On y va, MAPIC
November marks one of the oddest yet most compelling events of the business calendar.
Like some strange mating ritual or pilgrimage, many thousands of be-suited real estate executives hear the call and fly south in the Winter to gather together at the annual Mapic convention in Cannes on the South of France.
Basking in the sun of the French Riviera, Cannes still sparkles albeit with a faded Belle Epoque elegance. It is of course home to the world's most prestigious film festival, and perhaps in tribute, Mapic is the cue for real estate executives to slap on the factor 25, don Ray-Bans en-masse, and saunter along Boulevard La Croisette channelling Reservoir Dogs.
La mer... Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs...
Spending three days in close proximity to this tribe of middle-aged property tycoons on-the-make might sound a dismal prospect - but trust us, there is an energy and crackle which makes this event a "must".
Perhaps it's the climate or the improbably glamourous surroundings (our photos really don't do it justice), but conventional inhibitions are quickly shed as everyone gets right down to business. This is deal-making in the raw, and most of the real action takes place in the cafes and bars rather than the convention hall itself. Conversations flow as plentifully as the copious amounts of wine, and then all too soon the circus leaves town. We can't wait until next year!
À bientôt, mes amis!
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