Informa Markets advances healthcare tech with new partnership

Informa Markets has signed a new partnership to take charge of a leading healthcare tech event.  

The collaboration with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) will see Informa Markets manage the HMISS Exhibition – one of the biggest healthcare events in North America.

Other stories from our weekly event industry roundup include:

? UFI to host its 17th Asia-Pacific (APAC) conference in Macau in 2024

? Freeman acquires Spark to strengthen service offerings

? Smart Group acquires Story Events

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Read on for your full Week in Events roundup ⤵️

Informa Markets announces new partnership to boost healthcare tech

Informa Markets has partnered with HIMSS to deliver HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition – a major healthcare event in North America.

The collaboration is expected to combine the expertise of Informa Markets in delivering world-class experiences and HIMSS’ expertise in content and programming in healthcare tech.

Hal Wolf, president & CEO of HIMSS said: “With the remarkable growth that the Global Conference has reached, it’s the right time to partner with North America’s leading exhibitions organizer, Informa Markets, who shares our vision to make the HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition the best it can be for the entire eco-system.”

We have exciting news to share! We are announcing that we have entered into a landmark partnership with @Informa Markets to propel the growth and evolution of the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition. Learn more by reading our joint press release: https://t.co/l25vEYNOKV pic.twitter.com/DuT8JNOAVM

— HIMSS (@HIMSS) August 4, 2023

Ken McAvoy, president at South Florida Ventures at Informa Markets, said: “Drawing on our extensive experience in organizing some of the largest and most successful events in the US, combined with HIMSS’ unparalleled expertise in the digital health space, we are excited to collaborate and leverage our resources to deliver even greater benefits and value to the HIMSS community and its members.”

The partnership strengthens Informa Markets’ portfolio in the healthcare and medtech space, having organised shows like Arab Health, IME and FIME.

UFI annual APAC conference to be held in Macau in 2024

UFI has announced the Macau Fair & Trade Association will host its 17th APAC Conference on March 7-8 2024.

The event was held earlier in Kuala Lumpur – the first time in person after a three-year gap due to the pandemic.

UFI APAC regional director Mark Cochrane said: “We are pleased and honoured to bring the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference to Macau.

“The original plan was to host this event in Macau in 2020, but the global pandemic delayed that by four years.

“However, we are looking forward to working with MFTA and the team in Macau to put together an innovative and exciting programme for our members in 2024!”

The two-day conference will feature expert panels and keynote sessions, covering the latest trends and opportunities in the APAC exhibition market.

You can pre-register for the event here.

Freeman acquires global brand experience agency

Leading events company Freeman has added Sparks, a brand experience expert, to its roster. 

The acquisition aims to expedite Freeman’s expansion in the corporate market by addressing the changing needs of corporate clients and event organisers.

Freeman CEO Bob Priest-Heck said: “Our combination with Sparks creates a unique opportunity to accelerate Freeman’s vision to become a leader in the corporate space.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Sparks’ talented team join Freeman at this exciting time for the industry.”

Today Freeman’s agency and Sparks combine to create extraordinary experiences connecting leading brands with audiences everywhere. https://t.co/eYZMfeJHFy pic.twitter.com/BGk4dvcz6C

— Freeman (@FreemanCo) August 1, 2023

David Sudjian, CEO of Sparks, said: “I am thrilled about the immense potential Freeman and Sparks have together.

“Our exceptional teams are eager to collaborate and leverage our strengths to create extraordinary experiences.

“The alignment of culture and values between Freeman and Sparks truly sets this combination apart, fueling our ability to deliver remarkable moments worldwide.”

Smart Group adds Story Events to its portfolio

Event management firm Smart Group has enhanced its creative event management arm with the addition of Story Events.

Story Events will be part of Smart Live, which handles project management of large and small events like product launches, conferences, award ceremonies and corporate retreats.

Chloe Jackson, managing director of Smart Group said: “2023 is shaping up to be an exciting time for Smart Group as we continue to grow, and this latest acquisition represents a fantastic opportunity for all involved due to our combined strengths and alignment on our core purpose: to deliver outstanding events for our respective clients.”

Rosalind Shelley, managing director of Story Events said: ‘This is a great opportunity for Story Events to benefit from Smart Group’s strong business position.

“We look forward to collaborating with Smart Group and Smart Live, combining our creative minds to deliver events that are autonomous and synonymous in which our clients have enjoyed over the years.”

Post-acquisition, Story Events will continue to operate as an independent group and deliver key events such as the London Summer Event Show and London Christmas Party Show.

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