Anna Hollyman, Associate Director of Box Architects, recently attended PropSki 2019. Here, she reveals why many more property professionals need to find their ski legs.
Box Architects attended PropSki for the first time this year following numerous industry recommendations. The event was held among the snow-covered peaks of Chamonix and attended by more than 300 property professionals from a cross-section of the sector. We found that having to explain to colleagues how this was ‘work’ quite challenging, but the kind of networking opportunities we discovered there were incomparable.
PropSki was founded to bring together property professionals of all seniority in an informal, inclusive and affordable environment. It is not ‘MIPIM on ice’ and it is certainly not about the hard sell.
In fact, Propski is about building long, lasting relationships with like-minded people who all face similar daily challenges.
We found swapping experiences on the slopes to be the greatest icebreaker (pun intended). Whether a beginner or an expert skier or snowboarder, there was something about being outside in the fresh, mountain air that meant networking was fun, not forced – particularly come the après-ski!
PropSki organised some excellent events to bring people together; from the U&I welcome drinks to the Veritas opening après, the Paragon mountain meal and the MacDonald & Company racing. They all offered different opportunities to meet, chat and get to know potential collaboration partners in what can be a very challenging industry.
At Box Architects, building long-lasting relationships is core to our approach; we cannot deliver what our clients need without fully appreciating their key drivers. Collaboration works best when all parties share a positive mindset to achieve a common understanding of the overall aims.
Earlier this month, we attended the PropSki reunion – a chance to reconnect and reminisce about our adventures on the snow. We also learned that PropSki raised over £15k for LandAid, a brilliant charity that brings the property industry together to provide safe, suitable and affordable accommodation for young people facing homelessness.
Our one regret is that we only stayed for a few days, so missed out on the Aston Rose ski tour. Roll on PropSki 2020!