Cannes-do as Yorkshire MIPIM launches in Leeds

11/03/08

It may not have been Cannes but it was certainly Cannes-do as Yorkshire property and related professionals launched their `Yorkshire MIPIM’ this week.

More than 100 professionals including developers, contractors, surveyors, agents, bankers and accountants, attended the first event of this year’s `Yorkshire MIPIM’ – an invitation only dinner and quiz at the Leeds Club, Albion Place, on Tuesday evening (March 11).

This year’s two-day event was sponsored jointly by Yorkshire Bank’s Leeds Financial Solutions Centre (FSC), which has a specialist Structured Property Finance Team, accountants and business advisors, Grant Thornton and property consultants King Sturge. 

MIPIM is the world’s premier property conference held annually in Cannes, France, and is attended by thousands of leading property professionals who meet to shape the future of the industry.
Tuesday’s event was Gallic themed and featured a property quiz and a dinner with French cuisine and wine.

Among those attending was head of property and construction at Grant Thornton, Leeds, Paul Naylor, who said: "The response to last year's first Yorkshire MIPIM exceeded all expectations and proved that there is a definite appetite in the region's property community for a credible alternative to the main event in Cannes.

“The response this year has been even more positive and I think everyone here has seen real benefit. We're delighted to be involved with an event which, though only in its second year, is going from strength to strength."

Meanwhile partner-in-charge of the Leeds office of property consultants King Sturge, Colin Fell, said: “We are very pleased to be involved with the various Alternative MIPIM events in Leeds this week. We see this as working hand in hand with our international landmark party in Cannes.”

This month’s Yorkshire MIPIM, which also includes lunchtime drinks and dinner at the Waterhole, Leeds, on Thursday (March 13), for which more than 150 tickets were sold within the first week, follows last year’s highly-praised inaugural event.

Managing partner of Yorkshire Bank’s Leeds FSC, Patrick Walton, says: ““We are delighted at the enthusiasm for this year’s Yorkshire MIPIM which is helping many professionals to have a great time while making new contacts which can only benefit the industry and we very much hope it will become an annual fixture.”