Outdoor Retailer Show owner buys Overland Expo organiser

Emerald, the owner of leading trade show Outdoor Retailer, has acquired consumer event specialist Lodestone Events, producer of the hugely successful Overland Expo series of adventure travel consumer shows. As part of the arrangement, all Lodestone employees will join the Emerald team with its founders – Lindsay Hubley and Jessica Kirchner – joining the management team to continue to lead the Overland Expo series.

Overland Expo is the world’s premier event series for adventure travel enthusiasts and stages four consumer shows annually, one each in Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, and Virginia. Last year, the events attracted nearly 80,000 consumer attendees, 1,300 exhibitors, and 250 journalists. In addition to a wide variety of camping and product demonstrations, attendees had access to 1,700 hours of classroom-style education, roundtable discussions and hands-on instruction across 1,380 sessions.

“Bringing the Overland Expo series of four premier events and Outdoor Adventure X together creates an expansive offering of consumer experiences not seen before in the outdoor community,” said Jeff Davis, group vice president, Emerald. “We look forward to the synergy these iconic gatherings bring to our collective events while creating even greater value for the entire outdoor ecosystem, from manufacturers to retailers and consumers. With the growing demand for outdoor experiences, we are excited to increase the opportunities for consumers to engage directly with their preferred products and brands, as well as discover new gear and opportunities to support their outdoor pursuits.”

“Overland is a growing market segment, recognized and valued by the outdoor industry at large. Overlanders are outdoor enthusiasts and explorers who outfit their vehicles for backcountry adventures, which often include hiking, camping, paddlesports, cycling, and climbing,” said Lindsay Hubley, managing partner of Lodestone Events.

Photo © Emerald/Overland Expo

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