The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors put real estate professionals from across the globe in the same setting during last week's Mipim show in Cannes, France, to see what would happen. Preludes to deal-making was one result, organizers said.
SIOR CEO Robert Thornburgh said the annual event at the world's largest real estate meeting "focused on networking and deal-making" led to new connections. He added in a direct message on X, formerly Twitter, that "given we are now in 49 countries we get a great turnout and perspectives on the global industrial and office markets."
Brokers who earn the SIOR designation can do so in industrial, office, sales manager, executive manager or advisory service, as well as the dual designation of industrial and office. Based in Washington, D.C., SIOR got its start helping the United States find critical space during World War II.
The show helped the group as it works to expand its global presence, said Thornburgh, who took over as SIOR CEO in 2021 and has decades of commercial real estate experience, including several years as a regional brokerage president at Kidder Mathews.
Thornburgh, who's based in Los Angeles, added: "I always leave Mipim excited and grateful for the opportunities but equally a measure of exhaustion!"