Un gin et tonic s’il vous plait as suits hit Mipim
A NEW day has dawned and with it, the second day of international property wonder-fest Mipim, as yesterday saw real estate bods from all over the world descend on Cannes and its famous Promenade de la Croisette.
While some flew EasyJet and others arrived by helicopter, 100-odd from the likes of Knight Frank and Savills arrived from London by bike, tired and ready for a gin and tonic.
Boris Johnson was the flavour of the day yesterday, greeting the charity cyclists, giving his speech at the London stand and er, meeting Sherlock the robot. Johnson enjoyed a coffee with Sherlock, who was visiting with Eric Van Der Kleij of Canary Wharf-based tech accelerator Level 39.
Our Mipim spies tell us the London terrace on la Croisette was packed with besuited property-types all enjoying the sun and well, the gin. But competition was brewing next door. The London stand is right next to the Russian stand, and by all accounts the Russians have upped their ante, with a bigger stand trying to pull investors in. Which conjures the question – gin or vodka?