The B2B media, events, and information services company will operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japan-based provider of travel services.

Japan-based travel-services provider JTB Corp has agreed to acquire Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of Northstar Meetings Group, from investment funds managed by Eagle Tree Capital and its co-investors. Northstar is a B2B media, events and information services company headquartered in Rutherford, N.J. and will operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of JTB. Northstar CEO Jason Young and the existing management team will continue to lead the company.

The deal is expected to close in September; terms haven’t been disclosed.

In addition to the brands of the Meetings Group – which include Meetings & Conventions, Incentive, Meeting News, Successful Meetings, SportsTravel, Meetings & Incentive Travel, Association Meetings International, Meetings & Conventions Asia, The Meetings Show and more – Northstar serves a variety of global travel-industry audiences with brands such as Travel Weekly, Business Travel News, Phocuswright and ALIS.

“We are thrilled to partner with JTB as we enter the next phase of our company’s incredible history,” said Northstar Travel Group CEO Jason Young. “Our shared commitment to the travel industry, cultural alignment and collective expertise – combined with the opportunity to accelerate Northstar’s geographic expansion in the Asia Pacific region – will enhance our ability to deliver value to our audiences and customers as we advance our mission.”

Northstar’s presence in the APAC region has already been on the rise, with the successful launch of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific in Singapore in 2024, followed by an expanded second edition in April this year. This spring also saw the debut of the co-located Business Travel Show Asia Pacific. Together, the shows welcomed nearly 1,800 attendees from more than 72 countries, including nearly 300 exhibitors.

For JTB, which has a storied history of more than 110 years in Japan’s travel industry, the acquisition is in line with its growth strategy. The deal offers geographic expansion as well as the opportunity to expand its reach with travel audiences and suppliers by investing in market intelligence, events, information services and related lines of business.

“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for JTB Group,” says Eijiro Yamakita, president and CEO of the company. “Northstar brings outstanding expertise and fresh perspectives that perfectly align with our strategic vision. By operating Northstar as an independent subsidiary, we preserve their neutral market position while creating a powerful platform for delivering superior customer experiences. We are confident this structure will unlock significant growth potential while contributing to the innovation and future growth of the travel industry.”

Co-managing partner Anup Bagaria and senior partner Michael Struble of EagleTree Capital, which purchased Northstar in 2016, believe the company will be in good hands. “It has been an honour to partner with the Northstar team, including chairman and former CEO Tom Kemp and current CEO Jason Young, and to witness the company’s impressive transformation over the last few years,” they say in a joint statement. “We are confident Northstar is well-positioned for future success and look forward to watching it thrive as part of JTB.”