MIPIM 2010: Trends and Networking Opportunities

Here is the next installment in our continuing series Meet Our Current Students; this one shares an MBA student's views on MIPIM:

Last week's MIPIM conference in Cannes, France proved to be an enlightening experience. In addition to meeting industry leaders from around the globe, my fellow class members and I attended panel discussions and posted summary posts here on this blog (see keyword: MIPIM for more coverage). Overall, the real estate industry appears upbeat coming out of the recent market downturn.

In the evenings, we continued networking at private parties hosted by various real estate firms. On Wednesday, we attended the RICS Professional Bodies Reception in a pavilion on the beach. Although lesser known in the United States, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was founded in London in 1868 and has become the preeminent global organization of real estate professionals.

It is difficult to pick out one defining moment of the MIPIM conference, but the RICS reception was definitely a highlight for me. We met with the outgoing President Max Crofts, the incoming President Robert Peto, and CEO Louis Armstrong. They discussed the continued role of RICS as a leader in the global real estate marketplace.

I spoke with a variety of industry professionals who emphasized the value of RICS. The designation provides clients an assurance of high competence and ethical standards, and has become essential for international work. The opportunity to network with such a prestigious group proved invaluable to our professional growth at MIPIM.

Travis Campbell is a first year MBA student in the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the Wisconsin School of Business. He is looking forward to pursuing his RICS designation upon graduation and joining the global network of real estate professionals.