Lead members of the Team Leicester delegation to the annual MIPIM property conference in Cannes are being cautious about their commitment to next year’s delayed event.
Representatives of the city and county’s business community were left making last minute cancellations when the 2020 conference in March was cancelled by the spread of Covid-19.
Some have said with the virus still spreading it was too soon to commit to 2021.
The annual event in Cannes attracts in the region of 26,000 delegates from around the world promoting huge infrastructure and development opportunities or on the look-out for property and construction investments.
The four-day event – run by exhibition and conference organiser Reed MIDEM – can be a catalyst for multi-million pound deals and networking opportunities which would be tough to arrange back home.
Last week the organisers announced that the March 2021 conference – which is based around the Palais Des Festivals where the annual Cannes Film Festival is held – was being moved from March to the week starting June 7.
Organisers are crossing their fingers that the global pandemic will have subsided by then – and that there is still appetite among businesses for a big overseas blow-out.
In past years Team Leicester has held formal and informal networking events at MIPIM, with some delegates even hiring a 135ft superyacht for events and meetings.
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Big schemes that have been promoted over the years include the Space Park Leicester, Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park and Leicester’s Waterside £250 million regeneration area.
For the past couple of years the delegation’s plans have been co-ordinated by Leicester-based business events specialist Associate Events, which also organises the annual Leicester Business Festival.
A spokeswoman said they were considering the options in light of the way the global pandemic had affected the business environment.
She said: “We are aware that the MIPIM 2021 dates have recently been deferred to June.
“Team Leicester is mindful of the challenges that individuals and businesses are facing currently but we remain focussed on supporting and championing Leicester and Leicestershire's inward investment and property sector, and will continue to promote our region and our businesses on a local, national and international platform.”
Joseph Levy is managing director of Leicester-based Bradgate Estates, which is behind major inner city developments including student and executive flats schemes in Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Mr Levy said right now he was keen on maintaining contacts closer to home.
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He said: “MIPIM is a hugely important event that unites the city and region in bringing in welcome investment and prospects to any business that is involved next year.
“Whilst I appreciate Reed Midem's early clarity and decision-making in confirming the new date in June, for now, our immediate attention is on our own projects in the Midlands, and driving our Leicester developments forward by working with the city council and members of the team.
“We remain united as a city for a different reason this year and the focus remains on us all working together as we always will, to get through these uncertain times.
“Clear evidence of this will be shown by the business and wider community in the forthcoming Leicester Business Festival, of which we are proud to support.”
Leicester lawyer Richard Osborn, a regional director for the Excello Law firm, is a long-time attendee.
He said personally he felt it was still too early to commit to plans for next years’ MIPIM.
He said: “Whilst I am sure we would like Leicester and Leicestershire to have a presence if that is appropriate and feasible, I think the focus is currently on emphasising the benefits of and opportunities for investing in our city and county.
“We will have more to say about that at our Leicester Business Festival event on November 4, but, with the challenges that all individuals and businesses are facing currently, now is probably not the right time to be talking about MIPIM and we will perhaps see how things are looking at the start of the year.”