Reed Exhibitions has acquired from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS) its World Congress and Annual Meetings.
Launched in 1993, the ITS World Congress brings together policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, and investors from the global “intelligent transportation and mobility” communities.
Reed’s first joint event will be the 2020 ITS World Congress at the Los Angeles Convention Center in October this year, expected to attract 10,000 ITS professionals, 300 exhibitors and representatives from some 65 countries.
It is the first deal under new Reed Exhibitions CEO Hugh Jones. With a background in data tech with RELX and Accuity, Jones wants to increase the use of technology to facilitate buyer-seller relationships during exhibitions and beyond. He is the first Reed CEO not to have worked in exhibitions previously.
In parent company RELX’s recent results for 2019, Reed Exhibitions grew revenue by 6% (same as 2018) but decreased operating profit by 1% (+10% previously). The company launched 50 events in 2019.
The increase in exhibitions revenue was second best in RELX to Risk & Business Analytics, but it was the only division not to grow operating profit in 2019.
