Informa Enters the $6.8 Trillion Wellness Economy With Acquisition of Global Wellness Summit and Institute

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Informa Enters the $6.8 Trillion Wellness Economy With Acquisition of Global Wellness Summit and Institute

Informa is acquiring two organizations at the center of the global wellness industry, the Global Wellness Summit and the Global Wellness Institute, according to news reported by Skift Meetings. The move brings the annual conference and research body under one roof inside the company’s medical division. The terms of the transaction have not been made public.

The two organizations will operate together as the Global Wellness Group. Susie Ellis, who set up both bodies, is leaving her post. Nancy Davis, who has served as chief creative officer and executive director, will lead the new group starting Jan. 1, 2027. Informa and the Global Wellness Institute said staff at both organizations will stay on and that neither brand name will change.

One question left open by the announcement is how the Global Wellness Institute, which is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be governed once it sits inside a company traded on public markets. It is not yet known whether the research operation will continue as it is or be reorganized.

By the Institute’s own estimate, wellness activity worldwide, including tourism, spas and corporate wellness programs, is worth $6.8 trillion.

• Growth recorded between 2023 and 2024: 7.9%
• Share of global GDP the sector is expected to reach by 2029: 7.1%

For Informa, the purchase adds to a group of health-related businesses it already runs in medicine, longevity treatments and aesthetics.

Ellis linked the deal to that broader strategy. “As Informa builds out a complete health ecosystem, it’s been looking to add wellness to its portfolio — recognizing the size and impact of the wellness economy,” she said.

The Global Wellness Summit itself only admits attendees by invitation. This year marks its 20th edition, set for Nov. 10-13 at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand, where people from business, government, academic and scientific backgrounds gather to talk through trends and investment in the sector.

Davis described the acquisition as a turning point for the event. “If GWS has helped lead the evolution of wellness for the last 20 years, now, together with Informa, we have an extraordinary opportunity to lead what comes next — with events, education and research on a whole new scale,” she said.

Explaining her departure, Ellis pointed to family reasons. “Nothing changes about what has made our work so special, but Informa gives us the resources and global platform to grow our organisation — and yours — in ways we’ve envisioned for years,” she said.

With the acquisition, Informa gains a recurring conference, a research unit and an established network of contacts across the wellness sector in one transaction.

Snöball Spotlights Peer-to-Peer Event Marketing at MeasureUp 2026

Snöball participated as a partner in MeasureUp, an invite-only conference on agentic AI and data analytics for the events industry, held Sept. 2 in Washington. The event was organized by Bear Analytics.

Rachel Stephan, Snöball’s Founder and CEO, joined a panel titled “Data-Driven Storytelling: Proving Event ROI,” alongside Michael Hoffman of Gather Voices and Erin Lee of AdvaMed. Megan Martin of Bear Analytics moderated the session.

Rachel and Ian Davis, Snöball’s vice president of marketing, also co-hosted a Marketing Learning Lab session on measuring the return of event marketing spend.

The lab session focused on marketing channels not typically captured in standard reporting, including speakers, exhibitors and attendees, alongside established channels such as email, social and paid media. Attendees worked through a marketing plan covering audience targeting, outreach materials and attribution methods across the pre-event, onsite and post-event phases of a campaign.

Messe Düsseldorf and FENAGRI Join Forces to Launch New Morocco Trade Fair

Messe Düsseldorf and FENAGRI are launching a new food and packaging trade fair in Morocco, the companies announced.

The event is scheduled for 2027 and marks Messe Düsseldorf’s first show in the country, extending the German exhibition organizer’s MENA presence, which began with interpack Middle East Africa in 2019 and expanded with Food Africa in 2021.

Wolfram N. Diener, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, said the move builds on that network. “With our entry into the Moroccan market, our network in the MENA region will extend from the Atlantic coast to the Arabian Peninsula. While our food and packaging trade shows in Cairo serve as a bridge between Africa and the Middle East, Morocco will provide access to West African markets and offer a compelling advantage because of its proximity to Europe,” Wolfram said.

FENAGRI operates under the mandate of Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. Key figures shared by the organizations:

• Morocco’s projected annual growth rate: 4.5% to 5% through 2028
• Share of Morocco’s food trade conducted with the EU: more than 60%
• FENAGRI’s member associations: 15
• Enterprises represented by FENAGRI: more than 2,600
• Share of the Moroccan market covered by FENAGRI: approximately 40% to 50%

Morocco exports fruit, vegetables, processed foods and seafood, and imports grain, edible oils, animal feed and dairy products. Its other major food trade partners are the United Kingdom, the United States, Türkiye, Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region.

Diener said the partnership reflects the region’s potential. “The growth of our events in the region demonstrates the enormous potential of the MENA markets, which we are unlocking for our customers together with our partners. When an experienced national association like FENAGRI joins forces with Messe Düsseldorf and its international trade show expertise, it creates the foundation for a platform that extends far beyond a single event,” he said.

Abdelmounim El Eulj, FENAGRI’s president, and Bernd Jablonowski, executive director at Messe Düsseldorf, represented the organizations in the announcement.

TSNN Debuts EXHIEs™ Award For Exhibitor Excellence

TSNN has introduced the EXHIEs, a new awards program recognizing exhibitor excellence across trade shows and industries. The awards debuted at Connect Marketplace, held Aug. 24-26 at the Tampa Convention Center.

Visit Tampa Bay received Best in Show for Large Booth at the event. The booth included local coffee and popcorn vendors, Tampa Bay-branded latte foam and activations designed to increase dwell time.

The EXHIEs are presented by TSNN and evaluate exhibitor experiences in areas including booth design, attendee engagement, technology and overall show presence.

“Launching the EXHIEs at Connect Marketplace allowed us to recognize exhibitor excellence where it happens—on the show floor,” said Danica Tormohlen, TSNN vice president of content. “The response from winners and attendees confirmed what we believed: exhibitors deserve recognition for the innovation and effort they bring to trade shows.”

Judging took place on the trade show’s first day, Aug. 24. Winners received certificates to display in their booths the following day, Aug. 25.

Judges scored each booth on creativity and design, technology and innovation, attendee engagement, alignment with event themes, and overall excellence.

TSNN Strategic Director Kim Collie addressed the awards’ debut. “A heartfelt thank you to Connect for recognizing the vital importance of the organizer-exhibitor relationship and for supporting this groundbreaking awards program,” Kim said.

TSNN partnered with The Exhibitor Advocate to give EXHIEs winners complimentary membership and education access valued at $1,200, including consultation, resource access and industry research reports.

New AEO Chair Andrew Williams Maps Out a Three-Year Vision

The Association of Event Organisers has named Andrew Williams as its new chair. Williams, executive vice president at Informa Markets, was appointed by the AEO Board along with Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified Communications UK, who becomes vice chair.

Alison Willis, chief executive officer of Easyfairs, completes a one-year term as chair and becomes past chair until September 2027.

Andrew will lead development of a three-year vision for the association, focused on member collaboration, new technology and delivering value through advocacy and resources.

“I’m extremely honoured and excited to be AEO chair for the next 12 months, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the AEO team and Board,” Andrew said. “AEO has always been the leading association for event organisers. It’s successful, dynamic and proactive, and my job as chair is to make sure that continues. I’m keen for us to agree a clear three-year vision that gives us a shared direction and ensures AEO continues to have a meaningful impact for its members.”

Alison said: “Serving as AEO chair has been a real privilege. Strengthening the value proposition was a priority for me this year, and I’m pleased with where it has landed. Andrew knows this industry inside out and will be an excellent chair.”

Four Board members were reappointed for a second term:

• Lisa Hannant, group chief executive officer, Clarion Events
• Matthew Butler, group managing director, CloserStill Media
• Mike Seaman, chief executive officer, Raccoon Media Group
• Austen Hawkins, managing director, Five Senses Media

Greg Hitchen, group chief executive of Terrapinn, joins the Board. He has worked in the events industry for 35 years.

The appointments were confirmed at AEO’s Annual General Meeting at the Vox Conference Venue, NEC Birmingham, on Sept. 2, 2026.

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