Conference Promises ‘Serious Answers’

NEW YORK CITY-Thought leaders of the region’s commercial real estate sector will tackle the question “where do we go from here?” at the ninth annual RealShare New York conference, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Roosevelt Hotel. Attendees can expect forward-thinking advice from industry experts as they confront the opportunities and pitfalls ahead.

“This isn’t about cocktails and hors d’oeuvres,” says Michael Desiato, VP and group publisher of ALM’s Real Estate Media Group. “People want serious answers to serious questions.” He says this year’s conference will be “one of the most significant industry events in years.”

Compared to 2009, the market has rebounded nicely. After the two worst consecutive years in a decade, office leasing volume in Manhattan is on pace to finish the year north of 20 million square feet, while citywide sales transaction velocity in the first half of 2010 exceeded the 12-month total for last year. But Desiato warns that it isn’t time to start singing “Happy Days Are Here Again” just yet.

“New York City has been and always will be the real estate capital of the world,” says Desiato. “Historically, what happens here is a precursor of what might happen in the US and overseas.”

The commercial sector faces unprecedented challenges: a combination of high unemployment, increasing distress, the still-fragile global economy, financial reform with long-term implications and $1.4 trillion of commercial mortgages due to mature between now and 2014. With that in mind, the RealShare Conferences team has crafted a forward-thinking agenda that will help attendees successfully navigate these uncertain times. 

From our opening session, the New York Power Panel, to our Capital Markets Update the conference promises frank and spirited discussions on New York City’s current and future role as a leading business, real estate and financial center.

Our panels will explore the local and global trends likely to affect New York’s economy and real estate sector, the outlook for key employment sectors, who’s buying, who’s selling and who’s holding steady—and the impact of financial reform and dealing with political climate from Washington to Albany to City Hall.

As an added highlight of the event, public relations guru Howard J. Rubenstein, who has represented some of the world's most influential corporations, organizations and opinion leaders, will receive RealShare New York’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Attendance for this year’s RealShare New York is projected at 400 to 450 senior-level decision makers, says Desiato, up about one-third from the 300-plus industry members who came to the conference in 2009. For the full agenda, speaker updates and registration form, click here.