NEWTON, Mass. (July 13, 2016) ─ Questex, a leading global business information and events company, today announced it has acquired TheAHC Company Limited, organizer of The Annual Hotel Conference, the United Kingdom’s leading industry event in the individual, boutique, branded and consortium hotel segments.
The agreement merges the collective resources of Questex, organizers of the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Berlin, the pre-eminent global conference for the hotel investment community, and The AHC, the UK’s leading hospitality event for independent hoteliers. Founders Chris Eddlestone and Jonathan Langston and their team will continue to lead content development and management of the event.
“We are tremendously pleased to team up with Chris and Jonathan and combine our resources to enhance the value provided to the UK hotel industry by this important event,” said Kerry Gumas, Questex president and chief executive officer.
“From its beginnings as a small, invitation-only gathering targeting the regional individual and small-chain hotel owner and operator, The AHC 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 Eddlestone, global head of hospitality and leisure services at Squire Patton Boggs, an international law firm; and 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 The AHC, visit www.theahc.co.uk or the event’s Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
