MIPIM Postponement Means Manchester Networking Carries On At Home
Manchester and north west property people are counting the cost of the postponement of the MIPIM property convention due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Just 10 days before delegates were due to arrive at the MIPIM property convention in Cannes, the worldwide property jamboree has been put off until June.
Reed MIDEM, organiser of MIPIM, said that the 2020 edition of the event has been rescheduled and will take place 2-5 June in Cannes.
The postponement is particularly stressful for local authorities in the region who have invested ever-larger sums in stands, events and delegations. Cheshire and Warrington launched their MIPIM programme last week. The county's delegation is led by Patrizia, which serves as asset manager for Warrington's Birchwood Park.
Big name speakers on the 12-event programme were Jeremy Pocklington, director general at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government; Adela Cristea, senior director of development UK & Ireland at Radisson Hotel Group; Mark Davy, founder of Future City; Wolfgang Gold, CEO of Gold Hotel Solutions, Jessica Bowles, director of strategy at Bruntwood; and Myles Kitcher, managing director at Peel Environmental.
“Whilst disappointing, the LEP understands the decision by Reed MIDEM to postpone MIPIM in the light of concerns about coronavirus," a statement to Bisnow from Cheshire & Warrington LEP said. "The health and welfare of our partners and delivery team is of the upmost importance.
“We are working with partners to make the most of the proposed new dates,” the statement added.
Delegates, like first-timer JMW Solicitors Real Estate Partner Simon Maddox, are taking the decision stoically. Maddox says he is trying to rethink the postponement as an opportunity to network at home.
“I’m disappointed at the event’s postponement; however, it’s a decision that had to be made in the best interests of delegates," Maddox told Bisnow. "Ultimately we now have clear diaries as a result of the postponement, and it remains a good opportunity to catch up with contacts, albeit locally, not to mention that it gives us all the chance to reflect on our plans and goals for the coming year, some of which will hopefully be well underway by the time we all meet up in June.”
