can ensure the new events are premier hospitality events for hotel investors, owners, developers, operators and associated businesses such as bars, restaurants, travel, gyms, salons and spas in Asia.”
Alexi Khajavi, group president hospitality, wellness and travel at Questex, said: “Questex has made significant investments in hospitality post-pandemic and our most recent launch of IHIF Asia and partnership with the Intermedia Group is more proof of our conviction – that travel and hospitality is a thriving sector growing globally, experienced locally, with strong market fundamentals and generational trends supporting continued growth.”
“We have first-party relationships with the world’s leading hospitality investors and that capital is, like travelers, looking for global opportunities. We’re delighted to be bringing IHIF back to Asia and look forward to engaging with the investors, operators and advisors in of the most exciting, inspiring and opportunistic markets in the world for travel and hospitality growth.”
IHIF Asia is launching with the support of the hospitality sector, among them Hilton, a diamond sponsor of IHIF Asia and IHIF Berlin. “Hilton has had a long partnership with Questex at IHIF in Europe and NYU. We’re now delighted to partner with them to debut IHIF in Asia Pacific, a region where Hilton is enjoying unprecedented growth with over 1,500 hotels trading and in development,” said Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta.