Global property showcase MIPIM is set to take place in Cannes from March 15 for the first time since 2019 - and organisers say there is strong demand from exhibitors as the real estate sector worldwide continues its recovery from the pandemic.
We take a look at what to expect from the show.
What is MIPIM?
Established in 1990, MIPIM is a four-day real estate networking event gathering the most influential players from all sectors of the international real estate industry.
MIPIM - which stands for Le marché international des professionnels de l'immobilier, (translated as The international market for real estate professionals) is held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes from March 15-18, and is essentially a chance for developers and public sector officials from cities and regions across the world, including the UK delegations, to showcase what they can offer to potential investors and partners from across the world.
What happens there?
The event is all about making contacts - there's 22,000m2 of floorspace including an exhibition hall of 3,800 show stands representing 100 countries.
There are conferences, networking events and guest speakers including François Hollande, the French President from 2012-2017, who will give the keynote speech.
Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor; Andy Pyle, KPMG UK Head of Real Estate and Anne Breen, Head of Investment Strategy at abrdn are also among the 480 guest speakers.
Is there a theme for 2022?
There isn't a theme as such, but you can bet that there'll be a focus on the importance of how we create, transform or repurpose the spaces where we live, work and play in the wake of the pandemic.
With the last two years having forced us all to alter the way we think about where we work and live and how we do business, themes such as building smart cities of the future - and how technology will play a part - will likely figure highly.
Invest in Cardiff, for example, will be taking part in a panel featuring global economic development experts to discuss the future of our cities.
Every sector will feature in some form, from offices and residential, to leisure, housing and retail and everything in between.
Who's going?
Organisers estimate that there will be representation from around 100 countries with investors making up 24% of participants. Around 15% of participants are CEOs.
They say the most influential players from all international property sectors are represented to complete a year’s worth of business in four intensive days.
UK cities and regions due to represented include London, Liverpool, Newcastle and the wider North East, Cardiff, West of England, Dudley, Lancashire and Central South.
In the days leading up to the start, UK delegations are drip-feeding the schemes and developments they plan to showcase.
Team Leicester has set out their expectations for the event.
For the past few events members of Team Leicester rented a superyacht in the Cannes marina to host meetings and drinks receptions – and make a bold statement that the region meant business.
A spokesman said it was unlikely there would be a yacht this year, though there would likely be a dinner reception and possible presentations.
Meanwhile, the North East will be involved in 20 separate events to highlight the region’s expertise in areas including life sciences, data, placemaking, ageing, wellbeing and sustainability, and Derbyshire is set to showcase £2bn of projects.
The UK Pavilion on La Croisette will see the Department for International Trade (DIT), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Homes England promote the country’s international offer for investment.
Which schemes have been announced at previous MIPIM events?
All sorts - although not all have come to fruition as yet, with Covid either delaying projects or triggering complete overhauls.
As well as giving everyone from the public and private sectors the chance to network (often late into the night, or early morning - well, they are in Cannes) delegations in previous years have taken the opportunity to reveal developments.
In 2019 the Government’s portfolio of UK investment opportunities was first unveiled, including Forrest Park mixed use site in County Durham, Gateshead’s plans for 5,000 new jobs at Follingsby Max - which has since become home to Amazon - and a new arena at Gateshead Quays, which is now moving forward.
Five years ago Newcastle's Ryder Architecture chose MIPIM 2017 to lay out plans for two huge office schemes - since called Lumen and The Spark - as part of a £65m project at Newcastle Helix.
And two years ago, at a MIPIM partners event held after the Covid-19 pandemic brought that years event to a halt, SOG Group laid out ambitious, futuristic plans for a monorail in Runcorn.
How much does it cost?
Rates for a stand range from €730/m² to €1030/m².
And to get yourself a visitor pass, it will set you back €2,095.
What are the MIPIM Awards?
Alongside the networking conference, is the MIPIM Awards 2022, in which judges have shortlisted 45 finalists in 12 categories "representing the most outstanding projects of the real estate industry in the world, and celebrating ground-breaking innovation, architecture, environmental qualities, integration and impact on the community".
Categories include Best Industrial and Logistics Development, Best Mixed Use Development and Best Office and Business Development, with previous winners including the likes of Gare Maritime in Brussels, shopping centre developments in Turkey, futuristic hotels in Norway and student accommodation in Denmark.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on the Thursday evening at the Grand Auditorium.
