It is a difficult time in the real estate market. What is the current status of EXPO REAL 2024?
Claudia Boymanns: “It goes without saying that we also face a host of challenges in the preparations for EXPO REAL 2024 that market participants have to deal with. At the same time, however, we have succeeded in attracting new exhibitors to EXPO REAL and adding two new formats to the event, so we are once again planning a total of seven halls this year. The number of pre-registrations is also very positive. EXPO REAL is where the real estate industry meets because it stimulates exchanging ideas, it’s where current developments, trends and their impact are analyzed, and where joint solutions are discussed.”
What can participants at this year’s EXPO REAL expect? What innovations is the trade fair presenting?
Claudia Boymanns: “The exchange between the market participants, but also with politicians and associations, is a mainstay of EXPO REAL. At the same time, professional exchange, analyzing of trends, and discussing solutions are becoming increasingly important in times of major change. We therefore attach great importance to the EXPO REAL conference program. Given the wealth of pressing issues facing the industry, there is an even greater range of stages on offer this year. We have also developed the Transform & Beyond by EXPO REAL concept—an exhibition area dedicated to the future and transformation topics of the property industry. The focus here is on the decarbonization of cities and buildings, AI & robotics, smart buildings, digitalization and energy solutions for districts. In addition, our ’Sustainable Construction Hub—powered by BAU and EXPO REAL’ offers a forum in which current issues relating to economical and resource-saving construction and building in existing structures will be discussed in several panels. Alternative building materials and solutions for climate neutrality and circularity in the construction process will be presented, as well as new technologies that can contribute to faster planning and construction—with the aid of digitalization, artificial intelligence, prefabrication, or automation. The special exhibition will showcase specific construction and planning projects as examples, as well as forward-looking materials.”
In your opinion, which topics will primarily be discussed at EXPO REAL?
Claudia Boymanns: “As the challenges for market participants are becoming increasingly complex, I expect a wide variety of discussions this year, such as how transaction and financing business can be stimulated, what role international investors play in the development of real estate projects, how the investment strategies of institutional investors are changing, and which real estate markets are coming into focus. There is, however, also space in the conference program for ideas on ways out of the housing crisis, and 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.”
