An industry highlight and a major real estate event! Barfoot & Thompson’s 2024 annual summit sets a new direction for the industry

On 5 September, at central Auckland’s Aotea Centre, Barfoot & Thompson held its 2024 annual internal summit. The highly anticipated event brought together more than 1500 attendees, including the company’s real estate agents, property management teams and head office staff. With 26 exhibition stands from a range of businesses and media organisations, it offered an unforgettable opportunity to connect and learn.

 

 

Bringing industry leaders together to support personal development

 

 

The summit was a major annual event within Barfoot & Thompson, designed to give the company’s agents and staff opportunities to advance their careers through insights from leading international speakers.

 

The summit officially opened with an address by Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson. In his speech, Peter Thompson explained the meaning of the event’s theme, “Full Circle”, highlighting the industry’s cyclical rises and falls and encouraging everyone to recognise its fluctuations and seize opportunities to grow, learn and build connections.

 

Peter Thompson delivers the opening address

 

Peter Thompson also presented an engaging “real estate market cycle” diagram illustrating a cycle of industry boom, downturn, market slowdown, spreading pessimism, the beginnings of recovery and a gradual return to strong recovery.

 

In his speech, he explained these cyclical changes and encouraged attendees: “Like any industry, we experience the ups and downs of the cycle—expansion and contraction. In this cycle, we have come through the truly challenging phase, emerged from the trough and are now heading upwards. How quickly we rise is not an easy question to answer. However, the central bank’s recent rate cut and falling bank interest rates make it clear that we are gradually entering a more favourable environment.”

 

 

Peter continued: “But that does not mean the difficult period will end immediately. We still need to persevere, as we have over the past year or more, and remain well positioned to seize opportunities when the market becomes active.

 

We simply need to accept the industry’s natural cycle and recognise that we are at a particular stage of it. We have been through this stage before and will go through it again. But I have confidence in every one of you and believe you will deliver outstanding results, becoming stronger and better than ever.”

During one of the summit’s highlights, a panel discussion (Panel Discussion), outstanding Barfoot & Thompson agents and property management representatives Ming Qin, Renee Wesche, Bob Adler and Anna An took to the stage to share valuable professional experience and insights. This session gave the panellists a platform to showcase their strengths and exchange experiences, while offering attendees practical business development strategies and client relationship management skills. The lively, interactive discussion featured accessible insights, real-world examples and lessons, as well as encouragement and advice for industry newcomers. It clearly demonstrated Barfoot & Thompson’s foresight as an industry leader in developing and supporting talent.

 

 

Attendees also gained a great deal from several prominent guest speakers. Well-known television personality Jason Gunn delivered a lively, humorous presentation. Former New Zealand rugby union player Dan Cater, renowned economist Marci Rossell and international speaker Brian Parsley also took to the stage, sharing practical industry insights and forward-looking ideas. These presentations broadened attendees’ knowledge and inspired fresh thinking about their careers.

 

 

Alongside the presentations, this year’s summit featured more than twenty exhibition stands, giving attendees opportunities to connect with suppliers of industry-related products and services. This arrangement made the event more interactive and reflected Barfoot & Thompson’s long-term planning and strategic vision for developing talent and bringing industry resources together.

 

 

 

Looking ahead and building success together

 

 

The summit has concluded successfully, but Barfoot & Thompson’s bright future is only just beginning. Attendees left with valuable insights and renewed enthusiasm and motivation for their work ahead.

 

We believe these efforts and investments are what enable Barfoot & Thompson to maintain its leading position in a fiercely competitive property market. The company will continue to uphold its people-first principles, place a high value on talent, unite its teams and innovate to create greater value for clients and society.

 

 

 

Join the Barfoot & Thompson team

 

 

Join the Barfoot & Thompson team and begin a new chapter in your real estate career! As a new agent, you will gain access to an extensive network of market resources and comprehensive support to help you settle in quickly and succeed.

 

Barfoot & Thompson is New Zealand’s leading real estate company operating through directly owned branches rather than franchises. This means you will have the opportunity to sell properties throughout the entire network, rather than being limited to one area. The company’s directly owned structure provides a level playing field, while internal collaboration and resource sharing help you serve clients more effectively.

New agents receive ongoing free training covering everything from marketing to client management. Whether you are entering real estate for the first time or are a professional with years of experience, Barfoot & Thompson offers training programmes tailored to your needs to help strengthen your business skills and professional standards.

The Barfoot & Thompson team is also known for its diverse, inclusive and community-focused culture. The company is committed to providing a supportive workplace that emphasises teamwork, integrity and putting clients first. Management places a high value on employees’ career development and offers a wide range of advancement opportunities and incentives, allowing you to be more than an agent: a professional who can continue to grow and develop.

 

At Barfoot & Thompson, you will receive comprehensive support on your path to success. Whether you want to achieve your career ambitions through your own efforts or work in an environment with strong support and resources, Barfoot & Thompson is an ideal choice!