The MIPIM conference will now be held in September — in Paris

This year’s conference will include a virtual element organizers say

Ronan Vaspart, Director of MIPIM (Credit: Reed MIDEM)
Ronan Vaspart, Director of MIPIM (Credit: Reed MIDEM)

Organizers of the annual MIPIM conference have notified attendees that the event will now take place in September, after the coronavirus curtailed plans for two earlier dates.

The event will also be moved to Paris and span two days as opposed to the planned four. A virtual component for attendees — MIPIM Connect — will launch in April.

“It is clear that holding a large MIPIM tradeshow in Cannes in June is not feasible given the rapid spread, devastating impact and uncertain evolution of the virus,” said Filippo Rean of organizer Reed MIDEM, in an email to attendees.

The conference was originally slated for March, however several major real estate players including Blackstone Group and Cushman & Wakefield, started pulling out in February as concern mounted over the fast-moving virus.

The conference was later postponed until June, only to be rescheduled again for September.

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It is one of many conferences and events that have been canned in light of concern over the coronavirus and the risks posed by mass gatherings. In March, the International Council of Shopping Centers notified members that it was postponing its annual REcon convention until later in the year. The event draws tens of thousands of people to Las Vegas every year.

In an email to MIPIM attendees, director Ronan Vaspart said the event would return to Cannes next year.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Cannes in March 2021 for an excellent MIPIM and, in the meantime, we hope people stay connected and, above all, safe,” he said. [Commercial Observer] — Sylvia Varnham O’Regan

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