Luxury travel show specialist This is Beyond is entering a new phase of growth, with Founder & CEO Serge Dive confirming that the company will expand its portfolio of events following its recent acquisition by Emerald Holdings.
The deal was confirmed in March and includes the company’s series of seven events around the globe include PURE Life Experiences in Marrakesh, L.E Miami and Further East.
Speaking to LATTE at Further East in Bali last week, Dive explained that the deal provides a stronger platform for growth while maintaining the company’s long-held focus on quality, creativity and connection worldwide.
Dive confirmed he plans to stay on with the company to drive it forwards, specifying that four new shows are on the cards with launches expected in 2026, backed by the financial and operational power of the Emerald investment. And although his ongoing tenure is a condition of the acquisition, he confirmed that he is “happy to do so.”
Meanwhile, he explained that this year’s edition of Further East continues to reply on its tried-and-tested formula, with a similar mix of leading hotels and resorts and destination management companies as previous years, although with an increased presence from the cruise sector. “It’s very much about showcasing the best of the APAC region,” he said. “We aim to present the very best, the most promising properties and experiences in Asia.”
As a result, prospective exhibitors are carefully vetted to ensure they meet the show’s high standards, according to Dive. “The idea for us is that we want trade show to be more like car shows,” he shared. “When you go to a car show, you don’t want to see a bunch of used cars, you want to see the future of automobiles.”
While the 2025 edition of Further East maintained a strong turn-out of resort destinations, plans are already in motion to broaden its focus. “Next year we really want to focus more on city hotels and having a more varied experience across Asia,” Dive said. He also expects cruise to play a larger role in future shows as the sector continues to adapt to evolving definitions of luxury,
