Fiscal year 2020 was a tale of contrasts. The first half of the year saw record-breaking attendance for events like the 2019 Fall Meeting, whereas during the second half, ULI had to contend with COVID-19 and make the transition to virtual platforms for most events, including the 2020 Spring Meeting.
From September 18 to 21, 2019, more than 6,000 real estate professionals from around the globe gathered in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., for the 2019 ULI Fall Meeting. The event included more than 25 tours, over 60 product council meetings, and over 50 concurrent sessions. Product councils also held their biannual full-day meetings at locations throughout the region.
Attendees at the Fall Meeting participated in a diverse set of programming, including:
- Pathways to Inclusion, an initiative designed to broaden ULI membership and expand the professional networks of minority real estate and land use professionals in Washington, D.C. A cohort of 45 people of color was selected to participate in a program that paid for each member’s attendance at the Fall Meeting and a one-year membership in ULI. A reception was held during the Fall Meeting to introduce the cohort members to each other.
- The ULI Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance’s Resilience Summit, an exclusive, one-day event focused on preparing professionals from the real estate and land use sectors for the impacts of climate change.
- The Young Leaders Group reception, which brought together almost 300 young ULI members from around the world for an exclusive reception that included signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a photo booth, and dancing and a deejay.
The Fall Meeting was one of the most successful in ULI history and sparked excitement for the 2020 Spring Meeting in Toronto, but that excitement was tempered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to keep members safe but continue the Institute’s tradition of knowledge sharing and networking, it was decided to cancel the in-person event and provide a virtual series instead.
The 2020 Spring Meeting Webinar Series consisted of 15 webinars held over six weeks. Global leaders at the cutting edge of the real estate industry shared lessons learned and looked ahead to the future, delivering the valuable insights for which the ULI Spring Meeting has always been known. Over 3,800 people from 14 countries participated in the series. The 15 Spring Meeting webinars are available to Full Members on Knowledge Finder.
