As the global real estate market faces unprecedented challenges, the organisers of next month’s Expo Real in Munich are predicting that, with the participation of many UK cities and regions, it will be one of the most significant international trade fairs for property and investment in recent times.
Claudia Boymanns, Exhibition Director of Expo Real, acknowledges the complexities facing the real estate sector. "It goes without saying that we also face the host of challenges in the preparations for Expo Real 2024 that market participants have to deal with," she stated.
Despite these hurdles, Expo Real has successfully attracted new exhibitors and introduced innovative formats, ensuring a comprehensive and dynamic event spread across seven halls. This expansion reflects the organisers' commitment to fostering an environment where professionals can exchange ideas, analyse trends, and develop joint solutions to current market challenges.
A significant highlight at Expo Real 2024 will be the participation of the UK Cities & Partners (UKCAP) initiative, which aims to showcase the UK’s diverse investment opportunities to Europe’s largest investors. Building on the success of their inaugural UK Investment Pavilion in 2023, UKCAP is set to make an even greater impact this year with a newly designed pavilion and a strategic programme tailored to unlock new long-term investment partnerships.
The UK Investment Pavilion will feature a consortium of cities and regions, including Manchester, Liverpool City Region, the Oxford-Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership, Thames Estuary Growth Board, and the City of London, among others. This collective approach allows the UK to present a unified and compelling investment story, enhancing its visibility among Europe's elite investment community.
Supported by key partners such as Avison Young, Aviva Capital Partners, and Clifford Chance, UKCAP aims to attract major global investors and facilitate high-level networking. With the UK Government’s focus on improved planning policies and rapid infrastructure development, the UKCAP delegation is well-positioned to drive meaningful outcomes for UK plc and foster new investment opportunities. Attendees can also engage in a curated programme of events, including networking receptions and a UK Investor dinner, further cementing the UK’s presence at the event.
This year’s Expo Real is also set to emphasise sustainability and the future of the real estate industry. Among the new additions is the 'Transform & Beyond by Expo Real' concept, an exhibition area dedicated to future and transformation topics such as decarbonisation of cities and buildings, artificial intelligence, robotics, and smart buildings. This area will also cover digitalisation and energy solutions for districts, providing attendees with a glimpse into the industry's future direction.
Additionally, the ‘Sustainable Construction Hub—powered by BAU and Expo Real’ will offer a forum for discussing economical and resource-saving construction. It will present panels on alternative building materials, climate neutrality, and circularity in construction, alongside showcasing innovative technologies like prefabrication and automation.
With the industry facing increasingly complex challenges, Boymanns anticipates diverse debates on stimulating transaction and financing business, the role of international investors in real estate development, and evolving investment strategies of institutional investors. There will also be critical discussions on addressing the housing crisis and exploring solutions for affordable housing.
"Despite the wide variety of topics that will be discussed at Expo Real, I think that the future and sustainability of the sector will be something of a leitmotif in the current situation," Boymanns noted.
Expo Real 2024 (https://exporeal.net) will take place in Munich from October 7 to 9.