Preliminary Agenda Topics

Effective commercial real estate asset management follows a structured lifecycle that begins at acquisition and extends through active management, value creation, and ultimately disposition. This topic breaks down each phase, including due diligence, strategic planning, leasing and operations oversight, capital improvements, financial performance monitoring, and exit strategies. Understanding this end-to-end process helps asset managers align internal teams, optimize asset performance, and deliver consistent value to investors. It also highlights critical decision points and best practices for maintaining flexibility amid changing market conditions throughout the asset’s life.

• What are the key steps in your asset management process from acquisition to disposition?

• How do you establish asset-level strategies during due diligence?

• What performance metrics do you track and adjust throughout the holding period?

• How do you coordinate cross-functional teams during different lifecycle stages?

• What triggers reevaluation or changes in asset strategy?

• How do you plan and execute disposition strategies to maximize returns?

• What lessons have you learned from managing assets through multiple market cycles?

Building a high-functioning asset management team requires clear role definitions, staffing models, and key performance indicators (KPIs). This topic focuses on structuring teams, optimal asset manager headcounts per unit or property, and the role of support staff. It also explores how generalist asset managers focus on critical KPIs amidst competing priorities, talent training programs for property management, and how to motivate third-party teams effectively. Ensuring alignment between acquisitions and asset management is also discussed.

• What organizational structures and job titles exist in your asset management teams?

• How do you determine optimal staffing ratios across asset classes?

• What KPIs do generalist asset managers prioritize to maintain focus?

• How do you motivate internal and third-party management teams?

• What support staff roles have the biggest impact on your efficiency?

• How do you train and develop property management talent?

• What advice would you give to acquisitions teams transitioning into asset management roles?

For large institutional firms managing thousands of units or millions of square feet across Class A and B assets, scale creates both leverage and complexity. These firms face distinct challenges around standardization, staffing, system integration, and capital deployment across diverse markets. Centralized vs. decentralized decision-making, third-party vs. in-house management, and how to prioritize CapEx at scale are persistent tensions. With pressure from investors for operational alpha, institutional asset managers must leverage technology, procurement power, and benchmarking data to unlock efficiencies while maintaining brand consistency and tenant satisfaction across regions and asset types.

• How are you balancing portfolio-wide standardization with local market nuance?

• What tools or platforms are helping you make cross-portfolio CapEx and OpEx decisions?

• Are you managing more in-house or through third-party operators, and why?

• How do you benchmark performance across markets to guide resource allocation?

• What scale-specific risks are emerging in today’s capital and operating environment?

• How are you evolving your staffing and organizational structure to support growth?

• What are the most impactful operational or cost-saving initiatives across your Class A/B portfolio?

With a wave of CRE debt maturing through 2025–2026, asset managers are confronting a radically different financing landscape. Higher rates, lender pullback, and evolving underwriting standards have rendered many legacy loans unrefinanceable under traditional structures. As capital markets remain dislocated, the rise of private credit, preferred equity, and creative capital stack solutions is reshaping deal-making. This session examines how real estate professionals are approaching upcoming maturities, recapitalizations, distressed opportunities, and lender negotiations while optimizing risk, preserving optionality, and sustaining investor confidence in a volatile environment.

• What share of your portfolio is facing debt maturities in 2025–2026, and how are you triaging risk?

• How are you approaching refi vs. extend vs. sell decisions in capital-constrained situations?

• What role are private credit, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity playing in your current capital stacks?

• Are lenders becoming more flexible with workouts, covenant waivers, or discounted payoffs?

• How are you communicating refinancing risk and capital stack shifts to LPs and stakeholders?

• What impact does the refinancing crunch have on leasing, capex planning, and asset business plans?

• Where do you see opportunity in recapitalizing or acquiring distressed debt and transitional assets?

After years of high interest rates and reduced transaction volume, CRE markets are undergoing a repricing cycle where buyers and sellers remain far apart in expectations. Appraisals are struggling to keep pace with real-time market sentiment, impairing the ability to close deals, refinance assets, or attract new capital. Asset managers must now reconcile book valuations with discounted offers, reassess exit strategies, and proactively manage investor communication. The bid-ask gap is particularly pronounced in sectors like office and transitional assets but also emerging in multifamily and industrial amid shifting cap rate expectations.

• How do you navigate valuation uncertainty when setting pricing targets or evaluating offers?

• Are internal NAV marks being adjusted to reflect market sentiment or held steady?

• What data sources help calibrate fair market value in low-liquidity markets?

• How are refinancing decisions affected by market value resets?

• What techniques are being used to bridge the bid-ask gap?

• Are LPs pressuring managers to exit at a loss or hold longer?

• How are valuation resets affecting incentive fee structures or promote waterfalls?

In today’s shifting economic and capital markets environment, making informed hold versus sell decisions is more complex than ever. Asset managers must weigh factors such as high interest rates, debt refinancing risks, cap rate volatility, tenant stability, and projected cash flow scenarios. Advanced modeling tools and scenario analysis have become essential for quantifying risks and opportunities under multiple market conditions. Engaging with LPs and lenders transparently on disposition strategies is critical. This topic explores how leading managers approach hold-sell decisions to maximize long-term portfolio value and balance liquidity needs.

• What financial models or tools do you use for hold-sell analysis?

• How do you incorporate macroeconomic and capital market assumptions into your decisions?

• What role do tenant quality and lease terms play in your disposition timing?

• How are refinancing risk and debt maturities influencing sell decisions?

• How do you communicate hold-sell rationale to LPs and other stakeholders?

• What external market signals most influence your disposition timing?

• Are you using portfolio-wide analysis or asset-by-asset approaches for these decisions?

The relationship between asset managers and property managers is foundational to real estate performance—but often fraught with misalignment, fragmented reporting, and inconsistent communication. As operational complexity grows and investor expectations rise, asset managers must take a more strategic approach to managing PM relationships, defining shared KPIs, and ensuring property-level execution aligns with portfolio goals. This session explores how leading firms structure communication, standardize reporting, evaluate and transition third-party PMCs, and use technology to streamline collaboration. From performance incentives to data access protocols, getting this partnership right can unlock NOI, tenant satisfaction, and speed to decision.

• How do you define and track shared KPIs between asset and property managers across portfolios?

• What communication cadences, access levels, and reporting formats have proven most effective?

• How do you balance transparency with operational efficiency in client and stakeholder communication?

• What are the most valuable recurring deliverables you require from PM teams—and how do you avoid report fatigue?

• What technology platforms or dashboards are improving visibility and real-time collaboration?

• How do you evaluate PMCs for performance—and when do you trigger RFPs or transitions?

• What are best practices for ensuring continuity, accountability, and alignment when working with multiple or rotating PMCs?

Tenant experience is a critical lever in driving asset performance, and asset managers must skillfully manage both capital improvement planning and retention strategy to maximize long-term value. Across industrial, multifamily, office, and retail assets, expectations for tenant improvements (TIs), renovations, and service quality vary significantly. During this session, discover how asset managers tailor capital expenditures by asset type, coordinate closely with leasing and property management teams, and use data to forecast ROI. Simultaneously, it examines the strategies driving tenant retention—whether through rent incentives, operational efficiency, or community engagement—while navigating regulatory challenges and cash flow constraints. Aligning capital planning with retention initiatives is essential to sustaining occupancy, NOI, and competitive positioning.

• How do you tailor TI and renovation strategies across different asset classes?

• What processes help you prioritize and budget capital projects while maintaining tenant satisfaction?

• How do leasing strategies and renewal timelines influence capital improvement planning?

• What tenant retention tactics are working best in multifamily, industrial, and office assets today?

• How do you balance rent increases or cost recovery with the risk of losing tenants?

• What role does technology play in tracking capital project ROI and enhancing tenant experience?

• How do you measure the combined impact of improvements and retention initiatives on NOI and valuation?

As commercial real estate faces compressed margins, rising operating costs, and increasing investor scrutiny, technology is no longer optional—it’s foundational. Asset managers are deploying AI, advanced analytics, and digital platforms to drive operational efficiency, enhance tenant experience, and deliver data-driven insights to stakeholders. This session explores how managers are integrating tools for smart building systems, rent optimization, regulatory compliance, and real-time reporting. It also addresses the organizational changes, outsourcing strategies, and ROI evaluation frameworks required to make tech adoption a portfolio-wide advantage in asset performance.

• What AI-enabled tools or platforms have most improved your operational performance or tenant engagement?

• How are you quantifying the ROI of technology investments across diverse asset types and regions?

• What are the biggest integration challenges you’ve faced with multiple property management systems or third-party vendors?

• How are asset managers using data to meet investor demands for transparency, forecasting, and ESG reporting?

• Have you automated functions like lease abstraction, site inspections, or delinquency tracking, and with what outcomes?

• What cybersecurity and data governance practices are essential as your digital footprint grows?

• How are technology and AI reshaping staffing needs, outsourcing decisions, and organizational workflows?

Skyrocketing insurance premiums, climate-exposed asset risk, and insurer withdrawals from key markets have made insurance strategy a defining issue for commercial real estate asset managers. What was once a back-office line item is now central to underwriting, valuation, and portfolio strategy—especially in high-risk states like Florida and California. Learn how asset managers are adapting to an increasingly volatile insurance market by integrating climate risk analysis, leveraging technology for loss prevention, rethinking coverage structures, and exploring alternative solutions like captives and parametric products. Insurance is no longer just about protection—it’s about financial resilience, investor confidence, and preserving NOI.

• How are you incorporating insurance volatility into underwriting, forecasting, and investment committee decisions?

• What strategies—such as hardening properties or implementing IoT loss-prevention tools—have helped reduce premiums or improve insurability?

• Are you utilizing third-party data to assess flood, fire, or climate exposure in asset evaluations?

• What alternative insurance models (e.g., captives, pooled risk, parametric policies) are showing the most promise?

• How are you coordinating with PMCs and tenants to implement property-level risk mitigation?

• Are certain high-risk regions becoming uninvestable—or are they now mispriced opportunities?

• How are LPs and lenders factoring insurance stress and climate risk into their evaluation of managers and markets?

Environmental mandates, investor expectations, and evolving regulations—from local building performance standards to SEC disclosure rules—are accelerating the integration of ESG into every phase of asset management. Asset managers must now navigate compliance across fragmented jurisdictions, plan for carbon and energy retrofits, and evaluate financial risk tied to underperforming or non-compliant buildings. This session examines how firms are adapting capital strategies to meet ESG requirements, utilizing federal incentives, managing RUBS and utility regulation changes, and turning sustainability into a competitive advantage while avoiding stranded asset exposure and regulatory penalties.

• How are you integrating ESG compliance—California’s SEC disclosures, BPS laws, and local ordinances—into business planning?

• What strategies and tools are helping you manage emissions, energy benchmarking, and carbon reduction at the asset level?

• Are green building certifications or energy retrofits producing tangible NOI or valuation premiums?

• How are you budgeting and phasing sustainability CapEx across vintages and asset types?

• What specific regulatory challenges (e.g., RUBS restrictions, SCE requirements) are impacting operations, and how are you addressing them?

• How do LPs and capital partners influence your ESG priorities and reporting expectations?

• What are you doing to avoid stranded asset risk while meeting investor and tenant demands for sustainability?

Institutional investors are demanding more from their CRE managers—greater transparency, tailored strategies, and access to real-time performance data. Quarterly PDFs are no longer sufficient. LPs want dashboard-style visibility, ESG metrics, and insights on how managers are responding to volatile markets. Co-investment preferences, separate account structures, and SMAs are on the rise. Asset managers must now operate with the sophistication of public market managers while maintaining real-world operational control. Meeting these demands is essential for capital retention and fundraising success.

• How are LP expectations for transparency and reporting changing?

• Are SMAs or programmatic JVs replacing traditional blind pool funds?

• What technologies or platforms are you using to enhance investor communications?

• How do you tailor strategy execution to LP risk-return preferences?

• Are ESG and DEI metrics now “must-have” in LP reporting?

• How do you balance transparency with proprietary strategy protection?

• What are the top reasons LPs cite for manager turnover?

Vacant office towers, dead malls, and underperforming big-box stores present both challenges and opportunities. Adaptive reuse—converting these properties into residential, life sciences, mixed-use, or institutional assets—is gaining momentum as communities seek revitalization and investors seek yield. However, projects are often capital intensive, require zoning flexibility, and demand deep local knowledge. Asset managers must lead complex repositioning efforts that blend development, leasing, and public engagement, while managing entitlement risk and cost uncertainty.

• Which asset types and locations are ripest for adaptive reuse?

• What underwriting metrics do you apply to redevelopment vs. ground-up?

• How are municipalities supporting or blocking conversions?

• What financing or tax incentives exist for adaptive reuse projects?

• Are LPs open to repositioning strategies with longer time horizons?

• How do you assess structural or environmental limitations in existing assets?

What role does ESG play in adaptive reuse feasibility and marketing?

In today’s fragmented global environment, asset managers must navigate the interconnected impacts of interest rate volatility, diverging central bank policies, and escalating geopolitical risk. Currency fluctuations, valuation mismatches, and cross-border capital shifts are reshaping underwriting standards, return expectations, and market selection. At the same time, industrial demand patterns are evolving in response to global supply chain realignment, trade tensions, and nearshoring. Learn how asset managers can holistically assess financial, political, and economic risks to refine investment theses, mitigate exposure, and unlock strategic opportunities across domestic and international portfolios.

• How should asset managers approach cap rate underwriting amid global rate volatility and inconsistent monetary policy?

• What tools or hedging strategies are most effective in managing interest rate and FX risk across markets?

• How are geopolitical risks—such as war, trade disputes, or regional instability—being modeled into asset-level decisions?

• In what ways are shifting global supply chains impacting industrial real estate demand and regional market selection?

• How does currency risk and USD strength affect foreign investor appetite for U.S. CRE?

• Which U.S. markets are best positioned to benefit from friendshoring and cross-border capital inflows?

How do diverging macroeconomic conditions impact capital raising strategies and investor expectations globally?

Hospitality, senior housing, and other operationally intensive real estate require asset managers to go beyond traditional lease oversight into active, day-to-day operational involvement. These sectors face unique challenges including staffing shortages, fluctuating demand cycles, regulatory compliance, and service quality pressures. Asset managers must integrate operational expertise with financial management, develop dynamic staffing and cost control strategies, and adapt quickly to market shifts such as changing travel patterns or demographic trends. The role demands close collaboration with operators, enhanced data analytics, and innovative approaches to maximize both operating income and asset value.

• How are you balancing operational oversight with financial performance goals?

• What strategies have been effective in managing labor and staffing challenges?

• How do regulatory requirements shape asset management approaches in these sectors?

• What role does technology play in improving operations and guest/resident experience?

• How do you navigate volatility in demand cycles or occupancy rates?

• Are there best practices in owner-operator collaboration that drive value?

• How are you incorporating ESG considerations into operationally intensive assets?

Multifamily asset management requires a nuanced approach to maximize occupancy, optimize rent growth, and control expenses amid shifting market dynamics. This topic explores strategies for tenant retention, lease renewals, rent optimization, and managing operational costs. It also covers balancing regulatory challenges, integrating technology to improve resident experience, and aligning property management with asset goals. As multifamily remains a key driver of CRE portfolios, effective asset managers must continuously adapt to demographic shifts, affordability concerns, and evolving tenant expectations to sustain long-term value.

• What tenant retention strategies have delivered the best results in multifamily properties?

• How do you balance rent growth with affordability and market competition?

• How are you incorporating technology to enhance resident experience and operational efficiency?

• What challenges do you face related to local regulations and how do you navigate them?

• How do you coordinate with property managers to drive performance and align objectives?

• What staffing ratios or organizational models optimize multifamily asset management?

• How do you measure and track key performance indicators specific to multifamily assets?

Hybrid work has fundamentally changed how companies use office space, leading to prolonged uncertainty in leasing, valuation, and occupancy. In major U.S. markets, vacancy rates remain high while demand consolidates in high-amenity, Class A properties. Adaptive reuse is gaining traction, but feasibility is limited by zoning, design, and cost. Asset managers must now reassess long-term NOI assumptions, financing risk, and repositioning strategies. This shift also opens the door for creative partnerships with municipalities seeking to reimagine urban cores.

• What’s the future demand profile for office across major U.S. metros?

• How should Class B/C assets be underwritten or repositioned?

• What’s the economic case for office-to-residential conversion?

• How are office valuations being recalibrated in secondary vs. gateway markets?

• What policy tools can cities deploy to incentivize redevelopment?

• Are hybrid leases (e.g., flex space + HQ) becoming the norm?

Industrial asset management is at the forefront of commercial real estate growth, driven by booming e-commerce, reshoring trends, and evolving supply chains. This topic examines how asset managers optimize warehouse and distribution facilities to meet increasing tenant demands for logistics efficiency, technology integration, and sustainability. It explores strategies for tenant retention, lease structuring, and managing operational costs amid competitive markets. With global trade uncertainties and infrastructure investments shaping the sector, industrial asset managers play a pivotal role in aligning assets with rapidly changing market requirements and investor expectations.

• How are you adapting asset strategies to capitalize on e-commerce and last-mile delivery trends?

• What tenant retention and lease renewal strategies work best in industrial markets?

• How do you incorporate technology and automation in industrial property operations?

• What challenges do you face related to supply chain disruptions and how do you mitigate them?

• How are you addressing sustainability and energy efficiency in industrial assets?

• What key performance metrics do you track to evaluate industrial asset performance?

• How do infrastructure and transportation developments influence your asset management decisions?

Retail asset management faces unique challenges as consumer behaviors shift rapidly due to e-commerce growth, experiential retail trends, and changing demographics. This topic explores strategies for repositioning retail properties, improving tenant mix, and enhancing foot traffic through innovative leasing and marketing approaches. Asset managers must also address operational efficiencies, evolving regulatory environments, and integrating technology to elevate the customer experience. Balancing short-term cash flow with long-term value creation requires agile management and strong collaboration with property managers and tenants in this dynamic sector.

• How are you adapting retail assets to compete with e-commerce and evolving consumer preferences?

• What tenant mix and leasing strategies have proven effective in driving foot traffic and sales?

• How do you balance experiential retail elements with traditional retail uses?

• What technologies are you implementing to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement?

• How do you manage capital improvements and maintenance to keep retail properties competitive?

• What regulatory or market challenges have impacted your retail portfolio management?

How do you collaborate with tenants and property managers to maximize retail asset performance?

Hospitality asset management requires a specialized approach to navigate high operational intensity, seasonal demand fluctuations, and evolving guest expectations. This topic covers strategies for optimizing revenue management, managing operational costs, and aligning asset performance with brand standards. It also explores risk mitigation in a highly cyclical sector, the impact of technology on guest experience and back-office operations, and the importance of sustainability initiatives. Asset managers must balance capital expenditures with short-term cash flow pressures while responding swiftly to market volatility and regulatory changes to maintain long-term value.

• How are you optimizing revenue management in response to shifting travel patterns and demand cycles?

• What operational challenges are unique to hospitality assets, and how do you address them?

• How do you collaborate with property and hotel management teams to drive performance?

• What role does technology play in improving guest experience and operational efficiency?

• How do sustainability and ESG initiatives factor into your hospitality asset strategies?

• What risk management approaches are you employing to mitigate market volatility?

• How do you prioritize capital projects to balance guest satisfaction with financial performance?

Senior housing asset management demands a delicate balance between operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and financial sustainability. This topic explores strategies for managing diverse care models—from independent living to skilled nursing—while optimizing occupancy and resident satisfaction. It addresses navigating complex healthcare regulations, workforce challenges, and the integration of technology to improve both resident care and operational efficiency. With growing demand driven by aging demographics, asset managers must also focus on capital planning, risk management, and aligning with evolving investor expectations to ensure long-term portfolio value.

• How do you manage occupancy and resident retention across different senior housing types?

• What are key regulatory challenges impacting senior housing asset management?

• How are you addressing workforce shortages and operational staffing issues?

• What technologies are improving care quality and operational efficiency?

• How do you balance capital investment needs with cash flow pressures?

• What approaches do you take to risk management in this highly regulated sector?

• How do you collaborate with operators and investors to align asset performance goals?

Healthcare facilities asset management involves overseeing highly specialized properties with stringent regulatory requirements, complex operational needs, and critical tenant relationships. This topic explores managing hospitals, outpatient centers, and medical office buildings, focusing on maintaining compliance, optimizing facility operations, and supporting tenant performance. Asset managers must address capital planning for technology upgrades, infrastructure modernization, and sustainability initiatives while balancing cost control with high standards of care. With rapid healthcare industry changes and evolving patient care models, effective asset management is key to sustaining value and operational excellence.

• How do you manage capital expenditures for technology and infrastructure upgrades in healthcare properties?

• What are the biggest regulatory and compliance challenges impacting healthcare facility management?

• How do you collaborate with healthcare operators to ensure optimal facility performance?

• What role does sustainability play in managing healthcare assets?

• How do you balance operational costs with the need for specialized building systems and equipment?

• How are evolving healthcare delivery models affecting your asset management strategies?

• What metrics are most important for tracking healthcare asset performance?