"EXPO REAL is a dynamic interface platform for the sector," said Eugen Egetenmeir, a member of the management board of Messe München. "For three days everything revolved around the key themes that are moving the sector today." About 18,000 trade visitors from 60 countries and over 1,400 exhibitors from 35 countries came together at this intensive B2B event.
Global investment companies appreciate EXPO REAL as an international contacts and business forum, as reflected in the comments of Walter Klug of Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investment: "I was particularly pleased that the fair has again broadened its international spectrum considerably this year, both in terms of the exhibitors and the visitors."
The visitor structure turned out to be more international at EXPO REAL 2005. The statistics show a substantial 30-percent increase on last year. The top ten countries of origin for visitors, after Germany, were: Great Britain, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, USA, Poland, Russia and Italy (in that order).
Participants in the fair from central, east and southeast Europe reported a marked increase in investor interest in their regions. The economic significance of EXPO REAL, specifically for these growth markets, was underlined by the attendance of several government delegations, including form Serbia and Montenegro, and from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The German real estate market was the focus of attention above all for companies from Great Britain, the US, Scandinavia and the Netherlands.
Against this background of an increasingly international scope, EXPO REAL was chosen this year as the venue to present the first European Property Awards, which were hosted by the English Property Week and the German Immobilienzeitung. Giles Barrie, editor at the Property Week, comments: "At EXPO REAL we have teamed up to reward excellence in what we see as the fastest growing market in world property cross border activity in Europe." Winner of one of the twelve categories in this award was Eckart John von Freyend, Chairman of IVG Immobilien AG, who was nominated 'German Real Estate Personality of the Year'.
DIFA Deutsche Immobilienfonds AG presented at EXPO REAL the results of the first European survey of real-estate investors, entitled 'Investment Culture in Europe'. "Here at this fair we reach the most important international players on the real-estate markets, and also the trade press. As regards timing and the audience here, EXPO REAL is optimal for us," explains Ingo Hartlief, board member of DIFA Deutsche Immobilienfonds AG. What the investment culture needs is "more transparency, international standards and fair competition," commented Hartlief, summing up the needs of the branch.
The conference programme at EXPO REAL, which featured over 100 events on current themes in the sector, was also a great success: "You can really feel the pulse of the sector here, and find out all about the latest trends quickly and efficiently," said James A. Fetgatter, Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), Washington D.C.
The next EXPO REAL takes place from 23 to 25 October 2006 in Munich.
Source: Messe Muenchen
