Hyve moves further into health sector with latest takeover

The largest conference of its kind in the US for behavorial health profs has been taken over by Hyve.

Behavioral Health Tech is the latest in a string of acquisitions for the organizer – marking their fourth in a year.

That’s your top story for the Week in Events. Here are some other highlights for the industry:

• Italian Exhibition Group gains the Fiuggi Congress and Events Center management contract
• GovNet launch new internship program to support next generation of eventprofs
• Record-breaking revenue sales were seen by NurnbergMesse
• ICC Wales and Business of Events launch research project

Read on for your full Week in Events.

Hyve acquires biggest Behavioral Health tech event in US

Hyve has made its fourth acquisition in just a year with the takeover of Behavioral Health Tech.

It is the largest conference of its kind in the US and comes as part of a continuation of the organizer’s three-year growth strategy.

The behavioral health sector has been at the forefront of Hyve’s priorities in these plans.

Mark Shashoua, Hyve Group CEO, said: “What’s exciting about this event is the founder energy behind it – that hunger, vision, and drive you only get from something built from the ground up.

“It’s loved by its community, has real momentum, and we’re extremely proud to bring it into our portfolio.”

Behavioral Health Tech boasts the largest community focused on expanding access to mental health, substance use, autism and I/DD care through technology, health equity and innovation.

Solome Tibebu, Behavioral Health Tech president, added: “I couldn’t think of a better home than Hyve and can’t wait to get started and collaborate.”

The addition means Hyve has also further increased their healthcare presence after acquiring HLTH back in October 2024.

IEG one step closer to multi-venue conference center in Lazio region

Italian Exhibition Group has taken on the management contract for Fiuggi Congress and Events Center.

The deal brings them  closer to achieving their goal of revitalizing the conference program in the Lazio region.

It comes as part of a plan to create a multi-venue conference hub in central Italy.

Maurizio Ermeti, IEG president, said: “We believe in this region, both for its geographic location, easily accessible from the capital, and for the significant efforts that private individuals and institutions are making to promote the overall redevelopment of such a well-known and prestigious location.”

The group aims to host 14 major events by 2027 with the help of local operators.

GovNet launch internship program for next-gen event professionals

GovNet has launched their new internship program as part of aims to support the next generation of industry professionals.

The scheme targets recent graduates who have studied event management and marketing or a similar field in London.

Interns will have the chance to gain practical experience while developing their industry knowledge and skills, providing aspiring eventprofs with a gateway into employment.

Liz Whittingham, director of operations at GovNet, said: “This programme isn’t just about shadowing – it’s about validating each person’s experience and giving them the space to truly be part of the team and get a feel for the events industry.”

GovNet will deliver the internship program in partnership with Inspire Connect as part of efforts to bridge the gap between education and events.

NurnbergMesse respond to record sales with significant investment

NurnbergMesse hgas reported a record-breaking €368 million in revenue sales over 12 months.

Figures for 2024 also show a significant year-on-year growth for the last three years – a 42% increase in exhibitors since 2022 and a 23% increase in overall visitors from 2023.

The group is now taking steps to continue their growth trajectory with an investment €100 million in key development areas.

Peter Ottmann, CEO of NürnbergMesse Group, said: “We are making the most of the tailwind from the highly successful anniversary year to make targeted investments in our exhibition grounds in Nuremberg, our worldwide event portfolio and our IT and AI capabilities.”

The group now anticipates a consolidation of their annual revenue with an expected €350 million in sales.

ICC Wales and TBOE launch event inclusion research project

ICC Wales and the Business of Events have launched a nationwide research project for the UK’s event industry.

The study aims to make the future of the events industry more accessible and inclusive.

It will see venues and organizers  participate in an anonymous survey to share insights on these areas.

Julie Hammond, chief executive of ICC Wales, said: “If we want to deliver truly inclusive experiences, we must listen to those with lived experience of disability and be honest about where we are now. I urge UK venues to take part in this research, share their challenges and be part of the change.”

Findings of this research will inform an extensive report to be published later this year – highlighting current practices, key areas of improvement and where challenges lie.

This will include solutions on an infrastructure level, along with online accessibility and emerging technologies to improve inclusion.

Thank you for reading this article. Want to see how event tech can help turn these insights into action? Book a free consultation with ExpoPlatform now.