Questex Delivers Six Record-Breaking Q1 Events Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels
May 12, 2023
A testament to the industry’s recovery, this year is turning out to be a major success for Questex, a leading information and event services company focused on the experience economy.
With new event activations connecting buyers and sellers at the 2023 editions of six Questex shows — International Beauty Show New York, International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference New York, Bar & Restaurant Expo, World Tea Expo, Vibe Conference and Fierce Pharma Events — the company delivered record-breaking numbers of attendees, exhibitors and revenue and now exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
“Our mission is to bring the experience economy to life for our communities,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Questex. With new onsite experiences like the International Beauty Show’s Powerhouse Pavilion; the International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference’s Healthy You Pavilion; Bar & Restaurant Expo’s Food & Beverage Innovation Center, Japanese Pavilion and NxT Zone; as well as World Tea Expo’s Tea Bar, we delivered extraordinary experiences that attendees will remember.”
During the pandemic, Miller explained that the company brainstormed new ideas for its events and customer experiences, brought all of its first-party data into one database through its proprietary Q Activate tool and kept its community engaged with high-quality digital content.
“All of this work kept audiences engaged with our brands, which allowed our team to deliver first quarter events with the best performance in the company’s history,” Miller said.
International Beauty Show New York, the longest running professional beauty event in the country, and International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference New York, the leading spa and wellness event in the country, co-located in New York to bring together over 30,000 beauty and spa professionals. The International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference grew the event over 10% compared to the 2019 event, while revenue grew 25% compared to 2022 event. Combined, the International Beauty Show and the International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference saw growth of attendees of 22% year over year. New onsite experiences engaged attendees, including the Look & Learn Stage, with cocktails and networking, a graffiti wall and selfie area, a Healthy You Pavilion, a Powerhouse Pavilion that celebrated black beauty entrepreneurs, a Recharge & Hydrate Lounge and a “Say Yes to You” campaign.
Bar & Restaurant Expo, the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of bar and restaurant owners and operators, grew the event 42% compared to the 2019 event. Bar & Restaurant Expo and World Tea Expo grew attendees 19% over 2022.
Vibe Conference, the premiere on-premises beverage event for beverage executives, grew the event 30% compared to the 2019 event. Vibe Conference attracted attendees from across the industry, including chain restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, distributors, consultants and agencies, resulting in a 20% increase compared to 2022. Vibe Conference was the largest event in its 14-year history, attracting the biggest number of first-time operator attendees, demonstrating how strongly the industry is rebounding and retooling for future growth.
All Fierce Pharma events experienced a resurgence. Fierce JPM Week, a hybrid event focused on how pharma and healthcare can thrive, experienced the highest revenue in the event’s history. The Business Development and Licensing (BD&L) Summit, designed for business development and licensing executives to gain exclusive insights on new opportunities, grew attendance 13% from 2022, and Fierce Pharma PR & Communications West, the only conference on the West Coast dedicated to providing life science communicators with timely industry updates and best practices for successful communications strategies in the healthcare environment, increased 30% year over year.
“We are delighted with how our strategy has come to life at our live events since returning from the pandemic,” Miller said. “The forward pacing is extremely encouraging, and 2023 is shaping up to be a banner year for the company.”
Main photo: Bar & Restaurant Expo
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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