Top agents in luxury real estate
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corporate masterminds
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a heavy dose of three days’ Miami heat
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the 2014 Sotheby’s International Realty (SIR) Global Networking Event
On September 9 – 11, 2014, 10 agents and leadership members of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty and over 1,500 real estate professionals gathered at the annual Global Networking Event (GNE), a highly anticipated conference which featured presentations by top industry leaders highlighting innovations in marketing and advances in technology shaping the brand, as well as global networking opportunities.
This year’s GNE took place at the historic Fontainebleau in the heart of “Millionaire’s Row” on Miami Beach.
DSIR co-hosted an exclusive cocktail party with Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty in Marin. We mingled with agents from our feeder cities of San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Chicago, and others, mixing business and California wines.
“This is the first GNE we’ve attended since affiliating with the this global real estate network last year,” said Michael Dreyfus, Broker and CEO of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty. “The connections are outstanding, and the best practices breakout sessions are inspiring in a practical way.”
During his welcoming address, Philip White, President of Sotheby’s International Realty, highlighted the many significant accomplishments being celebrated since the franchise system was officially established a decade ago. Among them, the global network is now comprised of more than 15,000 brokers in 700 branch offices in 52 countries and territories around the world. This includes new operations in Mainland China. Sales across the network have already exceeded $60 billion this year, making Sotheby’s International Realty the definitive leader in worldwide luxury real estate.
Other presenters included Wendy Purvey, Chief Marketing Officer for Sotheby’s International Realty, who outlined the many exclusive marketing platforms afforded to the network. Collectively, our global exposure helped to generate more than 1 million unique website visitors per month. Remarkably, 45% of that traffic is being drawn from outside the US. Purvey unveiled a new web platform and announced that the network will soon benefit from an exclusive partnership with Wealth-X, a research group that will provide quarterly reports and findings to prospect the world’s most affluent consumers.
Alfredo Gangotena, Sotheby’s new CMO, outlined the auction house’s new growth strategy. Sotheby’s is expanding the brand to the upper middle market. Sotheby’s wants to provide more accessible art (jewelry, watches, photos, wine) and reach and teach more art lovers. This shift is reflected in the more relaxing, lighter feel of Sotheby’s Magazine. Sarah Jessica Parker adorns this month’s cover, as her jewelry collection will be auctioned in Hong Kong next month. The auction house will also reinforce the partnership with Sotheby’s International Realty by launching Art & Home magazine, a joint publication that combines the world of living and the world of art.
Among the breakout sessions, DSIR’s CEO Michael Dreyfus and Marketing Director Marissa Myers were invited panelists on content marketing. They addressed shifting marketing and advertising from me-me-me messages to a focus on the consumer and their needs.
Events concluded Wednesday evening with a black tie dinner. Hundreds of guests left inspired to deploy new brand strategies.
To view the GNE photo album click here.
