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2024 Realcomm IBcon
 
Post Conference Recap
 
The Tampa Convention Center was the perfect venue for the 26th Annual Realcomm | IBcon conference. Innovative and forward-thinking commercial and corporate real estate and facilities professionals from around the world joined us for engaging discussions, lively debates, and demonstrations on PropTech and automation for the built environment.

The positive feedback from attendees, exhibitors and sponsors has been incredible! We are delighted that so many attendees found the conference valuable, enjoyed reconnecting with peers, colleagues, and clients, and making new connections. Our sincere thanks to everyone who participated and helped us deliver a high-level, engaging, and educational event.
 
 
JUNE 18
9TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AND CHARITY EVENT
To start the week, Realcomm | IBcon held its 9th annual Golf Outing and Charity Event, attracting 80 golfers to the renowned TPC Tampa Bay course. Proceeds from the event benefited Stacks+Joules, a non-profit workforce development organization addressing the skilled labor shortage in the BAS industry.

A special thanks to our event co-chairs, Robert Entin of Vornado and Todd Januzzi of The Paramount Group, for their efforts in organizing and ensuring the success of this year's event!
 
INNOVATION TECH TOURS
In the afternoon, attendees participated in back-of-house tours of several innovative projects and experiences in Tampa:
 
Water Street Tampa: A District Founded on Innovation
Strategic Property Partners (SPP), a world-class commercial real estate developer who embraces innovation and creating vibrant urban spaces briefed the group on Water Street Tampa, their flagship project that redefines community living with a focus on urban vitality, wellbeing, and sustainability. Participants explored cutting-edge technology and sustainability initiatives, including an enhanced 5G network and innovative infrastructure.
 
Innovative Arena Experience: Discover AMALIE’s Technological Marvels
AMALIE Arena is a premier sports and entertainment venue known for its advanced technology, including Tesla coils, dehumidification heat pipes, and ultra-fast 5G connectivity. The arena also features enhanced LED displays and seamless digital ticketing. Attendees experienced these innovations and enjoyed the city views from the Budweiser Biergarten.
 
Power Design: The Future of Contracting
Attendees explored the cutting-edge world of construction with Power Design, a leading multi-trade design-build contractor renowned for innovative smart buildings and advanced IT solutions. The 30,000 sq. ft. Evaluation Center showcased state-of-the-art technologies, while the headquarters exemplified a collaborative and customer-first culture. It was an unforgettable tour, highlighting the future of the built environment.
 
JUNE 19
PRECON EVENTS
This year, eight precon events were presented, including three new events providing fresh perspectives and top-of-mind topics.

The day started with a packed house for the CRE Cybersecurity Forum. The event focused on cybersecurity best practices for the built environment and brought together industry thought leaders to address the most pressing cyber threats and OT ransomware attacks building owners and operators face today. Special thanks to the Real Estate Cyber Consortium (RECC) for shaping the agenda for this impactful session.

Afternoon sessions included individual breakouts based on the attendees’ role within the real estate industry. These programs featured industry experts who addressed the challenges and technology opportunities for specific target groups: 21st Annual CIO Roundtable, IB Boot Camp, Smart Building Integrator Summit, Sustainable Impact Forum and new this year: the BuildingsAI Symposium, Automation ≠ Smart and the Smarter Connected Buildings Forum.

The new BuildingsAI Symposium successfully delivered on its promise to provide the most comprehensive conversation on AI for the built environment. Over 350 attendees gained valuable insights as to how the industry is leveraging revolutionary AI technologies, moving beyond the hype to practical applications. A special thanks to Microsoft for their significant contribution to the educational program with timely information on Microsoft Copilot, enhancing the depth and relevance of the discussions.
 
 
WELCOME RECEPTION NETWORKING
The Realcomm | IBcon 2024 Welcome Networking Event was buzzing with high energy! Guests enjoyed expertly crafted cocktails, a whiskey tasting experience, and an array of delicious food. It was a fantastic start to the conference and a great opportunity for all to catch up with peers and make new connections. It was great seeing so many returning attendees who are the core of our collaborative community.
 
 
JUNE 20
GENERAL SESSION
The General Session focused on this year's theme, Beyond the Hype: Business-Driven Technology Strategies for a Shifting CRE Market. Presentations and discussions with global industry leaders delved into strategies to align innovation with effective technology for the built environment. A highlight was breaking news from GSA's Administrator Carnahan, who announced the $80 million initiative for smart building technologies under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. Additionally, Realcomm | IBcon featured another history-making event with the showcase of the future of electricity.

Other sessions included a rapid-fire market forecast by Jeff Adler of Yardi, and insights on Water Street Tampa by Brad Cooke from Strategic Property Partners. Advisory council co-chairs shared business-driven technology strategies. Rob Teel from Yardi unpacked data on today’s market and AI, while Sandeep Davé from CBRE discussed AI's transformative innovation at scale. Umar Riaz from EY provided insights on adopting new ideas in a changing market. Gary Bailey from Phillips Edison & Company, Joseph Martino, Primaris REIT, and Ilan Zachar, Carr spoke on AI's profound impact on the built environment.
 
 
DIGIE & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Congratulations to the 2024 Digie and Lifetime Achievement Award winners!

Awards were given to recognize those companies, real estate projects, technologies, and people that have gone above and beyond to positively impact our industry using technology, automation, and innovation. Special congratulations to this year’s Julie Devine Digital Impact Award winners Susan Gerock, Elme Communities, Sunder Pappu, Inland Real Estate Group, Gerry Hamilton, Stanford University and Ilene Goldfine, Hines. And watch out for the Rising Star award winners Lewis Martin of LMC and Aaron Altscher of Carr.
 
This year’s Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Tom Taddeo, a recognized global thought leader who has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving real estate operations through technology and innovation.

Click here for the complete list of winners.
 
 
JUNE 20-21
 
EDUCATION AND BEST PRACTICE SHARING
Over 275+ thought leaders led more than 70 education sessions and idea exchanges over two days. With sessions featuring topics and trends on AI, cybersecurity, smart building tech, data/sensors, process automation, cybersecurity, ESG, digital workplace, and more! We went Beyond the Hype to bring attendees actionable insights and real-world solutions.
 
 
REALCOMM LIVE
Over two days, the Realcomm Live news desk featured 30 live interviews that delved into various industry trends with industry experts from companies such as GSA, CBRE, Hines, Kilroy, JGB SMITH, Microsoft, Walmart, and others.
 
EXHIBIT HALL
The exhibit floor at Realcomm | IBcon 2024 was an incredible showcase of innovation, featuring a wide array of over 150 exhibitors presenting the latest in technology, automation, and smart building solutions. Eight unique Technology Pavilions – 5G & In-Building Wireless, CRE Cyber, Energy and Sustainability, Healthy Buildings, PoE | DC Power & Low Voltage, Startup Launchpad, Israel Technology Innovation, and our own Industry Partner Pavilion – each with its own group of specialized vendors and innovative technologies, shared demonstrations and product overviews with attendees.
 
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the 200+exhibitors and sponsors from around the world who made this experience so impactful and engaging. Your contributions drive our industry forward and inspire us all. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable event!
 
JUNE 21
ALLIES BREAKING BARRIERS SESSION
The Allies Breaking Barriers session was a powerful start to the day. Focused on fostering a community of inclusivity and collaboration, this session explored the pivotal roles of allyship and mentorship in propelling the real estate industry forward. Engaging in thoughtful dialogue, participants discussed how to dismantle obstacles, champion diverse voices, and drive the industry forward with purpose and passion.
 
BEST PRACTICE SHOWCASE
Always a popular event at the conference, the Best Practice Showcase was another resounding success, with one-on-one interactions with project leaders sparking dynamic conversations on some of the most successful global smart building implementations.

The IBcon Smart Building Showcase highlighted 26 successful technology projects in corporate and commercial real estate, including offices, headquarters, retrofits, energy portfolios, life science districts, and more. Project Leaders shared their insights and lessons learned, covering topics such as planning tech infrastructure and integrations from the design stage; aligning stakeholders and project teams; scaling technology; data and physical security; net-zero goals; low-voltage implementations, and more.

The NEW! AI | Process Automation Showcase was another highlight of this year’s conference. It captivated attendees with 17 groundbreaking projects that are redefining commercial real estate through innovative AI and automation solutions, offering deep insights and firsthand accounts from industry pioneers and technical experts. This interactive event sparked lively discussions and highlighted the transformative impact of AI and RPA technologies in reshaping industry standards.
 
 
While there are many PropTech conferences going on around the world, Realcomm and IBcon have established their place as the premier industry events in this space. For 26 years, we have offered the most extensive educational programs and facilitated the most current, comprehensive, and insightful discussions, debates, and demonstrations led by industry thought leaders.

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