Austin Hosts Record-Setting Spring World Conference of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)


Technology-Focused Event Draws Unprecedented Number of Attendees to Hear Thought Leaders, Share Success Strategies, and Discuss Key Real Estate and Business Trends

Washington, DC – April 18, 2018 – The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), which represents the world’s elite in industrial and office brokerage, hosted its annual Spring World Conference in Austin from Wednesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 14. The international event drew a record gathering of over 850 SIOR attendees from around the globe to the newly opened Fairmont Austin hotel in downtown Austin.

For the 77th year, the industry’s top commercial real estate brokers, industrial and office experts, and global thought leaders gathered to discuss the most pressing and relevant topics facing the industry today. Major topics of discussion throughout the event included: the digital transformation of the industry and its impact on the brokerage community – including the impact of AI (artificial intelligence); national office and industrial investment trends; economic forecasts; and a discussion of office and industrial investing in the red-hot Austin and greater Texas markets.

Special guest speakers included best-selling author Parag Khanna, who discussed how global transportation, energy and communications infrastructures and the supply chains are forging a global network with complex power dynamics; “Opportunistic Investor” Michael Litt, former partner at FrontPoint Partners, LLC (the company upon which “The Big Short” was based on), shared his thoughts on the lessons to be learned from the 2008 economic meltdown; and Brian Forde, director of digital currency at the MIT Media Lab, who demystified the topic of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency for the gathering.

“The SIOR Spring World Conference was chock full of sessions centered around technology and its implications for the real estate industry. All of the speakers, including Dr. Khanna and Michael Litt, did an amazing job of explaining the ways the world is changing and how we have to adapt to and integrate these technologies, as well as their implications,” said SIOR Global President Del Markward, SIOR. “But, despite the technology evolution, an overriding theme throughout the entire conference is that the future of commercial real estate will continue to rely on the personal touch – it is of utmost importance in order to properly service our clients to ensure their success.”

Highlights of the special sessions included: a panel discussion moderated by CREtech Founder & CEO Michael Beckerman on how technology is transforming the CRE brokerage industry in ways that produce tangible results; a talk by former Dallas Cowboy Darren Woodson on making the humbling transition from NFL star and ESPN analyst to being the “new guy” at Dallas-based real estate brokerage firm ESRP, and how he is implementing the principles learned as a three-time Super Bowl winner into his new career; and a session on the “Secrets to Identifying and Winning Highly Profitable Tenant Rep Assignments,” which focused on ways for brokers to differentiate themselves from the competition to win business.

Attendees also had ample time to partake in social and networking events, including a Young Professionals Night Out event, a sold-out office broker dinner, and the perennial favorite Panattoni Party, which this year featured the theme of “Keep Austin Weird.”

“It was an incredible conference and a unique opportunity to share the City of Austin with our fellow SIORs,” said Carl Condon, SIOR, President of the SIOR Austin/Central Texas Chapter. “In Austin, we pride ourselves on being a city with a distinct identity that needs to be experienced to be understood. And, based on the feedback we received from the visiting SIORs, this was an experience they won’t soon forget.”

Established in 1941, SIOR now extends to 48 chapters worldwide, consisting of more than 3,200 members in more than 680 cities in 36 countries.

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About SIOR

The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR) represents the world’s elite in industrial and office real estate. SIORs are held to the highest standard by closing successful transactions, and completing stringent qualifications and curricula. They are the most trusted resource in commercial real estate. SIOR is more than a designation, it’s a symbol of excellence. It’s a reflection of a global network of more than 3,000 industry leaders driven by camaraderie and innovation. SIORs value the power that comes with building relationships and sharing ideas that are on the leading edge of the industry. For more information, visit sior.com.


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