MIPIM teams outline plans for the future

Sir John Peace

With international property conference MIPIM effectively cancelled for 2020 after organisers confirmed it would be not be taking place on its rescheduled June date, the leaders of the East Midlands team who had been planning to head out to France for the show have been outlining their plans for the future.

The annual event should have happened two weeks ago in Cannes, France, but was postponed as coronavirus began to disrupt travel and mass gatherings in Europe.

It was rearranged for June 2-5 but that too has proven to be too problematic to remain committed to.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby is looking more towards the short-term. He told us: “Marketing Derby has been collaborating with our partners across the Midlands on dealing with the impact of Covid-19 on MIPIM.

“There are serious complications in untangling the impact of this year’s postponement and it is far too early to comment on the proposed session in Paris in September, or for that matter MIPIM in 2021.

“In the short-term, every business is focused on navigating through the next few difficult months”.

The cancellation was no shock to Rob McGuinn, director at MDA Consulting and chair of Team Leicester. He said: “This news that the main MIPIM event will no longer run this year is obviously very disappointing but not unexpected, given the widespread escalation of the coronavirus.

“This is an unprecedented situation and we recognise that everyone is striving to make the best of this horrendous turn in global events.

“We will be rolling our programme including all sponsorship over to next year and we are fully committed – even more so now – to making MIPIM 2021 a massive success.”

Details from MIPIM organisers on an event in Paris is September have been vague so far. For Lorraine Baggs, head of inward investment at Invest in Nottingham, this is a stumbling block to Team Nottingham commiting.

She told TheBusinessDesk.com said: “At present, there is very little information on the format, cost, and objectives for the Paris event so until we have further details we are unable to make a sensible and informed decision. We will be communicating as much information as possible to our MIPIM partners in the coming days and weeks, as and when new information becomes available.”

For Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy and Place at Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“While no doubt a difficult decision for the organisers, it is entirely understandable and correct in the circumstances. The government has made a clear commitment during this time to support the nation’s businesses and to help with recovery and growth when the time is right. These are challenging times but in Lincolnshire we have a proud tradition of coming together and supporting our business community and we will continue to do this.”

Meanwhile, councillor Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy and Place at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “While no doubt a difficult decision for the organisers, it is entirely understandable and correct in the circumstances. The government has made a clear commitment during this time to support the nation’s businesses and to help with recovery and growth when the time is right.

“These are challenging times but in Lincolnshire we have a proud tradition of coming together and supporting our business community and we will continue to do this.”

The three-day festival will be replaced by a two-day gathering of real estate and technology leaders in Paris in September. Alongside this organisers are promising an online experience, MIPIM Connect.

It has confirmed plans to hold MIPIM next year in its usual time and place – Cannes on March 16-19, 2021.

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