CHICAGO – (March 2, 2016) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® held its annual Conference Week February 20-26 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, drawing 2,500 real estate professionals and guests from 25 countries. The event offered separate conferences for brokers, senior managers and relocation professionals; sales associates; luxury specialists; sales managers; and marketing and technology professionals.
Sessions examined a full range of topics relating to the real estate market, including the economy and the role the upcoming U.S. presidential election may have, changing consumer preferences and lifestyle trends, and the ways evolving technologies are driving demand for “smart homes” and impacting the ways real estate professionals engage consumers and market homes.
Keynote speakers included David Gregory, renowned television journalist and former moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press; George Blankenship, the innovator who master-minded Apple retail stores and later headed worldwide retail for Tesla; William Taylor, co-founding editor of Fast Company magazine; behavioral scientist and author James Kane, known for his research on what makes someone truly loyal; David Bromstad, host of HGTV’s new series Beach Flip; and Erik Stolhanske, actor, writer and producer of major motion pictures. Also featured were an extensive group of industry thought leaders, marketing strategists and technology innovators.
Numerous entertainment and networking events were also on the agenda, including the Awards Gala, where the network’s annual Performance Awards were presented. Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC) received the Diamond Award for the second consecutive year and the sixth time in the award’s 14-year history. The Diamond Award is LeadingRE’s highest honor, acknowledging outstanding performance in all of LeadingRE’s business programs.
The prominent Leadership Award, recognizing a member broker whose leadership skills and achievements have drawn the attention of others, was presented to Pat Shea, Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA).
Marketing awards were announced in a variety of areas, including the Best Overall Website, given to Windermere Real Estate (Seattle, WA), and the Most Innovative Brokerage Award, presented to two companies: Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Kampmeyer Immobilien GmbH (Cologne, Germany).
Also presented were the Crown of Excellence referral awards, given in seven company size categories to Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Beverly-Hanks & Associates (Asheville, NC); John Daugherty Realtors (Houston, TX); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); and Acton Real Estate Company, LLC (Acton, MA).
The Global Alliance Award for Most Outgoing International Referral Closings was presented to Macdonald Realty Ltd. (Vancouver, Canada). The Million Dollar Award for Highest Valued Outgoing Closings went to Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY).
Companies earning honors 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); Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (Pittsburgh, PA); Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY); and Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC).
Receiving the Pinnacle Award for having the most outgoing revenue-generating referrals were: Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. (Chantilly, VA); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Paragon Real Estate Group (San Francisco, CA); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); and Cam Taylor Co., LTD., Realtors, Inc. (Columbus, OH).
Additional referral performance awards were presented to Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Beverly-Hanks & Associates (Asheville, NC); Cam Taylor Co., LTD., Realtors, Inc. (Columbus, OH); Cottingham Chalk Hayes, Realtors (Charlotte, NC); Farrell Smyth, Inc. (San Luis Obispo, CA); Florida Executive Realty (Tampa, FL); Hamner Real Estate Inc. (Tuscaloosa, AL); John Daugherty Realtors (Houston, TX); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Lake Norman Realty, Inc. (Cornelius, NC); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); Michael Saunders & Company (Sarasota, FL); Paragon Real Estate Group (San Francisco, CA); PARKS Realty (Brentwood, TN); Real Estate One, Inc. (Southfield, MI); Realty Austin (Austin, TX); The Janet Jones Company (Little Rock, AR); Tina Bilazarian, Inc. (Shrewsbury, MA); WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Griffin Company (Springdale, AR); WEICHERT, REALTORS® (Morris Plains, NJ); and Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO).
A variety of awards were presented to brokers in recognition of expertise in the luxury market. John R. Wood Properties (Naples, FL) received the Top Luxury Portfolio Brokerage Award, and Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa) earned recognition as the Top Global Luxury Portfolio Brokerage. Alain Pinel Realtors (San Ramon, CA) earned the Spirit Award, while Barfoot & Thompson Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand) was named Best Newcomer.
“Throughout the event, we explored themes that are at the core of our network: ‘quality, connected, independence,’” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Only 20% of the companies that inquire about affiliating with our network are accepted into our community, affording them incredible global connections, resources and reach, while allowing them to retain their independence as a brand.”
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a selective global community of the highest quality independent real estate companies. LeadingRE exists to make its members better by connecting them to opportunities and people around the globe, supporting them with a global referral network, professional development programs and unique events. Members will gather again for LeadingRE’s International Symposium, taking place in Amsterdam, October 23-25. The 2017 Conference Week will return to the Fontainebleau Miami, February 27-March 5.
For more information on the network, visit www.LeadingRE.com.