Fourth edition of HSBC Advance Property Expo to introduce homes aspect

New dates have been announced for the HSBC Advance Malta Property & Homes Expo at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, Ta' Qali.

Addressing the media at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Keith Pillow, Chief Executive Officer of Duplex Real Estate Branding, organisers of the expo, said the new dates are between Friday, 13 April, and Sunday, 15 April, 2012.

"Since the HSBC Advance Malta Property Expo was launched in 2009, the event has grown bigger in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors, with every effort made to generate interest and introduce more attractions," Mr Pillow said.

"This year, the homes aspect, particularly interiors, will be another highlight, ensuring that the expo will appeal to a wider audience with an enhanced visitor experience."

This annual event is now much anticipated and people no longer ask what it is about but make a point to visit because they know what a high level of exhibitors they can expect to find. Right from the first edition, when the expo won Highly Commended Best Exhibition Platform at OPP (Overseas Property Professionals) Industry Awards 2009, the event has been raising the bar for this national property event.

A total exhibition area of 6,500 m² has been reserved, with the major focus remaining the major developments on the islands, real estate agencies, and all those supplying services to the real estate market.

Many companies make special offers around the expo, ensuring visitors get greater benefit from attending. "We've heard that the best time to buy or sell a property is at the expo," Pillow said. "This is obviously our intention."

There will also be a number of competitions during the expo with attractive prizes, including an iPad to the event's Facebook page every day of the event, and there would shortly be an invitation to the public to register for a limited number of places at a three-day course to be run by Re/Max on how to take up a career in real estate.

Pillow thanked the exhibition partners, primarily HSBC Advance, represented by Ray Briffa, Head of Branch Banking and Deputy Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management; the MFCC, represented by Gerald Borg, Managing Director; the Malta Developers Association, represented by Michael Falzon, President, Sandro Chetcuti, Vice-President, and Ian Fitzpatrick, Secretary; and Re/Max, represented by CEO Jeff Buttigieg.

Ray Briffa said this was the fourth year that HSBC was sponsoring the expo. "The expo is a fantastic opportunity to bring together buyers, developers and estate agents in one location. It helps to identify what people are planning for the future and to identify key trends for the industry," he said.

Sandro Chetcuti said the Malta Developers Association was very happy to be working closely with Duplex on this year's HSBC Advance Property & Homes Expo.

"During the Expo MDA will have a stand not only to represent the members but also to assist the public by giving them professional advice. Any information, concerns and questions they might have about dealing with Mepa, civil rights questions, developers' responsibilities vis-à-vis third parties, procedures in buying or selling, and much more, could be discussed with professionals on the MDA stand at no cost."