Challenging times call for innovative solutions, not least in the global property market which has been impacted by Covid in unprecedented ways. Uniting the market around the twin goals of recovery and sustainability, MIPIM Paris Real Estate Week (14-17 September) enabled the industry to reconnect for the first time in 2020. The event drew 1,100 real estate professionals, C level executives and political leaders to Paris, and over 7,000 virtual attendees joined who joined online via YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

MIPIM is the world’s leading international property market. Originally scheduled to be held in Cannes in March, the event was postponed in June, before reimagining itself in September as a hybrid event. An extension of ‘Propel by MIPIM’, which was already scheduled to take place in the capital, MIPIM Real Estate Week combined physical conferences, awards and meetings, live-streamed across social media, with an enhanced digital platform offering live and on-demand content, networking and matchmaking tools.

Headlining the stellar line-up of over 120 speakers were Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak (who joined by video-conference), and former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. At the heart of the event, Propel by MIPIM delivered two days of thought-leadership, networking and deal-making devoted to innovation and digital transformation in the property sector. This was followed by the first ever MIPIM Urban Forum, which brought together leading public and private sector voices to debate their visions of the post-Covid city; and the MIPIM Awards which honoured the most outstanding and accomplished recent real estate projects around the world.

Other highlights included the launch of the ‘Booster de Réemploi’ recycling charter by 30 leading real estate stakeholders; the MIPIM Start Up Awards, celebrating the most promising and innovative startups that tackle the world’s biggest urban challenges; and the Gend’Her Breakfast promoting gender balance in the property industry.

Underpinning the entire event was the Paris Real Estate Week augmented digital platform, where participants from all over the world could network and engage with the event’s essential content, both live and on demand. The platform, which remained open for a month after the event, had over 2,000 users, delivered 9,600 personal recommendations and generated 727 meeting requests.

Reflecting on the success of MIPIM Paris Real Estate Week, Event Director Ronan Vaspart said: “Not only did we deliver the physical event safely and securely within the guidelines of RX Global’ ‘Framework for the New Normal’, but we also enabled remote speakers across the world to seamlessly join our live debates; livestreamed our entire conference programme on social media for the first time; and offered enhanced matchmaking tools to extend lead generation and one2one meetings.”

“One of the most exciting aspects of the digital platform was the extent to which it increased our international reach” he added. “We were also delighted to receive great feedback from people who were unable to attend and really appreciated having access to our compelling speakers and content.”