The Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conference produced by the Illinois Real Estate Journal returns to the Marriott Chicago for its ninth annual gathering on Jan. 18. The conference remains the longest-running and largest commercial real estate forecast in Chicago.
Last year the event featured more than 50 speakers from companies located in the Chicago metro area, with many of them doing business throughout the Midwest and across the globe. Additionally, almost 1,100 professionals were registered for the event which was sponsored by 45-plus different sponsors.
According to Michael Millar, director of consulting services with the Real Estate Communications Group, similar levels of participation are expected for the 2011 event.
“The forecast event has become our signature event, and perhaps the premier forecast event in Chicago,” said Mark Menzies, publisher of Illinois Real Estate Journal and Midwest Real Estate News. “It comes at a time when the real estate community is eager to gather as much information as possible and connect with their peers to build momentum in the new year.”
Like previous forecasts, the event will feature three general session panels:
The Big Picture in Focus, which provides a broad-brush view of the marketplace from the perspective of key executives from brokerage, development and ownership/management firms
Legal Issues Impacting Real Estate, which has attorneys providing insights into the issues that are having the greatest impact on the industry as a whole and specifically in completing transactions
Financing and Investing, a view of the capital markets focusing on what the market is expected to look like, including activity levels and cap rates, in 2011 and beyond.
Following these lead panels, there will be numerous breakout sessions focusing on various specialty areas of real estate, which will include downtown office, suburban office, industrial, retail and investment.
Confirmed speakers for the lead panel include Drew Nieman, principal, Colliers International (in his first public speaking appearance since returning from Abu Dhabi and joining Colliers); Steve Schnur, Duke Realty; Keith Stauber, SIOR, regional managing director, Jones Lang LaSalle; Bruce Duncan, president and chief executive officer, First Industrial Realty Trust; and William Rolander, The John Buck Company. Susanne Cannon of The Real Estate Center at DePaul University will moderate the panel.
Illinois Real Estate Journal began producing the Annual Forecast in January of 2003 and has held the event each year since. Like last year, Jones Lang LaSalle is a host sponsor of the forecast. The Real Estate Center at DePaul University has been a lead sponsor since 2003, while the Illinois Chapter of the Society of Office and Industrial REALTORS has been a sponsor since 2004.
Registration for the event is $79. On the day of the event it increases to $109. Registration can be completed at www.rejournals.comconferences.
