march-2011

PROPERTY | NICE | MIPIM
98 | TRAVELLER | MARCH 11
B
UI
LD
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BUSI
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Delegates explain why MIPIM remains the
world’s most important real-estate event
THE GLOBAL DOWNTURN has made
its presence felt across many sectors of the
real-estate industry, but at this month’s
MIPIM event in Cannes it will very much
be business as usual. If the turn-out
for 2010’s event was anything to go by,
MIPIM 2011 will be thronging, with more
than 17,000 participants all intent on
networking, investing or showcasing new
projects and products.
“From an international perspective,
MIPIM is the most important event
for the real-estate industry,” says Peter
Rhodes, MD of MIPIM organiser Reed
MIDEM UK. “It’s the only event that
brings together so many developers,
politicians and investors. Everyone is there
to do business so it’s ideal for getting that
meeting with someone who normally
wouldn’t have time to see you.”
Despite the economic crises that have
hit several European countries over
the past few years, there are plenty of
LAURA LATHAM
positive changes taking place within the
commercial and residential sectors, as
well as several grand public projects being
showcased by delegates from America to
Azerbaijan. We asked a few of this year’s
visitors what they are hoping to achieve.
➳ GARY YARDLEY
INVESTMENT DIRECTOR
CAPITAL & COUNTIES UK
“This year we’ll be using MIPIM to launch
the masterplan for London’s new Earls
Court redevelopment. Designed by Sir
Terry Farrell, the project comprises 77 acres
of mixed-use retail, leisure, employment
and residential opportunities in a prime
London site, and we feel that MIPIM is
the ideal venue to showcase this scheme
to stakeholders and a global audience of
potential investors and partners.
“There’s no denying that the
international real-estate market has had
a torrid time over the past two years, but