Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Conference Week, held February 23-27 at Wynn Las Vegas, attracted 2,700 attendees from 20 countries, a record attendance for the event. Hosted by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) for its affiliates, the event offered targeted conferences for brokers, relocation professionals, sales associates, luxury specialists, sales managers and marketing and technology professionals.
Among the highlights was the presentation of the network’s annual Performance Awards. The most prestigious honor, the Diamond Award, was given to Watson Realty Corp. (Jacksonville, FL) for the second consecutive year. The Diamond Award recognizes the top member firm, based on participation in all of LeadingRE’s business offerings and signifies the network’s highest level of achievement.
Also presented were the prestigious Crown of Excellence awards, presented to the member firm with the highest level of network engagement in each company-size category. This year’s winners are Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Michael Saunders & Company (Sarasota, FL); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Charles Reinhart Company (Ann Arbor, MI); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Hamner Real Estate Inc. (Tuscaloosa, AL); and Burt Jordan Realtors (Florence, SC).
Companies recognized for superior performance in Outgoing Referral Production include Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Watson Realty Corp. (Jacksonville, FL); Michael Saunders & Company (Sarasota, FL); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Charles Reinhart Company (Ann Arbor, MI); Platinum Group REALTORS (Colorado Springs, CO); Hamner Real Estate Inc. (Tuscaloosa, AL); and Shea & Sanders Real Estate Inc. (East Setauket, NY). This award is presented to the member firm within each company size category that has introduced the largest number of clients per sales associate to other affiliates within the network.
Outgoing Sales Production awards were presented to Watson Realty Corp. (Jacksonville, FL); Jack Conway & Co. Inc. (Norwell, MA); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); H. Pearce Company (North Haven, CT); Platinum Group REALTORS (Colorado Springs, CO); Hamner Real Estate Inc. (Tuscaloosa, AL); and Burt Jordan Realtors (Florence, SC). Recognition is given to the member firm that has introduced clients to other affiliates within the network resulting in the highest number of closed transactions per sales associate.
Recognized for Incoming Conversion were Real Estate One, Inc. (Southfield, MI); Comey & Shepherd Realtors, (Cincinnati, OH); Heritage Texas Properties (Houston, TX); Lawrence-Arendall-Humphries Real Estate (Birmingham, AL); Burns & Company Inc./Realtors (Baton Rouge, LA); Fish Real Estate, Inc. (Williamsport, PA); and McIntosh & Associates (Jackson, MS). This award is presented to the member firm with the highest incoming conversion rate based on closed transactions resulting from client referrals received from other affiliates.
Equivalent Closing Sales Production awards, recognizing the companies with the highest per agent average of outgoing equivalent closings, were presented to Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY); Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales, LLC (New York, NY); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Paragon Real Estate Group (San Francisco, CA); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Rutledge Properties (Wellesley, MA); and Bahamas Realty Limited (Nassau, Bahamas).
Winning the Global Alliance Award for Most Outgoing Closings was Macdonald Realty Ltd. (Vancouver, Canada), and the Million Dollar Award for Most Outgoing Closings went to Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY).
Companies recognized for having the Top 5 Most Outgoing Closings, in order of volume, were: Weichert Realtors (Morris Plains, NJ); Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. (Chantilly, VA); Watson Realty Corp. (Jacksonville, FL); Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); and Sibcy Cline Realtors (Cincinnati, OH).
Recognized with the Pinnacle Awards for having the most outgoing revenue-generating referrals, regardless of company size, were: Long & Foster Real Estate Inc., (Chantilly, VA); Watson Realty Corp. (Jacksonville, FL); Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Weichert Realtors (Morris Plains, NJ); and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (Pittsburgh, PA).
The network’s prestigious Leadership Award, which honors a member broker whose leadership skills have drawn the attention of others, was presented to Diane Ramirez of Halstead Property, LLC (New York, NY), a dedicated member of the local, state and national real estate community for the past 38 years.
The network’s Service Recognition Awards, established to highlight the significant individual contributions that members have made to our organization, were also presented. Earning the President’s Service Award were Judy Alloway (JBGoodwin, Realtors, Austin, TX); Mark Bardo (Allen Tate Company, Charlotte, NC); Zane Burnett (Fillmore Real Estate, Brooklyn, NY); Rainy Hake (Alain Pinel Realtors, San Ramon, CA); Diane Howard (Real Estate One, Inc., Southfield, MI); and Rob Sibcy (Sibcy Cline Realtors, Cincinnati, OH). Chairman’s Service Award winners were Benedetta Vigano (Giorgio Vigano Real Estate, Milano, Italy) and Larry Zapf (Beverly-Hanks & Associates, Asheville, NC).
Earning praise for Transaction of the Year Award were both Elise Montgomery of CIR REALTY (Calgary, Canada) and GARDNER, REALTORS (New Orleans, LA), while the Referral of the Year Award was awarded to David Shaw of Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate (Winston-Salem, NC). The Rainmaker Lead Generation Award, recognizing a member company for unique and successful business development initiatives, was presented to Watson Realty Corp.
Top Luxury Brokerage Awards were presented to those companies who best exemplify a strong luxury market presence and high price point expertise, while also embracing the Luxury Portfolio International® brand and contributing to its overall growth and success. The Luxury Portfolio Best Newcomer Award was presented to
Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA), and the Spirit Award was given to Santa Fe Properties (Santa Fe, NM). The Top International Luxury Portfolio Brokerage Award winner was Ganly Walters (Dublin, Ireland), and the Top Luxury Portfolio Brokerage Award for Overall Excellence is Hilton & Hyland Real Estate (Beverly Hills, CA).
A variety of marketing awards were announced, including the Best Overall Website, awarded to John Greene Realtor (Naperville, IL), and the Most Innovative Brokerage Award, going to Jack Conway & Co. (Boston, MA).
“Recognizing the many achievements of our member companies and leaders is a real privilege and a high point of our Annual Conference,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of LeadingRE. “In a network that is made up of the most accomplished and productive firms in the industry, earning distinction is a real accomplishment, and we congratulate these winners and all of the companies and individuals who were recognized.”
Beyond the awards, the conference offered a robust educational program on a variety of topics. Keynote speakers included former Navy SEAL Rorke Denver, who starred in the 2012 hit film “Act of Valor;” bestselling author, entrepreneur and former chief evangelist for Apple Guy Kawasaki; top-rated business author Daniel Pink; and internationally recognized graffiti artist, film maker and author Erik Wahl. In addition, more than 25 other guest speakers addressed a diverse range of real estate topics, from technology and mobile strategies to sales coaching skills to real estate market insights. Additionally, an accomplished group of member speakers shared insights as panelists and speakers.
LeadingRE is a global network of 500+ premier locally-branded firms producing over one million annual home sale transactions. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, including lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development. LeadingRE’s 2015 Conference Week will be held February 9- 13, again at Wynn Las Vegas. Other upcoming events include the International Symposium October 16-18 in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and the Fall Workshop series.
For more information on the network, visit www.LeadingRE.com.