APITS Ltd, the company behind A Place in the Sun Live events and website, has acquired Property Investor Media Ltd, which operates the Property Investor Show. The acquisition will see the two long-running property events combined at venues in London and Birmingham from 2027.
The merged events will take place at ExCel London on 16-18 April 2027 and the NEC Birmingham on 24-26 September 2027. The Property Investor Show will maintain its distinct branding, floorplan and seminar theatre within the larger A Place in the Sun Live format.
Event consolidation strategy
Andy Bridge, Chief Executive of APITS Ltd, said the respective events have been running for over 20 years. “Staging events does not get any easier and we are not the first to recognise the clear economies in running two events in one space,” he stated. “We have competed with Property Investor across the years and share some exhibitors, but the combined client base and audience create a strong opportunity to coalesce and develop.”
The consolidation reflects broader trends in the property events sector, where organisers are seeking to maximise attendee numbers and exhibitor value. Similar to shifts observed in prime London property transactions, the industry continues to adapt to post-pandemic market conditions.
Exhibitor and visitor benefits
Nick Clark, Managing Director and founder of Property Investor Media, cited exhibitor demands for improved return on investment in the post-Covid environment. “Our exhibitors have been asking for added value to boost their exhibition ROI, primarily in the form of larger visitor attendance numbers, but also the opportunity to engage with an audience beyond London and the Southeast,” Clark explained.
Clark, who has entered his 70th year after more than 40 years as a business owner, indicated on LinkedIn that he had “run out of steam” and the time was right to pass on the business. The Property Investor Show originated during the 1980s as the Homebuyer Show before relaunching as the Property Investor Show at London’s ExCel in 2002.
A Place in the Sun began as a Channel 4 television programme in 2000 and has run for 12 series. Following the 2003 Communications Act, which allowed producers to control their intellectual property, the brand expanded into live events, magazines and websites. The APITS website now competes with Rightmove’s overseas property search business.
Industry figure Russell Quirk became a shareholder in the Property Investor show in February this year. The acquisition comes as property investors continue to seek opportunities across both domestic and overseas markets, with average parental contributions to home purchases reaching record levels.
The combined events aim to provide exhibitors with access to larger audiences across two major UK venues, while offering visitors a broader range of property investment content and opportunities.
