MIPIM

The real estate market of Cannes

MIPIM was first held in Cannes in March 1990, with a few thousand participants. It grew into the main international meeting place of the property industry, and it still takes over the Palais des Festivals every spring, a few weeks before the film festival uses the same building. The organiser, RX France, also runs other real estate events, but MIPIM is the one investors, developers and cities plan their year around.

What sets MIPIM apart is how much of it happens outside the halls. Cities and regions take large pavilions to present their projects, investors and developers book meetings weeks ahead, and much of the networking moves to the hotels of the Croisette, to private receptions and to the boats moored in the harbour. A stand is a base, not the whole show.

Planning your participation

Most useful MIPIM meetings are booked before the event. Start with the list of investors, developers or public bodies you want to see, and request the meetings early: diaries fill up weeks before March. Agree inside the team who covers which targets, so two colleagues do not chase the same fund.

Cannes is small and accommodation near the Croisette is in high demand during the week, so book early or plan to stay along the coast and use the regional train. Before you leave, open one campaign for the show and give every member of the team their own link and QR code. A contact made on a boat by your head of investment is then attributed to them and lands in the same list as the rest.

On the floor

Your questions should sort a real estate contact quickly: asset class, geography, ticket size or project stage, and whether they invest, develop, advise or represent a public body. Three or four taps are enough. When meetings run back to back, there is no time to type: photograph the card, add one line, and complete the record in the evening while the conversation is still fresh.

Receptions are where many introductions happen, and where cards are lost. A QR code on your phone's lock screen lets the person you just met leave their details before the next handshake.

After the show

Real estate deals take months, so the follow-up is the start of a process rather than a single email. Send a short message within the week that refers to the project or the asset you discussed, and attach the document you promised, a teaser or a brochure. Contacts tagged as investors and as public bodies need different next steps; sort them before anything is sent.