MIPIM puts industry on warning in wake of “Gropers Gala” scandal

MIPIM pledged to “increase communication” with members of the annual real estate conference in France about its code of conduct after the industry was called out for its involvement with the “Gropers Gala” charity event in London.

“Mipim has a code of conduct applicable to everyone attending the event,” event director Ronan Vaspart emailed in a statement to Bloomberg News. “If we are informed of inappropriate behavior we will take action. Mipim is committed to safeguarding the dignity and respect of all its participants.”

The Financial Times earlier this week reported that members of the real estate industry made up a good portion of the attendees at the Presidents Cub Charity dinner in London, where female hostesses were allegedly harassed.

The report made reference to an article from two years ago in the industry magazine Estates Gazette, which reported that sex workers were a common sight at MIPIM. The magazine referred to the event as “not the industry’s finest hour.”

The event’s code of conduct says the organizers reserve the right “to refuse entry, or to have expelled, any participant whose presence, conduct or behavior threatens the image, peace or safety of the event and or of the other participants.”

In New York City, meanwhile, the industry is coming to terms with treatment of female professionals in the workplace and opportunities available to them. [Bloomberg] – Rich Bockmann