Deal Making Conference Gets Off to Energetic Start

Rebekah Carlson, director of marketing and business development for Next Realty

CHICAGO—The International Council of Shopping Centers opened its Chicago Deal Making conference at Navy Pier this week, and the energy was unmistakable. At 5 PM, crowds of brokers and retailers still thronged through the hall, looking to make connections and perhaps close deals.

“This is a lot like it was ten years ago,” Rebekah Carlson, director of marketing and business development for Next Realty, tells GlobeSt.com. “People are staying downtown to attend social events, meet and do networking, and that’s a very good sign.”

She adds that Next Realty, an investment firm in suburban Chicago, was set to host a party for attendees, and had already received about 1,000 RSVPs, compared to about 800 for a similar event it held at the same conference last year.