REIT executives, investors and analysts are gathering at the Wynn Las Vegas from from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19 for REITWorld 2015: NAREIT's Annual Convention for All Things REIT.
Highlights of REITWorld 2015:
Day One (Nov. 17)
REITWorld 2015: NAREIT's 2016 Chair, Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW) President and CEO Ed Fritsch (right), presented Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) President and CEO David Neithercut with an award honoring Neithercut's leadership as the 2015 Chair.
REITWorld 2015: During the convention's opening luncheon, Fritsch (far left) moderated a panel on the state of the real estate capital markets. Joining Fritsch (from left to right): Mike Kirby, chairman and director of research, Green Street Advisors; Timothy Naughton, chairman and CEO, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE: AVB); Sherry Rexroad, managing director, BlackRock; and Scott Schaevitz, managing director, Barclays.
REITWorld 2015: Neithercut and Fritsch presented Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT) President and CEO Donald Wood (center) with the Edward H. Linde Industry Leadership Award.
REITWorld 2015: Neithercut and Fritsch presented Mary Hogan-Preusse (center), managing director and co-head of Americas real estate at APG Asset Management US Inc., with the E. Lawrence Miller Industry Achievement Award.
REITWorld 2015: John Worth (far left), senior vice president for research and investor outreach with NAREIT, moderated a panel on the economic outlook that featured insights from Brad Case (far right), NAREIT senior vice president for research and industry information, and Calvin Schnure (center), NAREIT senior vice president for research and economic analysis.
REITWorld 2015: Members of NAREIT's Policy & Politics team gave a presentation on the political and legislative outlook in Washington, focusing on issues of importance to the REIT industry. Speakers included (from left to right): Catherine Barre, senior vice president for policy and politics; Tony Edwards, executive vice president and general counsel; and Robert Dibblee, senior vice president for government relations.
REITWorld 2015: Steve Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, spoke at the Advisory Board of Governors Reception and Dinner about his experiences in the hotel industry.
Day Two (Nov. 18)
REITWorld 2015: Mike Grupe (far right), NAREIT's executive vice president for research and investor outreach, moderated a panel of NAREIT Investor Outreach team members on the role of REITs in the retirement market. Grupe was joined by (from left to right): Kurt Walten, NAREIT senior vice president for investment affairs and investor education; Abigail McCarthy, NAREIT vice president for investment affairs and investor education; and Meredith Despins, NAREIT vice president for investment affairs and investor education.
REITWorld 2015: NAREIT handed out the 2015 Leader in the Light Awards to companies in a number of categories. The awards honor NAREIT member companies that have demonstrated superior and sustained sustainability practices.
REITWorld 2015: Legendary poker champion Annie Duke addressed attendees at a luncheon on the second day of the event, giving a talk entitled "Risk, Shmisk."
REITWorld 2015: GRESB CEO Nils Kok (far left) moderated a sustainability panel discussion. Participants included (from left to right): Bradford Stoesser, managing director and global industry analyst, Wellington Management Company; Eliott Trencher, research analyst, Cohen & Steers Capital Management; Hans Op ’t Veld, head of listed real estate, PGGM; and David Stanford, executive managing director, RealFoundations.