Questex

What Questex does

Questex is a privately-held B2B events and information services platform that operates market-leading trade shows, conferences, hosted buyer programs, and year-round digital communities across three core verticals: Life Sciences, Health & Wellness (Fierce Pharma, Fierce Biotech, Fierce Healthcare, DPHARM, PODD, IO360, Patients as Partners); Living/Hospitality & Travel (International Hospitality Investment Forum, Bar & Restaurant Expo, World Tea Expo, Vibe Conference, The Hospitality Show); and Entertainment & Infrastructure (StreamTV Show, LDI, Sensors Converge, Broadband Nation Expo, Fierce Network). The company serves over 6 million business professionals globally, with operations in the United States (Dover, Delaware headquarters and New York offices), United Kingdom (London), Singapore, and Hong Kong, and event delivery across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

The core platform combines live events with year-round digital engagement through Q Activate, a web platform that co-locates sponsor marketing materials with editorial content to drive higher engagement than traditional advertising, and Q Studio, a content and experience advisory service that helps clients design marketing campaigns aligned to audience goals. The business monetizes through three primary revenue streams: live events and trade shows (one-time booth, sponsorship, and registration fees), digital marketing services (integrated, data-driven programs combining proprietary audience data with omnichannel activation across digital, events, research, and content), and media/content subscriptions (recurring access to Fierce media brands and digital platforms). Customer acquisition is driven by an enterprise field sales motion targeting pharma, biotech, hotel chains, hospitality operators, streaming platforms, and technology companies through sponsorship packages, exhibition space, and integrated marketing services.

Questex is currently in a significant ownership transition: Apollo-managed funds entered into definitive agreements in May 2026 to acquire both Questex and Emerald Holding in separate all-cash transactions for a combined enterprise value of approximately $1.5 billion, expected to close in H2 2026. Questex CEO Paul Miller, who has led the company since 2018 and oversaw seven strategic add-on acquisitions under MidOcean Partners ownership, will lead the combined entity upon close, while Emerald's Hervé Sedky will transition to a senior advisor role.

Name

Questex

Legal name

Questex Media Group LLC

Website

https://www.questex.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Questex is a privately-held B2B events and media platform operating trade shows, conferences, and digital communities across life sciences, hospitality, and technology verticals, serving over 6 million business professionals globally through brands like Fierce Pharma, IHIF, and LDI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Events and Media Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Representatives (541840), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Active Incentives (Golf, Ski, Sailing, Adventure) (THAHADAJ)

Keywords

• B2B event management
• Trade show services
• Media publishing
• Digital marketing services
• Conference production

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live Events and Trade Shows: Revenue from large tradeshows, conferences, confexes, curated meetings, and award programs. Events range from large exhibitions to intimate gatherings creating moments for relationships, ideas, and deals.
2. Digital Marketing Services: Integrated, data-driven marketing programs combining trusted editorial environments, proprietary audience data, and omnichannel activation across digital, events, research, and content to generate demand and support sales outcomes.
3. Media and Content Subscriptions: Trusted media brands, digital platforms, and editorial expertise providing insights professionals need to stay informed, understand industry changes, and connect to partners year-round.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Questex operates a connected community platform combining large-scale live events and trade shows with year-round digital communities and proprietary audience data. It serves more than 6 million business professionals across three verticals (Life Sciences/Health & Wellness, Living/Hospitality/Travel, and Entertainment & Infrastructure) through media brands, conferences, exhibitions, awards programs, and integrated data-driven marketing services that connect sellers to buyers with intent.

Product overview

Questex is a multi-platform information services and events company operating across three core market verticals: Life Sciences, Health & Wellness, Living (hospitality, travel, food & beverage), and Entertainment & Infrastructure (media, technology, sensors). The company operates a portfolio of media brands (including Fierce Pharma, Fierce Biotech, Fierce Healthcare, Fierce Network, American Salon, Hotel Management), major trade events (such as LDI Show, StreamTV Show, Sensors Converge, IHIF, DPHARM, PODD), and awards programs, all connected through year-round digital communities and marketing services. The business model centers on live events enriched with data insights and active digital communities to deliver measurable results for customers across professional B2B markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fierce Life Sciences: Life sciences media and events division covering pharma, biotech, healthcare, and clinical research
• Fierce Pharma
• Fierce Biotech
• Fierce Healthcare
• Fierce Sensors
• StreamTV Show
• LDI Show
• Sensors Converge
• Broadband Nation Expo
• Fierce Network
• IHIF
• Be+Well | Beauty and Wellness Shows
• The Hospitality Show
• Bar & Restaurant Expo
• World Tea Expo
• Vibe Conference
• Q Studio
• DPHARM
• PODD
• IO360
• Patients as Partners

Products and services

• Fierce Pharma B2B media brand covering pharma regulatory approvals, payer negotiations, manufacturing, marketing, patent fights, government investigations, regulation, and M&A.
• Fierce Biotech B2B media brand providing end-to-end coverage of biotech and medtech, including seed funding, venture capital, licensing deals, IPOs and M&A.
• Fierce Healthcare B2B media brand providing news, trends, insights, education and forums on healthcare management, consumerism, business and clinical trends, policy and legislation.
• Fierce Network B2B media brand covering communications industry convergence including AI, automation, fixed and mobile broadband, cloud infrastructure, application modernization, and security.
• Fierce Sensors Digital media platform and newsletter delivering daily news, analysis, product insights and engineering resources for the sensors and electronics industry.
• Hotel Management B2B media brand covering hotel investment, development, operations, design, technology, brand strategies and the sharing economy.
• Fierce Pharma Week Event for pharma marketing, medical affairs, PR & communications, and commercialization featuring expert-led sessions, immersive activations, and networking.
• LDI Show Trade show and conference for live event professionals connecting design, technology and production for concerts, theatre, corporate events, esports, and houses of worship.
• StreamTV Show Event for the streaming television industry covering distribution, advertising and technology, where aggregators, platforms, and networks gather.
• Sensors Converge Electronics event for design engineers covering the entire design cycle from components to system solutions, with education, innovation, and collaboration.
• International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) Event gathering 2,500 senior leaders across the hospitality ecosystem for networking, debate, discovery and deal-making at the world's most influential hospitality investment event.
• DPHARM Conference focused on transforming clinical trials through innovation, bringing together pharma, biotech and technology leaders.
• PODD Conference Event dedicated to advancing drug delivery technologies through scientific exchange and business collaboration in biologics, gene delivery, and combination products.
• Fierce 50 Awards Gala Awards program honoring innovators driving industry-shaping breakthroughs and championing equity across pharma, biotech, and healthcare.
• Q Studio Service offering where Questex content and experience advisors help clients run campaigns including branding, targeted reach, event activations, multimedia, content marketing, lead generation and ABM.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 equity investors representing $723 billion in hotel assets under management attended NYU IHIF 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYU School of Professional StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYU IHIF is operated by Questex in partnership with NYU School of Professional Studies and its Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. The conference attracts over 2,500 attendees and generates proceeds supporting student scholarships.
• EDGE AI FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded second-year partnership for Sensors Converge 2026 including dedicated EDGE AI FOUNDATION Pavilion, keynote programming, and executive panel highlighting the future of intelligent edge systems.
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TIA to co-locate the Data Center Excellence Summit with Broadband Nation Expo, focusing on scaling infrastructure behind the AI economy and developing the DCE 9000 initiative.
• Evan ShapirominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Evan Shapiro of ESHAP to help drive StreamTV Europe's positioning as a platform to shape the European streaming market's future.
• Tony GoncalvesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Tony Goncalves of The Evrose Group to help drive StreamTV Europe's positioning as a platform to shape the European streaming market's future.
• VIDAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIDAA committed to a three-year sponsorship of StreamTV Europe 2026, supporting the inaugural event's streaming innovation and collaboration focus.
• YouTubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouTube participated as Diamond Sponsor at the inaugural StreamTV Europe event in Lisbon, with YouTube executives contributing to key sessions on news, creators, and sports content.
• ZenSpace, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlexi Khajavi, Questex President of Hospitality & Operational Real Estate, joined ZenSpace's Board of Directors, reflecting growing momentum for on-demand workspace solutions in high-traffic public environments.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created The Hospitality Show event with AHLA, designed to elevate hotel operations for senior executives of hotel brands, owners and management companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Emerald Holding: Closest direct peer and pending merger partner: Emerald operates a comparable B2B trade show and media platform across design, technology, health, and lifestyle verticals. Apollo is combining the two companies into a leading North American B2B events platform.
• Clarion Events: Privately held B2B trade show and conference organizer with global events across technology, healthcare, and consumer verticals. Comparable operating model of running owned trade shows complemented by adjacent media and digital offerings.
• dmg events: International B2B trade exhibition operator owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. Operates complementary large-scale face-to-face events and digital communities in construction, hospitality, design, and energy that overlap with Questex's verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Informa plc: Global B2B events, digital media, and information services giant (owns former UBM, Penton, and IIR assets). Questex's CEO Paul Miller previously ran Informa's Industry & Infrastructure Intelligence group, making Informa the closest large incumbent peer.
• RELX (Reed Exhibitions / RX): Parent of Reed Exhibitions (RX), one of the world's largest event organizers with thousands of trade shows. Operates overlapping B2B media and events platforms (e.g., LexisNexis, Elsevier) and competes with Questex for sponsorship, exhibitor, and media budgets.
• Tarsus Group (now Informa): Formerly independent B2B media and events group in technology, healthcare, and aviation, now part of Informa. Operates conferences and media that compete directly with Questex's technology and healthcare events (e.g., DPHARM, Sensors Converge) and media brands.

Regional players

• MCH Group: Swiss-based live marketing and trade fair group operating major venues and exhibitions across art, watch/jewelry, and consumer goods. While geographically concentrated in Europe, it offers a comparable mix of owned events and venue operations.
• GL Events: France-headquartered integrated event industry player combining venue management, trade fair organization, and live event services. Comparable B2B events portfolio structure, with primary geographic concentration in Europe.
• Hannover Fairs International: Subsidiary of Deutsche Messe running international trade fair expansion outside Germany. Operates large-scale B2B exhibitions in industrial technology, logistics, and digital ecosystems with a similar sponsorship- and exhibitor-driven model.

Emerging players

• WebMD (Internet Brands Health Group): Major healthcare and life-sciences digital media and information platform that overlaps with Questex's Fierce Healthcare, Fierce Pharma, and Fierce Biotech audience and advertising base. Serves similar pharma/healthcare marketing buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/questexllc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Questex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/questex-media-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Questex