Information services and event company Questex, the parent company of Hotel Management Magazine, is set to assume management control of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference from the NYU School of Professional Studies starting with the 2024 edition. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, whose 45th annual event will take place on June 4-6 at the New York Marriott Marquis, will become a part of the Questex Hospitality Portfolio. The conference complements the largest hospitality real estate event in the world, Questex’s International Hospitality Investment Forum, which connects capital with real estate and operators annually in Berlin. It also complements The Hospitality Show, a new hospitality event that will bring together industry leaders and procurement specialists from across the hospitality spectrum, created in collaboration with the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
The Questex Hospitality Portfolio is led by Alexi Khajavi, group president hospitality, wellness and travel. The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference will become part of the company’s Operational Real Estate Market. The union of these events under one portfolio reflects the importance of cross-border hospitality investment and the benefits of combining Questex’s marketing and database platform with NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality’s industry expertise and research to deliver information and connections to a global audience of senior level decision makers in hospitality investment, development and operations.
The global hospitality industry is a massive $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 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.
For NYU, the proceeds from the agreement will help fund student scholarships at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and further support the program’s mission of educating and preparing future leaders and innovators for careers in global hospitality management, travel and tourism.
“For years, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference has been one of the most prestigious global industry conferences,” said Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and associate dean of NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. “We look forward to continuing to work with Questex on the conference to evolve, grow, and deliver unparalleled content. This agreement will help ensure the Conference is the premier hospitality finance and development forum for years to come.”
“This agreement creates a powerhouse hospitality portfolio,” Questex CEO Paul Miller said. “We are the only event and information services company to offer a portfolio that includes hotel operations, hotel real estate investment, and other interconnected businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, spas and luxury travel. As a trusted partner in the Hospitality industry, Questex’s experience, proprietary data, and deep relationships across the ecosystem—from investors, owners, developers, advisors, c-suite decision-makers and industry partners—allows buyers to conduct business with unprecedented ease, effectiveness and speed.”
“Questex’s investment in the NYU International Hotel Industry Investment Conference speaks to the valuable forum we have created over the last 45 years and is testament to the strength and resiliency in travel and hospitality and in New York City itself,” Jonathan M. Tisch, executive chairman of Loews Hotels & Co., and chair of the NYU Conference, added. “The partnership moving forward will undoubtedly deliver enhanced information, innovation and inspiration to conference attendees and students alike.”
Through general sessions, workshops and networking events, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference convenes top industry executives, from CEOs of hotel brands to various investment and real estate executives, to learn and discuss the latest trends, economic influences and projections. Previous speakers have included:
- Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO, Accor;
- Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International;
- Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO, Hyatt Hotels;
- Reza Akhavi, MD and co-head of real estate at Deutsche Bank Securities;
- Michael Bluhm, managing director, global head of gaming and lodging, Morgan Stanley – Investment Banking;
- Tyler Henritze, head of strategic investments, Blackstone Real Estate Americas;
- Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton; and
- Keith Barr, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group.