With two weeks and ticking down to The Real Deal‘s U.S. Real Estate Showcase & Forum in Shanghai Nov. 17-19, TRD traveled to China for a press conference to promote the event.
But this wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill U.S. press event — it was done up with all the pomp and circumstance that seems to typify many Chinese business gatherings. An all-female band of drummers clad in gold sequins took the stage for a kick-off performance, and the event only came to its proper end once goblets full of red liquid streamed through a giant ice sculpture, spelling out The Real Deal.
More than 50 members of the media attended the event Oct. 25, where — in addition to the theatrics — they watched a video in Mandarin about The Real Deal magazine and its many events in the U.S. and internationally, followed by an in-depth presentation on the upcoming showcase. The U.S. Immigration Fund was on site with representatives of Nicholas Mastroianni II discussing EB-5 projects and U.S. investment trends. The press asked questions ranging from what the average cap rates were for investment properties in major U.S. cities to where the Chinese public could find detailed information about homes for sale.
The event will take place at the five-star Jing An Shangri-La Hotel from Nov. 17 to 19. Our 2016 show will bring prominent industry professionals and investors from the United States to Shanghai, including former New York Gov. George Pataki. Douglas Elliman chief Howard Lorber, HFZ Capital’s Ziel Feldman and Witkoff Group’s Steve Witkoff have recently joined our growing list of distinguished speakers, who will share market insight on key panels throughout the event.
From left: Howard Lorber, Ziel Feldman and Steve Witkoff
Other participants include Bruce Mosler (Cushman & Wakefield), Sharif El-Gamal (Soho Properties), Don Peebles (Peebles Corporation), Christopher Wein (Great Gulf), Alan Rosenbaum (GuardHill Financial), Chris Marlin (Lennar), Nick Mastroianni II (U.S. Immigration Fund), Jay Neveloff (Kramer Levin), David Long (Grand China Fund), Nikki Field (Sotheby’s International), Jennifer Wang (PwC Shanghai), John Van Fleet (USC Marshall School of Business) and Jason Lee (Six Sigma). The sessions will compliment workshops and more than 100 exhibits of residential and commercial developments.
Clockwise from top left: Bruce Mosler, Sharif El-Gamal, Don Peebles, Christopher Wein, Jonathan Miller, Jay Neveloff, Nick Mastroianni II and Chris Marlin
A report issued this spring said Chinese investment in existing U.S. real estate assets could total more than $218 billion from 2016 through 2020. But there is a major disconnect between Chinese investors and U.S. developers and marketers owing to differences in culture, language, time zone, Internet freedoms and market familiarity. The Real Deal’s U.S. Real Estate Forum and Showcase will provide an arena for dealmaking and relationship-building in this notoriously difficult market.
For tickets go to https://yoopay.cn/event/20156193. If you will be joining us at the event, you can get a discounted room at the Jing An Shangri-La by booking on their website, choosing “Group” for the special rate option and inputting the code REA151116. For more information about programming, contact Heather Grossmann at hg@TheRealDeal.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Ross Fox at rf@TheRealDeal.com.
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