Press Release: NEWTON, MA ─ July 13, 2016 ─ Questex, a leading global business information and events company, today announced it has acquired The AHC Company Limited, organizer of The Annual Hotel Conference, the United Kingdom’s leading industry event in the individual, boutique, branded and consortium hotel segments.
“From its beginnings as a small, invitation-only gathering targeting the regional individual and small-chain hotel owner and operator, The Annual Hotel Conference has grown over its 13-year lifetime into one of the UK’s largest hotel industry events outside London,” said Eddlestone. “With Questex’s significant scale and resources, we expect the event will grow at a faster pace, with new marketing opportunities for our supporters and partners.”
This year’s The AHC, which is expected to draw over 700 delegates, will be held Oct. 12- 13 at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate hotel. The event, themed Performing in Transient Times, will bring individual, boutique and consortium hotel owners, operators and managers together with developers, investors, bankers, advisors, government agencies, designers, architects, consultants, tourism leaders, regional tourist board representatives and other stakeholders for relevant and inspirational educational content and peer-to-peer networking.
“Questex has an impressive track record of investing in their core hospitality media and events and successfully launching new products in this market,” added Langston. “Our customers will truly benefit by Questex’s ability to generate additional business opportunities, relevant content, world-class speakers and generous networking exchanges. We look forward to combining our resources and expertise and working together to drive the growth of the business.”
Eddlestone and Langston will work closely with the Questex Hospitality Group team, led by its executive vice president, Alexi Khajavi to pursue The AHC’s core business objectives of providing dynamic education, networking and inspiration for its delegates.
The AHC was cofounded by 30-year industry veteran Chris Eddlestone, global head of hospitality and leisure services at Squire Patton Boggs, an international law firm; and Jonathan Langston, a renowned industry consultant and commentator with a 30-year track record who most recently served as the UK chief operating officer for CBRE Hotels Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
For more information, or to register for AHC, visit www.theahc.co.uk or the event’s Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
About Questex
Questex is a leading global business information and events company serving corporate and government clients and industries that are driving economic growth and business innovation around the world.
The company drives business investment, innovation and demand-creation in the markets it serves by bringing together investors, buyers, sellers and professionals through its over 100 trade shows, conferences and other business events, informing them through more than 100 business media and information products and supporting clients with a comprehensive platform of marketing solutions. Questex’s industry-focused business units include Life Sciences & Healthcare, Hospitality & Travel, Beauty & Wellness, Technology & Telecom groups.
Questex Hospitality Group is the organizer of the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Berlin, the pre-eminent global conference for the hotel investment community, along with related hotel investment events serving the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific regions; the HOTEC, Hotel Management and Hotel Technology series of events in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia and; publisher of Hotel Management and digital newsletters, IHIF Hotel Investment News, Hotel Technology News, Hotel Operations News and Hotel Design News.
Questex is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. The company employs over 350 dedicated professional staff members, who are located in offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.