Interview to Enrique Lacalle, President of the Organizing Committee of Barcelona Meeting Point (BMP)
October 9, 2007
What do you think that trade visitors call on the fair?
Real estate professionals come to BMP, above all, to do business, but also to keep abreast of the latest projects in the sector, experience firsthand the real estate leaders, discover the latest trends, investment opportunities offered by the national and international market andeven, find financing for their projects.
And individuals?
Individuals looking for the largest real estate offer that you can imagine sitting in a classroom. In four hours one can see, without moving from the plaza de Spain, the best of Metropolitan supply of flats. View so much supply, it is very difficult that someone can't find their dream home.
Do you think that the slowdown in the price of housing in Spain it affects the fair?
No, BMP has this year more stands and more square feet than ever.
What importance gives you the the Organization of BMP to sustainable buildings?
Lot. This has been the reason for which the bioclimatic House, sponsored by Endesa, organized for the first time the awards to promote real estate more sustainable - BMP'07. In addition, the BMP Symposium will devote an entire day to sustainability.
You think that the offer of spaces for offices in areas Prime of the main Spanish cities is at the height of which requires the demand? And in the periphery (business parks, business centers...)?
These eleven years of the Meeting Point have coincided with the peak years of the history of the real estate sector. And this has been that every time there is less available land, so it will have to create new soils to moderate the price, but it will continue to rise year after year without pause. Today, possibly, we find ourselves in a moment in which, fortunately, the spikes are lower.
How do you view the relationship between quality and price in the current supply of offices, both purchase and rent?
The price is marked by the market, namely greater choice, lower prices, and vice versa. I think the offices sector goes well but, as I say, depends on the market.
In your opinion, what challenges faced Estate today?
Spain owes much to the real estate sector because it is one of the pillars of the economy of our country, a generator of wealth and millions of jobs. Over the past years, it has had a huge boom and growth, as has happened in practically all over the world. The last few months, have perhaps been a little more complicated for magnificadas news and, possibly, because we were about to die of success, but the sector is still forward with strength, professionalism and enthusiasm. This is very important for Spain, given that, as always I say, when the real estate sector catches a cold, the Spanish economy catch pneumonia.
How it is situated the Spanish real estate market with respect to other European markets?
I believe that we have gone from being a country colonized and foreign real estate investment, to a settler. We have large Spanish real estate companies who have purchased products around the world. Today, there are very interesting markets to invest, such as the market of Central Europe and the East, or the Brazil and Turkey.
What you would be satisfied in this edition?
My primary concern in every edition is widespread satisfaction, both exhibitors and visitors. To this end, we try to the best room in our long history. This do succeed in two ways: breaking records in terms of internationality, and with more exhibitors, more booths and, I hope, more sales and more visitors than ever.
In this Edition, BMP has a total gross area of 70,000 square meters, divided between the palaces 1, 2 and 8 of the Fira de Barcelona. In them, more 650 exhibiting companies from 21 countries will present their real estate projects, for more 200,000 people that the organization believes that they will visit the Hall.
One of the novelties that Lacalle stands out in this edition of BMP is the presence of the Minister of housing, Carme Chacón, who confirmed that he will preside over the official opening of the 11th Hall real estate international & Symposium Barcelona Meeting Point 2007. Brazil tourism, Marta Suplicy, Minister that will offer a lecture at the Symposium luncheon, Thursday, November 8 will participate also. Also being called the Governors of the States of Rio Grande del Norte, Ceará, Bahia and Pernambuco. His presence will be part of the initiative Live & Invest in Brazil, "the largest exhibition real estate Brazilian made to date in a foreign country". "The initiative displayed in BMP business opportunities offered by the Brazilian real estate investors from around the world", says Lacalle.
Another novelty of this year is that the professional exhibition has halls or open spaces distributed by the Hall and mixed between the booths, so that the exhibitors or visitors can make commercial presentations during the scheduled visits of BMP. Another novelty Lacalle stands out is that the grounds of the Hall is equipped with bluetooth connectivity, "so that visitors can download, for free on your mobile phone, the information that interests them linked with Barcelona Meeting Point".