ConferenceDirect and Bear Analytics Announce Strategic Partnership

ConferenceDirect and Bear Analytics Announce Strategic Partnership to Help Organizations Prove the Value of Their Meeting Programs

ConferenceDirect, powered by the Bear IQ platform, combines meeting advisory expertise with analytics infrastructure to deliver clearer proof that their meeting programs are working

Beverly Hills, CA - April 17, 2026 - ConferenceDirect and Bear Analytics announced a strategic partnership designed to help organizations bring more clarity, consistency, and performance visibility to their meeting programs. Powered by the Bear IQ platform, the partnership combines ConferenceDirect's meeting advisory expertise with modern analytics infrastructure so organizations can measure performance across programs, benchmark results, forecast future outcomes, and improve decisions over time.

Many organizations still manage meetings through disconnected systems, manual spreadsheets, and inconsistent reporting. That makes it difficult to compare performance across programs, prove the value of strategic meeting management, and make a case to leadership before budget season forces the conversation. Through this partnership, ConferenceDirect and Bear Analytics are working to change that.

By unifying program data and applying analytics, benchmarking intelligence, and standardized reporting, ConferenceDirect associates can deliver executive-ready summaries, quarterly business review insights, forecasting support, and ongoing optimization recommendations. Clients gain a clearer view of what is working, what needs to change, and where stronger outcomes can be unlocked over time.

Through the partnership, organizations can:

• benchmark performance across meetings and programs

• access executive-ready reporting and strategic QBR support

• forecast future performance and plan with greater confidence

• identify savings, efficiencies, and performance opportunities over time

"ConferenceDirect has long helped organizations manage complex meeting programs," said Joe Colangelo, CEO and Co-Founder of Bear Analytics. "By bringing the Bear IQ platform into that work, we can help clients move beyond fragmented reporting and toward a more measurable, optimizable, and strategic approach to performance."

The partnership is built for organizations that want stronger visibility, control, and performance improvement across their meeting portfolios, as well as for ConferenceDirect associates who want to elevate their role from sourcing support to strategic consultants with data-backed insight.

Together, ConferenceDirect and Bear Analytics are helping organizations move from transactional meeting management to a more strategic operating model, one grounded in measurable performance, clearer benchmarking, and smarter long-term decision-making.

About ConferenceDirect:

Founded in 1998, ConferenceDirect has grown into one of the largest and most respected meeting and event management firms globally. Leveraging our extensive experience, we collaborate with clients to reduce costs, increase revenue, minimize risk, and enhance attendee experiences. With over 18,000 contracts managed annually, serving more than 4000 global customers, and over 1,200 events managed globally by our 120+ meeting professionals, ConferenceDirect Associates are meeting and event experts.

With headquarters in Folsom, California, ConferenceDirect is a full-service global meetings solution company. Our diverse portfolio of services includes Virtual/Hybrid Meetings, Site Selection & Contract Negotiation, Conference Management, Housing & Registration Services, Event Technology, Strategic Meetings Management Programs, Incentive Programs, Cruise Services, Experience Design, Green Meetings, Vendor Management, and Marketing Support.  

For more information, visit www.conferencedirect.com.

About Bear Analytics

Bear Analytics is the event industry's leading event analytics company and the team behind the Bear IQ platform, which helps organizers unify registration, exhibitor, marketing, and engagement data into one clear view. By turning fragmented event data into actionable intelligence, Bear Analytics helps organizations measure performance, prove ROI, forecast outcomes, and drive smarter growth decisions.

Media Contacts

Bear Analytics:

Megan Martin, Partnership Lead, Bear Analytics megan.martin@bearanalytics.com
Joe Colangelo, CEO and Co-Founder, Bear Analytics joe@bearanalytics.com