With Berlin topping the charts as the most desirable city in Europe for real estate investment and development, the German capital provides a fitting backdrop for ULI’s 2018 European conference taking place this week.
With accolades such as ‘fantastic’, ‘thriving’, ‘the hottest market in Europe’, it is described by ET interviewees as the German city with the most to offer –thanks in large part to its educated workforce and creative culture. From a property point of view, Berlin’s appeal lies in the belief that its current high asset values are sustainable, buoyed by rapid population growth and vigorous business expansion, with the technology sector at its forefront.
The programme for the two-day ULI event reflects Berlin’s star status: no less than three tours have been organised on day one of the conference. The parallel trips will take delegates to the booming City West area where a number of cutting-edge developments are taking shape; to some of Berlin’s innovative working spaces that host not only start-ups, but also established corporate firms wanting to tap into the city’s creative culture; and to developer CA Immo’s Europacity project, spanning some 40 hectares and linked directly to Berlin’s main railway station.
On the second day of conference, keynote speaker Christoph Sollich – known as ‘The Pitch Doctor’ in Berlin and beyond – will make his case for why Berlin is the hottest start-up city in Europe. Sollich has worked with over 1,500 start-ups to improve the way they pitch themselves to investors, partners, and other key stakeholders. He is a mentor and coach for dozens of accelerators, incubators, corporate innovation labs and start-up competitions around Europe. With his penchant for humorous pitches, he has also made a name for himself as a ‘start-up comedian’.
In another keynote address, Zipcar cofounder Robin Chase will offer insights into the new collaborative economy, its structure and the opportunities it provides in the real estate space.
Geopolitics and macroeconomics come under scrutiny in a morning session on Day 2 when Laurence Boone, AXA Group chief economist and head of research, looks at factors such as Brexit which could trigger a slowdown in European real estate markets. Other panels will explore the future of retail – with participants including ECE’s CEO Alexander Otto and founder Scott Malkin of Value Retail – and the challenges posed to the real estate industry by proptech.
