Formulating Your Plan to Gain Approval to Attend the 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace

If attending the 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace on September 30 – October 3 in Boston, Massachusetts isn’t part of your current business plan, it should be.  Commercial real estate professionals who attend this event know they will discover the latest trends, market forecasts, professional development tools and strategic innovations that will give them the edge they need over their competition. 

This event is also where serious business connections are made, where solutions for challenging times are discovered and where top women and men influencing the major commercial real estate deals look for business partners.  You can’t afford to miss this event. 

Demonstrating to your company the value it will receive by having you attend the 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace is key to securing management approval.  Below are some suggestions to help you state your case.

Create a Winning Proposal
While a simple verbal request is sometimes all that is necessary to gain management approval, be prepared to go the extra mile by detailing the value you expect to receive by attending this event. Approach this like you would any business deal and develop a winning proposal that outlines the benefits to both you and your company of you attending the CREW Network Convention. In addition to highlighting the benefits, outline your intended schedule of education sessions, and why this information will be valuable to your operation. Be sure to attach a copy of the convention brochure.

Communicate the Value
Professionals who are better prepared and better informed than their competition have the advantage – as do their organizations.  Here are a few talking points you may want to include when you’re discussing the value of your attendance at this year’s convention.

Here are just a few benefits of attendance:

• Nearly 1,000 commercial real estate professionals from across North America will attend – all are doing deals, all are looking for new deals.  The connections you make will benefit your entire organization.

• In-depth market forecasts delivered by the experts – this year CREW Network has lined up three of the top real estate economists from MIT, Wellesley and the University of Wisconsin. Plus, Abby Cohen, president of the Global Markets Institute and senior investment strategist for Goldman Sachs

• Carefully planned education sessions that address current market challenges and solutions
  • Capital Markets Update
  • Clean Energy
  • Economic Development Incentives
  • Working Globally
  • Reinventing and Redefining Luxury Retail
  • Management & Disposition of Distressed Assets
  • Senior Housing
  • Making the Case for Sustainable Real Estate Approached
• New this Year!  Mini Sessions: 60 minute, information-packed sessions

• Bankruptcy 101- An Introduction to Bankruptcy – Highlighting Treatment of Real Property Interests
• LEED 2009– A Sustainable Strategy for Everyone
• Insurance Tips and Traps for the Unwary
• Technology: Helping the Bottom Line in Today’s Economy (Part 1 & 2)
• Finance 101 – Understanding the Money
• Tax Talk 101
• Targeted professional development sessions

• Advance Your Career – skills to advance your ability to lead

• Ensuring Success Regardless of Economic Times – leverage your strengths to influence others and excel in your career

• Network Marketplace – dedicated to providing you innovative ideas to support your business needs – learn about unique developments taking place, the latest industry innovations designed to improve your productivity, opportunities for financing and more.

• Dedicated business networking events

• CREW Network Deal Lounge and Deal Database – provided for attendees to conduct onsite business meetings

• Learning excursions provide a street-level view of Boston’s unique development projects – these may provide solutions or ideas for you to implement with your own clients.

Mine for Business
Use the convention as an opportunity to schedule business meetings with your contacts in Boston.  Also, use the online attendee list (once available) to scope out individuals with whom you wish to do business.  Set onsite meetings with those individuals before heading to Boston. 

Bring it Home
What you learn in Boston doesn’t stay in Boston.  Make sure your management understands that your attendance at the 2009 CREW Network Convention can benefit everyone in your organization.  In your proposal, agree to write up a brief synopsis of what you learn from the convention, and then share this information with your company. By bringing the knowledge you gain at convention home, you can become a force for change within your organization. 

Take a moment right now to consider all of the benefits you and your company will receive by attending the 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace and start formulating your proposal today. 

We’ll see YOU in Boston!