New home found for Homes Overseas

 
Homes Overseas, the property exhibition formerly owned by Blendon Communications was been saved from cancellation. But the fate of Viva Italia, Viva Italia, and Viva Espana remain in the balance.

The future of the exhibitions has been thrown into doubt by the collapse of Blendon, a company with a 15 year track record which went into administration at the end of June. Its magazine publishing business, including What House? and Homes Overseas, plus associated websites, were snapped up almost immediately by a newly formed company, Globespan Media. But the exhibitions were not bought, leaving them to be sold, if possible, by the administrator – Allister Manson of Smith & Williamson.

The firm confirmed that Homes Overseas exhibition has been sold to an undisclosed nuyer along with Invest in Property. Although these exhibitions have been removed from the schedules of the NEC in Birmingham and other exhibition venues, they are now likely to be reinstated. This means exhibitors who have booked places will not lose their 30 per cent deposits.

Globespan, which was only formed on 15 June, is backed by private investment from SmartNewHomes.com managing director David Bexon and associate Ian Kenney.

Former Blendon directors Derek Smith, Ian Cunningham, Rupert Bates and Daniel Hill will also be joining the Globespan board.

'The Globespan investors' background is in new homes with an outstanding track record in digital property media. They see great opportunities in our brands, especially Show House magazine. As well as the expansion of the publication, the title has huge online potential, which we intend to exploit fully’, Bates who is now editorial director at Globespan Media.

Industry insiders say Blendon has been the victim of increased competition in the exhibition market and from Internet businesses, and that its exhibitions had been suffering from over-reliance on promotion through Blendon’s own magazines.

Homebuyer Events, which runs the successful Property Investor and Homebuyer events at NEC, G-Mex and London’s Excel centre (all venues used by Blendon) has been quick to distance itself from the Blendon saga. ‘To set the record straight Homebuyer Events Ltd has nothing whatsoever to do with the above events and has no connection whatsoever with Blendon Communications Ltd’, it said.

‘We can confirm that without exception all our events are in an extremely good state of health and continue to expand and deliver impressive visitor numbers through our huge commitment to event
marketing (£3m media rate card in 2007)’.