Emerald X
Emerald X operates 142 B2B trade shows, conferences, and 16 media properties across seven verticals, serving 1.9 million active customers and 15 million+ annual website visitors through events, digital platforms, and acquired brands.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Juan Capistrano, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Emerald X does
Emerald X, operating through its parent Emerald Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), is a B2B trade show, conference, and media platform that owns and operates 142 live events and 16 media properties across seven diversified end markets: Design & Construction, Food/Pharma/Healthcare, Gift/Home & General Merchandise, Industrial & Manufacturing, Luxury, Sports & Outdoor, and Tech/Advertising/Marketing. The company serves 1.9 million active customers and attracts 15 million+ annual website visitors, with a brand portfolio that includes KBIS, MJBizCon, Outdoor Retailer, Surf Expo, CEDIA Expo, Advertising Week, Pizza Expo, and Overland Expo. Headquartered in New York with offices in San Juan Capistrano, Alpharetta, and Rye, Emerald employs 750+ people and has grown primarily through acquisitions since Onex Partners acquired the predecessor (Nielsen Expositions) in 2013, followed by an IPO in 2020.
The company's product surface combines physical live events with a set of digital platforms: Elastic Suite (B2B e-commerce and digital merchandising for manufacturers and retailers, originally acquired as PlumRiver Technology), Connect (event management and exhibitor console via a2z/Personify), AV-iQ (a Commercial AV product database), Emerald Studio (in-house creative content agency), and SIGHTLINE Live! (streaming and podcast platform). Emerald has built out its AI tooling primarily for marketing and editorial content generation under executive sponsorship from the SVP of Marketing and Chief Digital Officer, with all AI-generated material subject to human review.
Emerald generates revenue through four primary streams: trade show and event participation (exhibitor booth fees and attendee registration), sponsorships and advertising across publications and digital properties, digital commerce via Elastic Suite, and media subscriptions including trade publications such as Pizza Today. Pricing is quote-based and varies by event, with multi-year exhibitor contracts and unit pricing on attendee registration. The company is the subject of a pending acquisition by Apollo Global Management at approximately $1.5 billion enterprise value ($5.03 per share, 42.1% premium), with Apollo separately acquiring Questex and combining both into a North American B2B events platform spanning approximately 160 events, expected to close in H2 2026.
Emerald X firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Emerald X
- Legal name
- Emerald Holdings, Inc.
- Website
- https://emeraldx.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Emerald X operates 142 B2B trade shows, conferences, and 16 media properties across seven verticals, serving 1.9 million active customers and 15 million+ annual website visitors through events, digital platforms, and acquired brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Emerald X is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Juan Capistrano
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Emerald X business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trade Show and Event Participation: Revenue generated from exhibitor booth fees, attendee registration fees, and event services for 142+ live trade shows, conferences, and events across multiple industry verticals
- Sponsorships and Advertising: Sponsorship packages and advertising placements across trade publications, websites, and digital media properties serving various industries
- Digital Commerce and E-commerce: B2B ecommerce and digital merchandising solutions through Elastic Suite platform, serving manufacturers and retailers
- Media and Publications: Magazine subscriptions, digital publications, and content licensing across various industry verticals including Pizza Today
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Exhibitor booth and sponsorship packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Attendee registration fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Emerald X product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Emerald X is a leading B2B trade show, conference, and integrated media operator running 142+ live events and 16 media properties across seven market verticals including Design & Construction, Food, Gift/Home & General Merchandise, Industrial, Luxury, Sports & Outdoor, and Technology/Advertising & Marketing. The company monetizes exhibitor booth sales, sponsorships, attendee registration, trade publication subscriptions, advertising, and B2B e-commerce through its Elastic Suite platform, serving 1.9 million active customers annually.
Product overview
Emerald X is a leading operator of B2B trade shows, conferences, content, and digital platforms in the United States. The company operates a diversified portfolio of over 140 live events and 16 media properties across seven core markets: Design & Construction, Food/Pharma/Healthcare, Gift/Home & General Merchandise, Industrial & Manufacturing, Luxury, Sports & Outdoor, and Tech/Advertising & Marketing. Key acquired brands include MJBizCon (cannabis industry), Advertising Week (marketing/advertising), This Is Beyond portfolio (PURE Life Experiences, L.E Miami, We Are Africa, Further East for luxury travel), and InsurTech Insights. The company also offers digital platforms including Elastic Suite (B2B e-commerce), Connect (event management), Emerald Studio (in-house content agency), and SIGHTLINE Live! (streaming/podcast). Emerald serves over 1.9 million active customers and attracts 15 million+ website visitors annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Emerald Live Events Portfolio
- KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show)
- MJBizCon
- Advertising Week
- PURE Life Experiences
- L.E Miami
- We Are Africa
- Further East
- Outdoor Retailer
- Surf Expo
- Overland Expo
- ASD Market Week
- NY NOW
- Pizza Expo
- Cocina Sabrosa
- COUTURE
- Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
- International Fastener Expo
- Modern Day Marine
- Medtrade
- BITAC Summits
- CEDIA Expo
- PROSPER Show
- InsurTech Insights
- Elastic Suite
- AV-iQ
- Connect
- SIGHTLINE Live!
- Emerald Studio
- CE Pro
- Commercial Integrator
- Demand Gen Report
- Retail Touchpoints
- RFID Journal
Quantifiable outcome
- 16.2% revenue growth in FY2025 to $463.4 million
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Emerald X
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Emerald X technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Emerald X partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Maritz Global EventsminorOfficial registration partner for Emerald events
- FreemanminorOfficial decorator providing furnishings, freight, and labor services for Emerald events
- Phoenix LogisticsminorOfficial international freight forwarder partner for Emerald events
- EvolveConminorOfficial housing provider for Emerald events
- NHS Global EventsminorOfficial housing provider for Emerald events
- Reach MarketingminorLead retrieval and targeted email marketing/list rental partner
- OneTenminorNonprofit partnership supporting skills-first hiring and bridging opportunity gap for individuals without four-year degrees. Since inception, OneTen has facilitated over 122,000 hires and promotions.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Emerald X competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Clarion Events: Clarion Events is a privately held global B2B events organizer with a portfolio spanning defense, gaming, energy, and fashion. Its diversified vertical structure, transatlantic mix, and PE-backed ownership make it a strong structural comparable to Emerald.
- Tarsus Group: Tarsus Group is a U.K.-based B2B events and media company focused on label, packaging, and aviation verticals. Its mix of vertical-specialist exhibitions and associated media properties closely mirrors Emerald's event-plus-media portfolio strategy.
- Questex: Questex is a U.S.-focused B2B events and information services company that Apollo is acquiring simultaneously with Emerald and intends to combine into a ~160-event platform — making it the closest comparable peer by portfolio mix, customer base, and go-to-market model.
- Messe München: Messe München operates BAUMA, IFAT, and other leading global B2B trade fairs, primarily in industrial and technology verticals. As a German-headquartered, privately owned operator of flagship industry events, it is comparable to Emerald in business model though larger and more internationally focused.
- Informa Markets (Informa plc): Informa Markets is the world's largest B2B exhibitions, events, and conferences operator, running thousands of events across dozens of verticals. It is Emerald's most direct global competitor and the scale benchmark against which Emerald's diversification and margins are judged.
- Diversified Communications: Diversified Communications is a privately held U.S.-based B2B trade show operator producing events in seafood, healthcare, natural products, and technology. Its mid-sized U.S.-centric portfolio, vertical diversification, and family/PE ownership make it a relevant structural peer to Emerald.
- dmg events: dmg events is a global B2B exhibitions and conferences operator owned by the Daily Mail & General Trust, with major events in construction (The Big 5), hospitality, and energy. Its portfolio breadth and emerging-market exposure make it a direct comparable to Emerald's diversified verticals.
- Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's largest trade fair organizers, operating leading brands such as Ambiente, Light + Building, and Texcare. It is comparable to Emerald as a global, multi-vertical B2B exhibitions business, though it skews more European and industrial in vertical mix.
- Reed Exhibitions (RELX): Reed Exhibitions, the exhibitions arm of RELX, is one of the world's largest B2B trade show organizers, with hundreds of events across aerospace, beauty, electronics, and entertainment. Emerald's CEO Hervé Sedky and SVP of Corporate Development Les Weir both joined Emerald from Reed Exhibitions, underscoring direct comparability.
Emerging players
- Coeur d'Alene Events / AFP (trade show operator peers): Smaller, privately held U.S. B2B trade show organizers (e.g., BNP Media's events division, Show Management, Coeur d'Alene Events) compete in overlapping niche verticals such as gift, outdoor, and industrial shows. They represent the fragmented competitive set from which Emerald's M&A pipeline sources targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Emerald X social profiles
Digital presenceEmerald X financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Emerald X leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Emerald X subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Emerald X funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Emerald X M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A16 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Emerald X
What does Emerald X do?
Emerald X is a leading B2B trade show, conference, and integrated media operator running 142+ live events and 16 media properties across seven market verticals including Design & Construction, Food, Gift/Home & General Merchandise, Industrial, Luxury, Sports & Outdoor, and Technology/Advertising & Marketing. The company monetizes exhibitor booth sales, sponsorships, attendee registration, trade publication subscriptions, advertising, and B2B e-commerce through its Elastic Suite platform, serving 1.9 million active customers annually.
Is Emerald X a public or private company?
Emerald X is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Emerald X founded?
Emerald X was founded in 2013. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Emerald X based?
Emerald X is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, United States, in the North America region.
How does Emerald X make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Trade Show and Event Participation is the primary driver. The others are sponsorships and Advertising, digital Commerce and E-commerce and media and Publications.
Who are Emerald X's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Clarion Events, Tarsus Group, Questex, Messe München, Informa Markets (Informa plc), Diversified Communications, dmg events, Messe Frankfurt and Reed Exhibitions (RELX). Coeur d'Alene Events / AFP (trade show operator peers) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Emerald X have an API?
No public API is recorded for Emerald X.