This international property fair, which takes place every March, is universally agreed to be the most important business opportunity of the year for property professionals. Nowhere else will you find so many of the great and the good of the real estate world all in one place.
To give an idea of scale, for the residents and hoteliers of Cannes, MIPIM is second only in size to the legendary Film Festival. 16,000 international delegates descend on the Cote d’Azur resort for four days of full-on networking and deal-making.
The Hotel Martinez, chief hang-out for many of the British delegates, sells a staggering 4,000 bottles of beer every night at MIPIM. But there’s far more to MIPIM than just the cocktails and the beers. It’s a chance to feel the pulse of the market - what’s hot, who’s investing and what the latest market trends are. Architects go in search of developers to secure that key development. Lawyers and surveyors throw lavish parties in the hope of attracting new business, whilst the regional development agencies flaunt their wares to prospective investors.
We’ve been attending MIPIM for the past 15 years. For us it’s an opportunity to forge new contacts, sniff out deals and projects which could be of interest to our clients and catch up with many of our long-standing contacts in the industry. We also use it to get a feel for the international markets. Certainly this year that’s one aspect we’re particularly interested in: meeting developers and suppliers who are looking to break into the UK market and seeing how we can work with them to achieve that.
As seasoned MIPIM goers, what advice would we offer to the MIPIM newbie?
Plan, plan and plan. Everyone says it but it’s so true. Get meetings fixed up before you go. Keep a MIPIM diary on your phone, with details of each meeting, including an up-to-date mobile number for everyone you’re meeting.
We’ve already mentioned the Martinez - late-night networking is de rigeur at Cannes. Beware of waking up the next morning though with a stack of business cards but absolutely no recollection of what you talked about.
It’s not just the bars which are good for networking. I defy anyone at MIPIM to walk more than 50 yards along la Croisette without bumping into somebody they know. And that’s the art of MIPIM, making the most of chance meetings whilst sticking faithfully to that ruthless schedule you made back in the office.
Finally, don’t forget: pack more business cards than you can ever imagine you’ll need, stick in a pair of designer sunglasses to shield your bleary eyes from the Mediterranean sun and throw in a tube of Berocca for that fragile morning-after-the-night-before feeling.
