PRESS RELEASE: Connect Meetings Acquires BizBash

Source: Connect Meetings

CONNECT MEETINGS ACQUIRES BIZBASH
Key Tarsus Division Broadens its Reach

NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 2, 2019—Connect Meetings has today announced the purchase of BizBash, the iconic trade media company for event and meeting planners, further expanding Connect’s market leading position. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of BizBash adds four premier events—including the iconic BizBash Live in New York and L.A. shows for event pros—to the current Connect portfolio of over 30 national, regional and vertically focused events around the United States. Connect will now also publish two of BizBash’s popular magazines and oversee all of its digital properties. In cities where Connect and BizBash events overlap, they will collocate and combine efforts—including some pop-up events in markets new to BizBash.

“After nearly 20 years building the BizBash brand, we are thrilled to be joining forces with Connect to create a next-generation event and media company to serve organizers and marketers of all types,” said BizBash CEO and Founder David Adler. “It is a marriage that will inspire collaboration not only in the meeting, event and event marketing industries but will have an impact on the 60 million people who attend the events, conferences, festivals, meetings and gatherings planned by our diverse organizers.”

Adler will remain with the business and will continue in capacity of chairman.

Chris Collinson, president and founder of Connect, echoed Adler’s enthusiasm: “BizBash brings a new perspective to the Connect portfolio, rounding out the tools that event organizers use to make their events more effective. Connect has excelled in assisting meeting planners with site-selection needs, however BizBash inspires a different audience of event professionals with education on design, inspiration and technology that creates a meaningful experience and wow factor for event attendees.”

Commenting on the deal, Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie, said: “Having known David Adler for almost 20 years, I’m delighted to be finally working with him on how to shape events for the future. This is a really exciting acquisition for the group and our dynamic Connect division. The addition of BizBash to the growing Tarsus Connect portfolio heralds a phase of further growth and access to new markets. The U.S. is one of the world’s largest exhibition markets and a key area of focus for us. We have already identified numerous opportunities to grow both brands thanks to the synergies created by this acquisition.”

The acquisition closes out a record-breaking year for Connect, which is owned by Tarsus Group, and has seen the company’s growth propelled by its expansion into new markets and verticals, including the launch of Connect Medical, Connect Tech and Connect Midwest.

Media Contact: VP of Content Creation, Stephanie Davis Smith, sdsmith@connectmeetings.com.

ABOUT CONNECT
Connect is a leader in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meetings business and travel magazines, trade shows and consumer events, travel guides for newspapers and leisure magazines and destination information, which is distributed through broadcast and custom programs. Connect produces national shows for meeting planners in the Corporate, Expo, Sports, Diversity, Association and Faith sectors as well as other state- and region-specific meetings- and hospitality-focused events. More information about the company’s brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com.

ABOUT BIZBASH
BizBash is North America’s No. 1 source of ideas, news, and resources for event and meeting professionals. Each month nearly 225,000 unique users look to BizBash for venue discovery, event style, technology and tools for their next event. Thousands of event professionals attend BizBash’s in-person events in major cities in the United States and Canada and listen to our podcast GatherGeeks monthly. Learn more at bizbash.com.

ABOUT TARSUS GROUP
Tarsus Group delivers over 170 B2B events across the globe along with thought-leading publications and digital media. We create solutions for our customers’ needs, and our events and media help them to address their current business challenges and prepare for upcoming opportunities. Our customers rely on our products to build their businesses, develop rich relationships and gain critical insights. Tarsus Group operates globally, in numerous verticals including aviation, medical, labels, travel and housewares and owns a number of flagship brands including Labelexpo, Connect Meetings and the Dubai Airshow.