There is definitely a different buzz about MIPIM this year. With the UK economy showing signs of improvement and the property market following suit there is more to talk about and more to showcase. So this year’s show is mainly going to be about…
A bigger presence from UK cities
During the recession, budgets were tight and there was just generally less stuff to talk about. Delegate numbers and events schedules shrank and some decided to wait it out for a year or two.
But this year the UK’s cities are back in force and seemingly with plenty to shout about.
Liverpool is returning after a two-year absence and someone must have put something in the water during the recession because the city is teaming up with arch-rival Manchester.
Cardiff and Glasgow both dipped their toes in the waters of Cannes last year with modest stands and schedules but are going much bigger this year reflecting, perhaps, more confidence in catching interest from investors.
Birmingham has had a regular presence at the show but, like many regulars, is taking more partners and has a bigger programme of events scheduled, although it’s not quite back up to the Balti on the Beach-themed events of the boom years.
Toby Baines, chairman of Citygrove Securities, which together with Doherty Baines hosts the infamous Boat That Rocks party on the last night of the show, comments: “Over the years we have seen the market ebb and flow and in 2014 we are witnessing a much more positive attitude to the market with many more opportunities available.”
Nottingham council’s chief executive Ian Curryer agrees: “There is an awful lot we can talk about compared with previous years. We are going to have a bigger permanent HQ, we are taking on a larger programme of events and a bigger delegation.”
The East Midlands city’s programme is one of many that has a sporting theme, the theme de jour at MIPIM 2014 but then the other big theme this year is…
…technology and knowledge…
All things brainy and creative are back in vogue. Manchester started it last year with the celebrity guest appearance of professor Brian Cox. This year you cannot move for events about the importance of innovation and universities – and no wonder when it is those cities with good knowledge-based economies that are forecast to see the best growth as the economy recovers.
Sheffield, Coventry and Derby have got innovation and technology written all over their MIPIM presence while Nottingham is going all creative and has made a film.
The city is looking to highlight its creative knowledge base but presumably the film will be a huge step away from the social deprivation depicted in the work of Midlands-born director Shane Meadows who brought us This Is England.
And there are all sorts of gizmos and creative ways of promoting being used. Manchester-based RE:Systems has developed an app for the show which harnesses beacon technology (it’s like Bluetooth, apparently) to send personalised information to those with smartphones and tablets.
Over on the Leeds stand they are going digital with an interactive 3D digital model of the Leeds city region which leads nicely into the final theme of this year’s show…
…sport
Leeds is taking full advantage of the fact that the city will be hosting the first leg of the Tour de France and is having a Tour-themed reception on 11 March. It is one of many sports-themed events. In fact, it is probably safe to say this is the sportiest MIPIM for a long time.
Aside from the regular Cycle To Cannes ride there are a plethora of events to get involved with, should ?you be the sporty type.
LandAid is hosting head-clearing morning runs, Team Nottingham is playing cricket on the beach, Scottish Cities Alliance has a virtual golfing competition on its stand and, for those who prefer to exercise their brain cells, a chance to compete against the world chess champion Magnus Carlsen is on offer on the Norway stand.
For the armchair sports fans worried about missing a game the Manchester City vs Barcelona football match is being shown in the Manchester bar – probably due to the fact that council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein is a huge fan.
Celebrity corner
Last year we had Björn from Abba on the Sweden stand and professor Brian Cox on the Manchester Stand and we were wondering how that was going to be bettered – but it has.
Nottingham has enlisted the help of former Nottinghamshire and England cricketer Derek William Randall, Norway has got world chess champion Magnus Larsson and Manchester has gone one better with none other than Manchester United footballer Gary Neville.
And of course it would not be MIPIM without mayor of London Boris Johnson.
He was not due to attend, but is now making a flying visit and will be passing on his words of wisdom in the Grand Auditorium at 2pm on Tuesday 11 March.
? For a full list of sporting events visit the MIPIM Games page of the Estates Gazette MIPIM microsite where you will also find all our news, videos, podcasts and pictures from the show. Our team of eight journalists will also be tweeting from Cannes. www.estatesgazette.com/mipim
