MIPIM 2016
MIPIM – Real Estate Convention 15-18 March 2016
As I write the annual MIPIM (Le Marche international des professionals de I’immobilier) Convention is taking place at the Palais es Festivals, Cannes, France. The convention is organized for professionals in the property market and hosted by Reed MIDEM.  The event includes exhibition booths where professionals from all areas of the housing market present their products. There are also areas set up for individual regions. At the convention there are networking events, social events, conference sessions, open mic events, discussions, panel discussions and lectures. There are presentations on a wide number of property market topics like investment, trends in the market and real estate development. MIPIM is intended to provide real estate business professionals a forum where investors, end-users, corporate employees, local authorities, hospitality professionals from the tourism industry, city planners and real estate professionals can meet, brainstorm, exchange ideas and make business connections which will hopefully lead to an expansion in the industry. In previous years approximately 21,000 people attended the exhibition, there are about 2,300 exhibition booths and exhibitors come from 93 countries. To encourage collaborations and networking at MIPIM there are a number of networking events where the participants are made to feel more comfortable by providing a social atmosphere. For example there are themed breakfasts, lunches and cocktail parties.
At the conclusion of the event MIPIM holds an awards ceremony where achievements in the industry are acknowledged. Delegates to the convention get to vote for the winners in various categories. Awards are given to winners in the business, centers; shopping centers; office buildings; refurbished office buildings and residential development categories. There is also a People’s Choice Award which is voted for online on the MIPIM Facebook page. Each year a country is chosen as the Country of Honor. This country is afforded a high profile at the convention and the events highlight the development and achievements in the real estate market of that country. In the past Countries of Honor have included Germany, Turkey, Brazil and Russia.
