Ithaca, NY -- The seventh annual Cornell International Real Estate Case Competition attracted a record high number of teams. This year, 20 teams of undergraduate students from the top real estate programs in the world will be competing for a share of $21,500 in prize money. The popularity of the competition can be seen in the yearly increase of teams competing—from six in the inaugural year of the competition. This year's competition is scheduled for November 9–10 in New York City.

Daniel Quan, professor, and Arthur Adler '78 and Karen Newman Adler '78 Academic Director of the Center for Real Estate and Finance commented "We are very excited about this year's competition; this will be our largest competition in the seven years of its existence." As the creator of the competition, Dan is proud to see how much the competition has grown and that the Center for Real Estate and Finance can offer this experience to so many students. Nearly 150 students will participate in the competition this year.

The competition consistently draws teams from the top undergraduate real estate programs globally. Each team of six real estate students has five days to prepare an analysis of a case (based on an actual commercial real estate transaction) and to make a recommendation. The teams are judged on their investment recommendations, approach to the problems, and presentation skills. The judges select five finalists, all of whom will receive a share of the prize money. The first, second, and third place teams receive $10,000, $6,000, and $3,000, respectively.

Students representing Cornell University this year are Yiwei Chen '16, Jackson Foo '16, Ryan Helkowski '16, Jack Henry Kapp '17, Sarah Murdoch '16, and Tia Wei '16. In preparation for the competition, the Cornell team will spend the next few weeks training. The team recently presented a case to the School of Hotel Administration Dean's Advisory Board. Their presentation was followed by a rigorous Q&A with the board members, intended to help them be meticulous in their preparations for the actual competition.

This year's participating universities are: Brown University, Cornell University, Indiana University, Konkuk University, McGill University, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, Renmin University of China, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Aberdeen, University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business, University of Cambridge, University of Connecticut, University of Guelph, University of Michigan, University of Sydney, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Villanova University, and Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

Jon Wright, president and CEO of title sponsor, Access Point Financial, Inc., expressed "We are most honored to participate in the competition and appreciate our role in sponsoring this wonderful opportunity for students. We are proud to be associated with the center's efforts in training the best and brightest future leaders." Wright credits his enthusiasm for the event to his parents, who were both educators. Wright also expressed that he is following in his father's footsteps—providing support for the betterment of students.

The competition would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. In addition to title sponsor, Access Point Financial, Inc., and platinum sponsor Robert D. Kline and Chartres Lodging Group, our other sponsors include Blackstone, Cantor Commercial Real Estate, Convene, Criterion Real Estate Capital, Grove International Partners, Macklowe Properties, Proskauer, Prudential Real Estate Investors, Related Urban Development, Sawyer Realty Holdings, Silverstein Properties, Starwood Capital Group, TIAA-CREF, Tishman Realty Corporation, Witkoff Group, and WX: New York Women Executives in Real Estate. The official hotel sponsor, YOTEL, will offer hotel accommodations to participating teams. The competition is funded in part by the Marjorie Boas Levins and Jack Levins/F.H.T. Rhodes Real Estate Case Competition Fund.

About the Center for Hospitality Research

The purpose of the Center for Hospitality Research is to enable and conduct research of significance to the global hospitality and related service industries. CHR also works to improve the connections between academe and industry, continuing the School of Hotel Administration's long-standing tradition of service to the hospitality industry. Founded in 1992, CHR remains the industry's foremost creator and distributor of timely research, all of which is posted at no charge for all to use. In addition to its industry advisory board, CHR convenes several industry roundtables each year for the purpose of identifying new issues affecting the hospitality industry.

Center Members: Accenture • Access Point Financial, Inc. • Barclaycard US • Cvent • Davis & Gilbert LLP • Deloitte & Touche USA LLP • DerbySoft • Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts • Fox Rothschild LLP • Hilton Worldwide • Host Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels Corporation • IDeaS Revenue Solutions • InterContinental Hotels Group • Jumeirah Group • Marriott International • NTT DATA • Preferred Hotels & Resorts • priceline.com • PwC • The Rainmaker Group • RateGain • ReviewPro • Revinate • Sabre Hospitality Solutions • STR • Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces • Tata Consultancy Services • Wipro EcoEnergy • Wyndham Hotel Group

Peter Glanville
Electronic Communications Specialist
CHR