MANCHESTER'S property sector is preparing itself for a week in Cannes as the annual MIPIM exhibition draws near.
But what is the city showcasing to the rest of the world?
According to Marketing Manchester, future developments at Manchester Medi Park Airport City, Argent’s redevelopment of Elisabeth House on St Peter’s Square and Siemens’ sustainable technology park, are some of the topics to be highlighted in the South of France between March 6-9.
“Manchester’s stand events provide an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the city’s partnership and to raise important questions about the potential growth of the city."
Keynote speakers for the stand events include Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens; Charlie Cornish, chief executive of Manchester Airport; David Partridge, chief executive of Argent; Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood; David Pringle director of NOMA at the Co-operative Group, and Ian Simpson of Ian Simpson Architects.
Forty-five organisations have signed up to join the Manchester contingent at MIPIM 2012. Its main sponsors include Argent Estates, MAG Developments, MIDAS and NOMA.
Although the property sector is still engaging recovery mode, MIPIM is still a decent gig for Manchester. The city council get the private sector to pay for the cost of attending and even in a quiet period, the Manchester stand at the Palais De Congres is worth keeping - it has a balcony right out front, proudly bearing the city's name to all those passing down Le Croisette, and is the first stand you see when you go up the escalator to the first floor of the exhibition.
Give that prime spot up and they'd never get it back. And as any property professional will tell you in a recession, it's all about investing in prime locations.
The Manchester balcony at MIPIM
Twelve organisations are joining the Manchester contingent at MIPIM for the first time in 2012. These include Barton Willmore, Gateley and Stride Treglown.
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: “Manchester’s stand events are an essential part of the MIPIM property conference – they provide an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the city’s partnership and to raise those all important questions about the potential growth of the city; amongst a significant crowd from the international property and business community.”
The Manchester stand sessions take place at 10.45 and 15.45 each day (09.45 and 14.45 GMT).
As per last year, Manchester stand sessions will be streamed live from www.livestream.com/manchesteratmipim and also available to watch on the homepage of www.manchesteratmipim.com
Other partners for Manchester at MIPIM 2012 include: Manchester City Council, AECOM, Arup, BDP, Bluemantle Ltd, Bruntwood, Drivers Jonas Deloitte, GVA, Harvest Housing Group, Ian Simpson Architects, Laing O'Rourke, MBLA Architects & Urbanists, MediaCo, Siemens PLC
Associate members include: 5plus Architects Ltd, AFL Architects, Addleshaw, Goddard LLP, Allied London, Ask Property Developments Ltd, Barton Willmore, Bolton Council, The Carlyle Group, Cobbetts LLP, Gateley LLP, Habitat Contracts, Harworth Estates, Himor Group Ltd, Indigo Planning, Leach Rhodes Walker Architects, McGrigors LLP, Manchester Medi Park Airport City, Nikal Ltd, Overbury PLC, Planit-IE Ltd, Savills, Shepherd Construction, Squire Sanders, Stride Treglown, Town Centre Securities, Urban Splash and Willmott Dixon.
