The event is part of the RealShare Conference Series produced byNew York City-based Real Estate Media, publisher of GlobeSt.com andReal Estate Forum. It will be attended by more than 500industry insiders, a notable increase over last year's attendancelevel. Needless to say, the area's success has attracted attentionfrom abroad, so there is also an international faction among theregistrants. "This has been a calendar event for the Washington, DCcommercial real estate community," Real Estate Media presidentJonathan A. Schein tells GlobeSt.com. "Each year, we get moreattendees. We're going to have to take it to a larger venue."

This year's venue, however, will still offer registrants a widerange of topics to explore, as well as a bevy of opportunities fornetworking. The half-day conference will be shaped at the start bySchein's opening remarks, which are to be followed by the Town HallMeeting highlighting the future of leasing, investment anddevelopment with regard to everything from the prospect ofmaintaining the tight market to the effects BRAC may have onNorthern Virginia. From there, the conference takes on a new twistwith the debut of Pardon the Interruption, a 15-minute tête-à-têtebetween two leading real estate players--Monument Realty principalJeff Neal and Boston Properties executive vice president RayRitchey--that will keep the two volleying their opinions back andforth. "In Ray Ritchey and Jeff Neal we have two of most respectedand intelligent dealmakers in the market and they will be offeringcomments on a wide-range of topics, some more real estate relatedthan others," Real Share Conference Series director Richard Kelleytells GlobeSt.com. "I think our audience is in for a realtreat."

The morning's activities will also include an address by keynotespeaker Peter Linneman, Linneman Associates principal and AlbertSussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance and Public Policy,Wharton School of Business. Speaking from both an economic andacademic perspective, Linneman will offer up his views on futureeconomic and industry trends that could affect the DC market thisyear. The morning will conclude with the presentation of Inside theReal Estate Mind, hosted by Real Estate Media editor-in-chiefMichael G. Desiato. Desiato will pick the brain of panel guest andindustry veteran Mitchell Schear, president of Charles E. SmithCommercial Realty, peppering him with questions on his company'scurrent plans for repositioning Crystal City as a leadinglive-work-play destination, its ideas for DC's Anacostiawaterfront, and much more.