Questex Media Acquires International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conferences (IECSC)

Questex Media

Questex Media Group, Inc., a global, diversified business-to-business media provider, and owner of American Spa magazine, Medical Spa Report, American Spa Expo, American Salon magazine, and the International Beauty Show today announced the acquisition of the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC), and the Las Vegas Hair & Nail Conference from Show Management, Inc.

Founded by Magda E. Fichter in 1991, the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference quickly found success and became the two largest professional esthetics, cosmetics and spa conferences in the world. Jointly, it has grown to 190,000 net square feet with 1,100 exhibitors and 56,000 attendees and is held twice annually in Las Vegas and Orlando. The Las Vegas Hair & Nail Conference co-locates with IECSC and boasts an impressive 300 exhibitors and 15,000 attendees.

'We are thrilled to acquire such well-respected and successful events,' says Rob Ingraham, executive vice president of Questex Media's beauty and travel groups. 'This acquisition allows us to build on our leading position in the beauty and spa markets and help contribute that much more to this dynamic and ever changing industry. Kudos to Magda and her team for producing such powerful industry gatherings. Our intent is to keep the IECSC team in place and to continue working with Magda Fitcher, John Clarke and Jonnell Gailey to ensure the success of future IECSC events.'

"After many successful years running the IECSC and Las Vegas Hair & Nail Conference, I am confident that this is the correct direction for these events. Questex's properties have served the spa and beauty industry extremely well for more than a century with print, live event and online resources and the inclusion of IECSC to its portfolio will only enhance the experiences for both suppliers and buyers," remarked Magda E. Fichter, founder/president/executive producer of Show Management Inc. "A most sincere thanks to all of the exhibitors and attendees who have helped make these events the leaders they are. I look forward to working with the talented folks at Questex to make sure that the transition is smooth to ensure the exhibitors and attendees are well served in 2007 and beyond."

Next up is IECSC Orlando, October 7­9, at the Orlando/OC Convention Center, then IBS New York and the American Spa Expo March 11-13, 2007 at the Javits Center. The 16th-annual IECSC, Las Vegas will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center June 2­4, 2007.

About the Beauty Group (www.ibsnewyork.com, www.americanspaexpo.com, www.iecsc.com, www.americansalonmag.com, www.americanspamag.com, www.medicalspareport.com)
Produced by Questex Media Group, Inc. and presented by American Salon and American Spa magazines, IBS New York is the largest and longest running professional beauty event in the country. IBS New York and American Spa Expo are for professionals only and reach a wide cross-section of participants from beauty and spa product manufacturers and distributors to salon and spa owners and managers, hair stylists, hair colorists, estheticians, makeup artists, nail technicians, dermatologists and massage therapists.

About Questex Media Group, Inc. (www.questex.com)
Questex serves multiple industries including technology, beauty, travel, hospitality, leisure, home entertainment, industrial and specialty services through a range of well-established, market-leading publications, events, interactive media and integrated marketing services. The company's properties include 23 trade publications, 50 websites, 25 conferences and tradeshows. Questex has more than 400 employees in offices throughout North America, South America, Asia and Europe.