The center of gravity for New York’s retail real estate professionals will shift for a few days this month, when thousands decamp from Manhattan and head to Las Vegas. They’ll join retail-focused pros from around the world for the annual RECon, the enormous industry convention hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers. The four-day affair is filled with networking opportunities, educational programs and parties — lots of parties. A few years back, these were gala events that might feature feather-clad dancers and other over-the-top accoutrement typical of Sin City. Since the bust, the parties have lost a little of that Vegas pizzazz, but they still offer valuable face time with potential clients and others. And often, really good food. Attendance at the gathering dropped off after the economy tanked, but has been climbing back the last few years. Below, a breakdown of the event, which runs from May 17–20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
50,700
The number of RECon attendees in 2007, the most ever. Over 34,000 are expected to attend this year, up from 33,000 last year, and the most since 48,044 attended in 2008.
1,900
Number New York retail pros who made the trip last year. They represented more than 500 New York City brokerages, property owners, lenders and retailers and developers.
20
Number of Papa Johns Pizza restaurant franchises owned by keynote speaker Peyton Manning. Better known as the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Manning also owns 15 NFL records and one Super Bowl ring.
50
Golf courses in the Las Vegas area to choose from for those who’d rather skip the speeches and hit the links. One is right on the Strip, at the Wynn Las Vegas.
2,500 miles
Distance traveled by New York real estate players when they decamp for Las Vegas. The Wynn Las Vegas, a popular hotel for New York dealmakers, is 1.5 miles from the convention center (and 1.6 miles from the Cosmopolitan, where Newmark Grubb Knight Frank hosts its huge bash).
55
Number of New York–based Cushman & Wakefield pros registered at press time, the most of any city firm. Still, that’s shy of the combined 64 people C&W and recently purchased Massey Knakal sent in 2014. Midtown-based Newmark Grubb Knight Frank led the NYC pack with 50 people last year, but had just 10 registered at press time.
22,103
Conventions held in Las Vegas in 2014. The average visitor’s gambling budget per trip last year: $530.
60
Approximate number of parties that brokerages, developers and others are expected to throw during the four-day see-and-be-seen event. Attendees had more than two dozen fêtes to choose from on 2014’s first night alone, including at least eight thrown by NYC companies, including Midtown-based brokerages RKF and Eastdil Secured.
3.2 million
The square footage of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which has 2 million square feet of exhibit space. More than 1,000 ISCS exhibitors will set up across three massive halls.
$1,000
Price per foot MAC Cosmetics paid for a 15-year lease inked at RECon 2014 for 1,600 square feet at the Feil Organization’s 853 Broadway on Union Square South, a record rent for the area. Feil will be one of at least 15 NYC landlords exhibiting this year.
$75,680
Approximate cost (by TRD’s estimate) to send the 32 people from NYC that RKF had registered by press time, including $18,240 in registration fees ($570 per person), $43,840 for four nights at a typical hotel ($293 per night) and $13,600 for airfare ($425 each). Add $2,240 ($70 each) for rides to and from the airport.
$22
Admission price to Elvis: The Exhibition, the first permanent presentation of hundreds of the King’s artifacts outside of Graceland. Conventioneers can get married at the Elvis Wedding Chapel for $225.