Teams of six students will have four days to analyze and prepare investment recommendations for a case study, which has been prepared by AREA Property Partners and is based on an actual commercial real estate transaction. A panel of judges, comprised of senior real estate professionals, will judge the teams from American University, Cornell University, Indiana University, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Connecticut, and University of Texas at Austin on their investment recommendations, their approach to the problem, and their presentation skills. The teams will also be scored on their ability to answer questions posed by the judges.
"The students in this competition represent the future leaders of the real estate industry," said Dan Quan, real estate professor at the School of Hotel Administration and chairman of the event. "I am looking forward to a spirited contest that showcases their talent, innovation, and knowledge."
The panel of judges includes Todd Giannoble, president, Archon Hospitality; Sally Gordon, managing director, risk and quantitative analysis group, BlackRock; Jeffrey Hertz, director, the Praedium Group; David Lynn, managing director, head of research and investment strategy group, ING Clarion Partners; Martha S. Peyton, managing director, head of strategy and research in the global real estate equities divisions, TIAA-CREF; Francis X. Tansey, co-founder and president, DRA Advisors LLC; Steve Vittori, managing director, Prudential Real Estate Investors; and Steven Wolf, value enhancement funds business leader and head of US portfolio management, AREA Property Partners.
Sponsors of the competition are Archon Hospitality, AREA Property Partners, BlackRock, ING Clarion Partners, National Realty & Development Corporation, Prudential, and TIAA-CREF.
For more information, please visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/events/realestate.html.
