Press

Increasing Success

Keith Pillow and David Grech of Duplex Real Estate Branding meet with the Economic Update’s David Clancy to discuss this year’s HSBC Malta Property Expo and the successes of 2009.

Last year’s Property Expo proved a huge success for Duplex who established themselves in 2004, but they also identified areas where they could improve on the event. “Last year we carried out surveys with our attendees so that we could further improve the expo and make the event itself as much of a hit as possible,” explains Mr Pillow, CEO of Duplex. “We aim to create a one-stop shop window for the property market in Malta to help bring the Maltese market to an international stage.”

Coming in second place as the best property fair in Europe in its first year is testament to the success of the expo. “We were ecstatic to have been awarded second place, and when you lose out to such an established company as A Place in the Sun, there is no shame at all,” states Mr Grech, Events and Business Development Coordinator.

“We were fortunate to have been launching our exhibition in a time when a lot of other nations were seeing a much greater recession in their markets,” adds Mr Pillow. “Malta as a whole has been very fortunate in comparison over these unsteady times.”

But this takes nothing away from the achievements of the 2009 Property Expo. This year, seems to be heading for even greater heights as Mr Grech explains to me that more than 90 per cent of the allocated space has already been booked by exhibitors and businesses, when this time last year they had achieved the still respectable 50 per cent. This shows the escalation of the expo itself within the market as prospective buyers and developers see it as an able launching platform for their projects.

“We already have five large developments launching new faces within their projects at our expo,” explains Mr Pillow. “Where usually they would host a gala for such announcements, they are now seeing our expo as a formidable platform for this.”

Amongst the many exhibitors attending the 2010 Property Expo will be a government presence promoting various authorities working within the industry, with a variety of stands designated solely to the government industries such as MEPA.

One of the main changes from last year is going to be the importance that is placed on exhibiting to first-time buyers, with banks presenting special offers and incentives. “The major banks of the island will be there to help provide first-time buyers with information to prepare them in entering the complexities and pitfalls of the property market, ensuring that they make the best decisions for their future.”

“We’re very happy to have had the trust of HSBC from the very beginning,” states Mr Pillow. “It gives us great confidence to have such an internationally known brand backing us all the way.”

Duplex are also currently building an entire apartment to exhibit the importance of interior design. “It used to be that property was sold on the basis of ‘bricks and mortar’ but now it is increasingly important to show properties as homes.”

The company is very proud of a scheme set up by them which has now become part of the curriculum for third year students at university in which they are asked to design an environmentally friendly and efficient building of any type. “This gives the students the opportunity to present their ideas and work with professionals working within the industry today.”

The company is certainly a buzz with excitement for the coming expo in March, which is shaping up to be more successful than the last.