Hyve caps successful 2024 with 60% revenue growth

Hyve Group saw its 2024 revenue soar 60% to $316 million – driven by new event launches, expanded meeting programs and acquisitions in healthcare and marketing sectors.

The company also reported 17% organic growth across its existing businesses and achieved an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +46 across its major events. Scroll down to read the full details.

Here are the top headlines for your weekly event news updates:

• Hyve caps successful 2024 with 60% revenue growth
• Clarion Events names Kelly Comboni new CEO of Clarion Connect
• ECA focuses on competitiveness in 2025 public policy agenda
• Globus Events signs JV agreement with Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai to expand APAC offerings
• GL Events to manage prestigious Marseilles venue in three-year partnership

Hyve caps successful 2024 with 60% revenue growth

Hyve Group posted 60% revenue growth and hit $316m to wrap up a successful 2024. 

The company reported sustained organic growth of 17% and expanded its portfolio through acquisitions of HLTH and POSSIBLE to enter the healthcare and marketing sectors. Here are the key factors that drove growth:

• Launch of Shoptalk Fall event
• Expansion of existing events portfolio
• Scale-up of meeting programs, facilitating 190,000 one-on-one meetings with a 96% completion rate, representing a 27% increase from 2023
• Integration of acquired events into core operations
• Implementation of digitization strategy

CEO Mark Shashoua said: “It has now been eighteen months since Hyve became a private business and in that time, we have accelerated our growth plans.

“With a proven strategy in place, we have continued to deliver game-changing impact for our customers.

“Our strong financial performance has been driven by our team’s relentless focus on innovation – adding a Fall edition into our Shoptalk portfolio, scaling existing events through our expanded meeting programmes and securing two major acquisitions, taking us into new and exciting growth sectors.”

HLTH’s flagship U.S. event became Hyve’s largest revenue generator, while POSSIBLE – in its third year of operation – showed growth in customer engagement.

The company has introduced a three-year growth plan called GO27 that focuses on market share expansion, customer retention and portfolio growth.

Mark added: “At Hyve, we don’t just host market-leading events, we provide our customers with game-changing opportunities.

“And this year, we expanded our reach to benefit thousands more customers by acquiring HLTH and POSSIBLE, whilst establishing a number one position in two more growth sectors.

“Our brilliant teams across the world have been instrumental in reaching our goals this year with their unwavering dedication and hard work.

“As we enter year two of our growth and optimisation plan, I am excited to embark on another transformative year as our team delivers on what they do best – creating unmissable events.”

Hyve also expanded its leadership team with new positions including Chief Operating Officer, executive vice president of Global Brands, transformation director and more.

Hyve currently operates 30 events across 10 industry sectors, employing more than 650 people globally.

In 2024, these events featured 3,000 speakers delivering 500 hours of content. The company’s customer satisfaction metrics showed a Net Promoter Score of 46 across major events.

The company enters 2025 with plans for both organic growth and targeted mergers and acquisitions, supported by its current balance sheet position.

Clarion Events names Kelly Comboni new CEO of Clarion Connect

Clarion Events has promoted Kelly Comboni as CEO of Clarion Connect, its division focused on business networking events and digital platforms.

Kelly will oversee brands including Quartz Network, Consero Events, Connect Events, Eaton Hall and LeftField Media.

The division operates more than 80 summits and forums worldwide, facilitating 60,000 business connections annually.

She will report to Clarion Events North America Chairman Greg Topalian and Global CEO Lisa Hannant. She will lead the division’s business-to-business and consumer event portfolios.

Lisa Hannant, global CEO of Clarion Events, said: “Kelly’s promotion to CEO of Clarion Connect recognizes her exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and passion for fostering collaboration.

“Her ability to build high-performing teams and deliver exceptional value has already made an indelible impact across the brands she leads.

“I am confident Kelly will elevate Clarion Connect to even greater heights, ensuring we remain at the forefront of connection-driven businesses.”

Kelly said: “I’m incredibly excited to step into this role as CEO of Clarion Connect,.

“At its core, this division is about creating opportunities for people and businesses to come together in ways that drive real impact—whether it’s through sparking innovation, solving challenges, or forming partnerships that last.

“As we continue to expand our global footprint and refine the way we connect communities, I’m eager to build on our success and deliver even more value for our customers and teams.”

Comboni joined Clarion Events in 2017 through its acquisition of LeftField Media, where she was a co-founder. LeftField Media produces fan conventions including Anime NYC, Anime Frontier, Awesome Con and Rose City Comic Con.

ECA focuses on competitiveness in 2025 public policy agenda

The Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) 2025 policy agenda focuses on U.S. business events industry competitiveness through tax reform, workforce development and international travel measures.

The organization plans to advocate for federal tax policies supporting business growth and oppose local tax measures targeting the events industry.

With the release of our 2025 public policy agenda, ECA has been in the news quite a bit recently.

Here's a rundown of some great recent articles that go deep on how policy will impact the business and professional events industry this year.🧵 pic.twitter.com/bwtGJLOoxU

— Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (@ECAadvocacy) January 8, 2025

The agenda also emphasizes reducing visa wait times and modernizing visa processing to boost international attendance at U.S. events.

Hervé Sedky, chair of the ECA board of directors, said: “In 2025, ECA will be committed to ensuring that the U.S. business and professional events industry remains competitive for the future.

“ECA looks forward to working with policymakers in Washington, DC and nationwide to advance our 2025 public policy priorities.

“These efforts will strengthen our industry’s competitiveness, continue driving economic growth, support job creation, and empower small businesses across the country for years to come.”

ECA will mobilize industry leaders through its Advocacy Network to connect with elected officials on these priorities. The platform enables event professionals to contact representatives and host them at local business events.

The alliance’s strategy includes developing new workforce pathways and promoting environmentally sustainable practices to maintain competitive advantages in the global events market.

ECA co-president Vinnie Polito said: “From supporting tax laws that incentivize the growth of our small businesses to policies that help the U.S. attract more international exhibitors, attendees, and events, 2025 will be a critical year for the industry on Capitol Hill and beyond.

“As the unified advocacy voice of the industry, ECA will be leading the charge to make sure that our elected officials understand how they can best support the industry going forward.”

ECA co-president Marsha Flanagan added: “Advocacy is critical to ensuring that our policymakers support the industry on the issues that matter.

“With so much at stake in 2025, we need everyone across the industry to get involved and make their voices heard. Together we can make an impact!”

Read the complete policy here.

Globus Events signs JV agreement with Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai to expand APAC offerings

Globus Events and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai have formed a joint venture company to strengthen their presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region’s trade show market.

The new company, DACF Exhibitions Shanghai Ltd., will manage DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR – the region’s largest flooring exhibition.

The agreement was signed on January 8 during the China Expo Forum for International Cooperation in Tianjin.

Globus Events CEO Edwin Chen said: “We are truly excited to achieve this milestone in our long-standing collaboration with Hannover Milano Fairs and Deutsche Messe.

“Over the years, our partnership has delivered the leading international tradeshow for the flooring industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The establishment of this joint venture represents a renewed commitment from both parties—not only to further invest in this vital industry platform but also to explore and develop new opportunities across the markets in which we operate.”

The joint venture combines the resources of Globus Events with Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai, which is owned by Deutsche Messe and Fiera Milano. DACF Exhibitions will take control of the DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR show starting in 2025.

Arno Reich, senior vice president of Deutsche Messe, added: “The establishment of DACF Exhibitions Shanghai Ltd. marks a significant step forward in our strategic partnership with Globus Events.

“This joint venture not only strengthens our commitment to the flooring industry in the Asia-Pacific region but also exemplifies our dedication to innovation and growth.

“We are convinced that by pooling our resources and expertise, we can elevate DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR to new heights and create unparalleled value for our exhibitions and visitors.”

The exhibition, part of Deutsche Messe’s DOMOTEX portfolio, has operated in Shanghai for 26 years. The 2024 event drew more than 80,000 trade visitors and 18,000 international buyers.

The next edition is scheduled for May 26-28, 2025, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Organizers expect 1,600 exhibitors to occupy 200,000 square meters of exhibition space.

GL Events to manage prestigious Marseilles venue in three-year partnership

GL Events has entered a three-year contract to manage the historic Parc Chanot venue in Marseille.

The group signed a partnership with CCIAMP Infrastructures and plans to enhance the site’s role as an economic and cultural center while increasing public accessibility.

Development plans include expanding green spaces and implementing environmental sustainability measures.

The two companies have formed a new subsidiary to operate the facility, combining GL Events’ venue management experience with CCIAMP’s local market knowledge.

The partnership will introduce new programming focused on gastronomy, industry and fashion events. Plans are also underway for the centennial celebration of Foire de Marseille, the city’s annual trade fair.

Parc Chanot has historically served as Marseille’s primary exhibition and convention center.

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