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Segment Information
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Information Segment Information
The Company’s products and services are delivered through three segments – Research, Conferences and Consulting, as described below.

•Research equips executives and their teams from every function and across all industries with actionable, objective insight, guidance and tools. Our experienced experts deliver all this value informed by an unmatched combination of practitioner-sourced and data-driven research to help our clients address their most critical priorities.

•Conferences provides executives and teams across an organization the opportunity to learn, share and network. From our Gartner Symposium/Xpo series, to industry-leading conferences focused on specific business roles and topics, to peer-driven sessions, our offerings enable attendees to experience the best of Gartner insight and guidance.

•Consulting serves senior executives leading technology-driven strategic initiatives leveraging the power of Gartner’s actionable, objective insight. Through custom analysis and on-the-ground support we enable optimized technology investments and stronger performance on our clients’ most critical priorities.

The Company evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution, as presented in the tables below, is defined as operating income or loss excluding certain Cost of services and product development expenses, Selling, general and administrative expenses, Depreciation, Amortization of intangibles, and Acquisition and integration charges. Certain bonus and fringe benefit costs included in consolidated Cost of services and product development are not allocated to segment expense. The accounting policies used by the reportable segments are the same as those used by the Company. There are no intersegment revenues. The Company does not identify or allocate assets, including capital expenditures, by reportable segment. Accordingly, assets are not reported by segment because the information is not available by segment and is not reviewed in the evaluation of segment performance or in making decisions regarding the allocation of resources.

The tables below present information about the Company’s reportable segments for the periods indicated (in thousands).

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021ResearchConferencesConsultingConsolidated
Revenues$1,037,124 $24,415 $94,743 $1,156,282 
Gross contribution769,091 11,456 30,972 811,519 
Corporate and other expenses   (581,298)
Operating income   $230,221 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020ResearchConferencesConsultingConsolidated
Revenues $892,719 $12,738 $89,161 $994,618 
Gross contribution 642,328 2,044 28,161 672,533 
Corporate and other expenses   (584,883)
Operating income   $87,650 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
ResearchConferencesConsultingConsolidated
Revenues$3,020,094 $107,396 $300,149 $3,427,639 
Gross contribution2,235,594 67,954 112,840 2,416,388 
Corporate and other expenses   (1,686,041)
Operating income   $730,347 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020ResearchConferencesConsultingConsolidated
Revenues $2,677,339 $26,925 $282,380 $2,986,644 
Gross contribution 1,928,422 (15,246)91,086 2,004,262 
Corporate and other expenses   (1,692,242)
Operating income   $312,020 

The table below provides a reconciliation of total segment gross contribution to net income for the periods indicated (in thousands).
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30,September 30,
2021202020212020
Total segment gross contribution$811,519 $672,533 $2,416,388 $2,004,262 
Costs and expenses:
Cost of services and product development - unallocated (1)14,474 7,682 33,255 11,214 
Selling, general and administrative 512,573 521,508 1,488,324 1,512,987 
Depreciation and amortization52,480 53,971 160,749 162,603 
Acquisition and integration charges1,771 1,722 3,713 5,438 
Operating income 230,221 87,650 730,347 312,020 
Interest expense and other, net(31,388)(28,669)(73,119)(97,228)
Gain on event cancellation insurance claims— — 135,545 — 
Loss on extinguishment of debt— (44,814)— (44,814)
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes49,968 (2,797)208,572 22,840 
Net income $148,865 $16,964 $584,201 $147,138 
(1)The unallocated amounts consist of certain bonus and fringe costs recorded in consolidated Cost of services and product development that are not allocated to segment expense. The Company’s policy is to allocate bonuses to segments at 100% of a segment employee’s target bonus. Amounts above or below 100% are absorbed by corporate.