Clarion Kicks Off New Intimate Meeting Division With Acquisitions

By: Christiana Sciaudone

Clarion Events, a privately-owned events company, bought Eaton Hall, an event organizer specialized in face-to-face meetings, earlier this month as part of the launch of a new division.

Clarion Connect, which comprises Eaton Hall, Quartz Network and Events, Consero Events and Connexa, will focus on one-on-one connections in small, curated meetings, with over 80 events, summits, online networks and forums happening annually.

“One of our pillar focuses going forward… is really about showing the value of connections and continuing to deliver and over-deliver on the value of connections for our customers in all ways, connections between buyer and seller, between peer to peer connections, directly to content itself,” Kelly Comboni, who leads Clarion Connect, told AMO this week.

Such events are happening in the U.S. and Europe already and will expand globally in coming years. Clarion, which was acquired by Blackstone in 2017, is also looking to buy other kinds of events companies, especially those led by creative founders. In-person gatherings of all kinds continue to thrive post-Covid and as remote work remains a reality, even if some big tech companies are calling folks back to the office five days a week.

“Clarion is looking for founders always, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be the connections model, could be in the trade show model, it could be in some sort of new twist on connecting buyers and sellers together in some unique way,” Comboni said. “We are always eager to work with founders who are looking for their exit or infusion of investment to take it to the next level.”

Clarion itself is reportedly up for sale with Reuters reporting in August that owner Blackstone is exploring options for the company, which could value it at up to 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion). Clarion Events in the UK declined to comment on the deal.