From optimism to opportunity: Insights from EXPO REAL 2024

This week, we’ve been on-the-ground at EXPO REAL (Messe Munchen), the leading European real estate investment conference.

Supporting some of our pan-European development and investment clients engage with media, Ben Monteith and Alina Maixandeau– two of our property sector strategic communications specialists – have spent the past few days in Munich among some of Europe’s #RealEstate leaders.

Some of our key takeaways:

• The mood is “cautiously optimistic” – which is a far cry from the “survive ‘til 25” phrase that arose from last year’s conference. With interest rates coming down and inflation steady, albeit amid turbulent geopolitical conditions in Europe, the US and the Middle East, there is hope that capital markets are about to step up a gear.
• Sustainability remains at the front of everyone’s minds, with #EXPOREAL having created a dedicated sustainability content platform – Transform & Beyond. That said, while ESG as a concept is now viewed as a must-have, the conversation around #sustainability is in many venues still relatively unsophisticated – the result of mixed-messaging and jargon as to the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the industry.
• EXPO REAL remains an exceptional opportunity for real estate investors and developers to get in front of the industry. Nearly every major international firm was in attendance, along with significant representation from across Europe, Asia and the US (although some foreign direct investment bodies in certain regions have clearly cut back on their attendance compared to previous years).
• With the cautious optimism of EXPO 2024, MIPIM 2025 is now firmly in the industry’s sights – with the hope that the spring warmth of Cannes will be reflected in a budding market.