Global Business Council Best Practices

What is your global group’s current platform for maintaining contact information for those members that belong to the group or those who are interested in receiving global information?

• They are grouped as "global committee" and labeled as different levels of communication within our membership database/membership management system. We can pull an email merge to communication about upcoming events and courses or share articles, newsletters, etc. We are  able to communicate with entire group or sub-groups of the committee. (Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• We have a council roster on our CRM that includes their contact information. Contact information is provided on their “Committee/Council Request Form”. We primarily utilize their email information.  (Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council) 

• We currently utilize the organization's database. Over this year, we have begun collecting contact information from membership participation at our event(s) and we are in the process of assimilating this data for migration to our own database. Our global group utilizes the main association database to accurately maintain contact information of all our membership which we then use to distribute information to them. This allows us to use all social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, quarterly magazine, etc. for pushing information out to our members. We also use robo calls and CEO videos for marketing any global events in addition to our weekly member’s emails blast. Our committee members are specifically tasked with increasing our membership & awareness through events, functions and international business forums. (Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• The REALTORS® Association of the Palm Beaches (RAPB) utilizes Click Dimensions for all e-communications, which is integrated in the RAMCO CRM database for seamless contact to GBA members. We send frequent, single-subject e-blasts to GBA members promoting classes, events, news, and other important announcements exclusively for GBA members. New GBA members receive an automatic “welcome” email from the RAMCO CRM system outlining how they can begin using the membership and requesting information to maximize their GBA member profile on the GBA website directory. Our most popular platform for news and event promotions is our GBA Facebook page; year-to-date showing 128 published “posts”, currently showing 735 page “likes”, which has increased by 95 “likes” since September 15, 2016, with a year-to-date growth of 68. (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

In what ways and to which particular groups has your global group recruited new members?

• We frequently attend regional meetings that are held monthly on various parts of the Island to make Hawaii International Real Estate Council (HIREC) announcements. Events are marketed state wide through the Hawaii Association of REALTORS® weekly email bulletin. We participate in Board and State Association trade shows to disseminate HIREC information. We post weekly information on our Facebook page to sustain a presence on social media. And we always share HIREC membership information at events with global-related groups such as FIABCI, AREAA, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, etc. (Hawaii International Real Estate Council, 2017 Silver Council)

• Offered complimentary membership to all new GTR members, beginning in June, in an effort to promote awareness and increase our event participation and council membership; hosted timely educational events immigration i.e. changes to the visa program; continue to offer unique classes, i.e. Feng Shui and Pacific Rim Culture; promoted council membership during annual Meet and Greet featuring Panama; partnered with the Greater Tampa Bay chapter of Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA); redesigned council application highlighting member benefits; participated in the global booth at Florida REALTORS® annual conference; included council benefits in the revamped new member orientation (Greater Tampa REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• The Global Business Committee has a new member work group that reaches out to other GLVAR members to garner more committee members and at the same time explaining the benefits of taking part in the GBC. GBC members also attend the GLVAR quarterly general membership meeting (400+ attendees). The Global Business Committee members man a booth at the event to speak with members and to hand out global/international material from GLVAR as well as NAR. The GBC members also promote the CIPS designation and the importance of the designation. The chair and vice chair visited offices throughout the year speaking about various events and the mission of the GBC, inviting them to attend meetings and events. The chair and vice chair have also spoken in front of other association committees to promote this year’s global summit and raise awareness for the committee to increase membership. The first event of the year for Global is a forum which attracts a lot of attendees (between 100-150) therefore attracting over 60 members right from the beginning of the year. (Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• The Association employs online applications for both REALTOR® and Affiliate members; each of these applications includes a toggle field identifying international interest. The data extracted from these application forms is then used for communication purposes to attract new members to the GBA. The global staff liaison personally conducts 3-4 new member orientation classes each month, which averages 140-170 in total attendance; there are two slides dedicated to the Global Alliance, including distribution of the GBA Information and application form. In 2017 the GBA committee voted to offer two CIPS Institutes in our northern-most and southern-most locations (Port St Lucie and Boca Raton); as a special membership promotion, a complimentary GBA membership was provided to each registrant of the full 5-day Institute. The GBA committee consistently represents at association events, including two trade expo events hosted by RAPB annually. Furthermore, the two outbound trade missions, which are exclusive to GBA members, have created a surge of interest in the Alliance, and the Consular Liaison Program, launched in late 2016, has spurred new awareness and membership for both the Global Alliance as well as the CIPS designation, by inviting global REALTORS® to represent the industry in circles of international diplomacy, by acting as a liaison to their appointed consulates. Our single greatest membership drive has been the Global Business Day event in August, which 100 REALTORS® attended, more than half of which were non-GBA members; by day’s end, we received 42 new membership applications. We also frequently host after-hours mixers in conjunction with the Young Professionals Network and the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance, which successfully cross-pollinates and leads to new members for all. (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

• The mission of the Southern Ohio Global Alliance is to broaden multicultural relationships and support economic development and real estate efforts by providing training, networking and resource sharing which prepares and positions REALTORS® to serve a growing international market in their local community. (Dayton Area Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• The Central Alabama Global Alliance (CAGA) is a REALTOR®-driven business development collaboration focused on educating and connecting cultural groups through strong communication, networking opportunities and innovative technologies in order to grow business relationships. (Birmingham Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• The mission of NVAR Global is to provide member-driven education and diverse content and knowledge which will ultimately lead to the promotion of a culturally-driven understanding of Northern Virginia as the premier community for incoming international homebuyers. (Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• To establish successful global business relationships and identify specific activities that will promote our market and provide our members with the education, information, tools, and resources to achieve optimum referral and international business results. (Miami Association of REALTORS®, Diamond Council)

• https://www.abor.com/global/ (Austin Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• https://www.sccaor.com/global/ (Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• http://www.njglobalrealestate.com/ (Eastern Bergen County Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

Did your group collect data – MLS or member surveys – on local or state level foreign direct investment and/or international real estate purchases?

• Our Global Business Council has collected data on local sales activities and foreign owner data to assist the general membership in better understanding our international incoming clientele and the necessity to understand how business might be done different in those cultures when it comes to real estate to avoid potential pitfalls. It also serves the Global Business Council as a tool to establish common grounds and benefits of potential interesting sister-programs with other associations to benefit both sides. (Royal Palm Coast Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• In 2017, the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® commissioned a research report through NAR’s research department to look at the 2017 Profile of International Residential Transactions of its members. This report helped identify the type of foreign buyer (mostly resident foreigners) and the countries from which they were coming. (China, India, Mexio, Canada, El Salvador and the UK). (Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• The Committee uses the data that the MLS collects and uses that to determine programming – countries of origin, number of units sold (condo and single family homes), dollar amount of transactions, ranking of countries represented in the market by dollar volume and units. (Naples Area Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• Yes. Since 2015, Beaches MLS has encouraged MLS subscribers to use an optional field (when applicable) indicating the national origin of the foreign buyer, completed when subscribers are closing out a listing in the system. We have been able to pull reports to analyze this data, including identifying the MLS subscribers who are servicing international clientele in 2017, which countries these international buyers are coming from, as well as the cities being targeted by international buyers, including the selling prices and countries of origin. This information is useful for the members to understand the cultures that are contributing to our local market, as well as the areas that these nationalities are targeting, and how best to market to this target audience. We are also able to drill down on the property analysis report to build a profile of the average international buyer, identifying key characteristics that the average international buyer is seeking in U.S. real estate, which also helps to design a custom marketing message to reach the target audience. In the year-to-date data snapshot, for instance, we clearly see Canada is our largest direct investor in our MLS territory (without knowing the “undisclosed” entries). Internally, we are using this data to market the GBA membership to Beaches MLS subscribers utilizing this optional field to promote the membership and programs. (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

Variety of topics and events for members to take part in:

• Global Real Estate Summit & Expo – full day of sessions, trade shows and reception at the New York Marriott Marquis; monthly council meetings bring in guest speakers to address international monetary changes, EB-5 program, working with global buyers, and cultivating business opportunities abroad. In addition, members attended events held by FIABCI and AREAA. (Staten Island Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• March 30, 2017 - Get to Know Canada Roundtable event. The event brought in eight Canadian based speakers to discuss the following roundtable topics: Affordability, Cost & Financing;  Cross Ties Between U.S. Market & Canada Market; Investment Purchases; Marketing to Canada; The Transactional Process; Why Canada & Its Culture: Vicki Heyman, US Embassy Ottawa; U.S. & Canada Tax Law. Monday, July 10th: Fiona McEntee, Managing Attorney from McEntee Law Group, conducted a session and breakdown/discussion and understanding of residency visas with the Global Council during bi-monthly meeting; hosted CIPS five-day course: August 28th - September 1st; Wednesday, August 30th; held Neighborhoods and Cultural Diversity bus tour to tour five of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. (Chicago Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• Networking events: six Global Table events (20-40 attendees); three cross-committee mixers (30-110 members); education session; International Deal Structure event (March); MIPIM event (July); Transactions in the Americas (November); Global Day/symposium; 5-day CIPS Institute (October). (Beverly Hills Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council).

• Our networking events are offered monthly, alternating all throughout the four corners of Palm Beach County and up into St Lucie County. We employ a variety of themes, including happy hours at restaurants, “business networking” functions with the Realtors® Commercial Alliance (RCA) and Young Professionals Network (YPN), and model home “previews” at new construction communities. This year we partnered several times with the St Lucie Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council. Our most popular cooperative initiative was a private “behind the scenes” tour of the newly remodeled Treasure Coast International Airport, learning about their efforts for expanding the main terminal, adding more hangars and landing strips, and renovating their customs station to attract more international flights and commercial airlines. We have also offered a wide variety of educational classes this year, including two very successful CIPS Institutes, two law symposiums with the Attorney’s Real Estate Council of Palm Beach County, during which foreign real estate transactions were among the featured topics, numerous classes on marketing, social media, and networking, as well as seminars with local attorneys on FIRPTA and Immigration. Other events include “International Coastal Cleanup Day” at the Jupiter Lighthouse beach, and our annual and wildly popular social meet-up at the “Oktoberfest” hosted by the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches (the second largest authentic Oktoberfest in the United States). This year we also hosted our first-ever “Global Business Day”, which was a full-day program featuring a ‘round-robin’ format with five fast-paced lectures in the morning on the business fundamentals taught by global leaders and industry professionals, an internationally-themed lunch buffet, and an afternoon session with five culturally rich discussions led by REALTORS® from Canada, China, Central/South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. This event was hosted at the state-of-the-art Oxbridge Academy private high school in West Palm Beach, and received over 100 in attendance, with over 40 new members joining the Global Alliance, and several more registering to take the CIPS Institute in Boca Raton the following month. This educational event was completely orchestrated by a taskforce of volunteers from the Global Committee, and all the presenters were volunteers sharing their knowledge and expertise. Overall, this initiative was one of our most successful efforts to promote global real estate and education to date. (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

Did your association host or sponsor a Trade Mission (inbound or outbound)?

• While they did not host one themselves, the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® helped in marketing for the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) CIPS Institute in Dublin, Ireland. Their president, president-elect, CEO and staff liaison attended. During the Institute, IPAV held a trade mission on the second day for U.S. attendees (since U.S. students do not get credit for the “Doing Business in the U.S.” course that is a requirement for non-U.S. students). In addition, their member Claire Killen is also the NAR President’s Liaison to Ireland and she attended IPAV’s annual conference as well. (Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® sponsored a 10-day outbound trade mission to Vietnam in March 2017 with 33 participants. Every day there was a video recap on their social media pages to share the experience with those back home. Read and watch the daily recap of the entire trade mission. (Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• We co-sponsored an inbound trade/educational mission for the bilateral partner, GREPA from Ghana. Developed the framework and content for three days of programming to include state agencies, local governments, and international business partners. Read the blog. We also participated in Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s trade mission to Japan. We were invited by the governor to be the voice of real estate for Illinois. Our president, Doug Carpenter, will be introducing the state governor at a reception that includes both corporate leaders and decision makers in addition to other political and business leaders. Read more. (Illinois REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• We had a group of 25 French professionals visit our office in June to learn about the Miami real estate market and best business practices in the U.S. We hosted three YPNs from SIRALIA in Spain for two weeks in Miami to learn about doing business in the US and launching global YPN chapter and to connect with our YPNs and other members. We have delegates confirmed for our International Congress in November from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Tunisia, and UAE. Our global staff person participated in the Real Estate Cluster (Serbia) in April and visited OVI in Austria.  (Miami Association of REALTORS®, Diamond Council)

How did your members benefit from these outreach efforts (such as sharing of information, data, research, referral exchange, etc.)?

• We have a new assemblyman who met with members of our Global Council and he is very interested in receiving our information. We have invited him to our events as well. We recently sent his office the 2017 Profile of International Activity provided by NAR. (Tri-Counties Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• In being part of the Chambers, as well as serving on the Economic Development Council (EDC) and consulates, our members have been able to share the value of REALTORS® in the global transaction. They have gained leads and learned new resources to help them grow their business and sphere of influence. (Southeast Valley Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• It is all about relationships. By regularly inviting our local civic leaders to various AOR and Global events, we are reinforcing our presence in the community. As an example, a local city that we cover was working on a project where they needed sales data. Because of our relationship with them, they asked us for assistance and we gladly helped them. As a result, we were recognized at their local City Council meeting for our assistance. (Arcadia Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• Our outreach efforts directly and significantly increase international business opportunities and referrals for our members. They gain knowledge and information and learn about business practices and market conditions in other markets, but also establish relationships with foreign professionals and clients who generate business for our members. We have hosted events on how to do business in foreign markets, information on new trends and opportunities, and have promoted our market and our members through various initiatives (free advertising, presentations, events, B2B sessions/trade missions). We also send our news to all of the above entities and educate them on the importance of international for our market and have been able to influence trends and business decisions (i.e. more focus on China, push for Chinese-friendly environment including Miami China Town, participation in Miami International Airport task force to bring direct flight from Asia to Miami, focusing on new markets like Chile, Serbia, UAE). These activities position us as key player in global affairs in our market and help us secure Miami's position as a top global city, which in turn draws more attention and business to our market and our members. (Miami Association of REALTORS®, Diamond Council)

Aside from working with internal groups such as YPN, Commercial, WCR or Diversity what unique collaborations have you created? 

• We participated in Global Minnesota programs – World Quest, an annual world trivia program with corporate, academic and students participating from around the Twin Cities. We also attended various other programs hosted by Global Minnesota with our leadership. (Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• The Global Business Council is working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Dallas, TX to hold an education session on home buying for refugee communities. We also organized the TAR 2018 Conference International Reception. The GBC also hosts networking events for the Global Council and we invite our resource groups (attorneys, etc) and interested parties from other associations around the state. (MetroTex Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• Mainstreet's Global Committee collaborates with any and all local associations and other committees, especially with their Commercial Alliance in order to encourage involvement and professional diversity to their programs. There is a long list of groups that we collaborate with such as: NAR, Illinois REALTORS®, Chicago Association of REALTORS®, Fox Valley Association, Three Rivers Association, NICAR, AREAA, NAHREP, CCIM, ASARP, MORe Commercial Alliance, CAR Commercial Forum, YPN, local and state economic developers (DOCEO), MRED,  WCR, Texas Association, Metro Tex Association,  PREF, Sweden's Association, Poland's Real Estate Federation, and so many more. (Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• We have had great success in collaborating with the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of the Palm Beaches (RCA) and the Palm Beaches Young Professionals Network (YPN) to host informal after-hours mixers. Our leadership agreed to combine efforts for increased awareness and membership cross-over, rather than host single mixers exclusive to our respective members. Since we have begun these collaborative initiatives, we have seen an influx of commercial members joining the GBA, as well as the YPN, newer REALTORS®, expressing interest in the classes and CIPS designation offered by the GBA. We have hosted 4 collaborative events to date. In May, during the REALTOR® Quest Trade Mission to Toronto, we invited the leadership team of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) and members of the Orlando Regional REALTORS® Association (ORRA) to attend the networking reception in the Regent room of the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport, which was co-sponsored by Florida REALTORS®. We also invited Global Director Maria Grulich to present the profile of international buying activity in Florida during our Global Business Day event in August. Presently, we are collaborating with ACOBIR in Panama and the Orlando Regional REALTORS® Association (ORRA), ambassador association to Panama, for our trade mission in October. (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

What is the PR strategy/outreach plan for the local media outlets?

• We started a partnership with the San Diego Union Tribune Real Estate division. They have agreed to help feature our international efforts (Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• The Birmingham Association of REALTORS® has a PR/Communications department dedicated to reaching both internal/external media outlets for the promotion and success of all CAGA events and educational endeavors. We have a relationship and regularly conduct outreach to all media outlets. We have a standard press release and in addition, we have a relationship with the Birmingham Magazine, Birmingham Business Journal and Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama, which supplies articles for the entire state. (Birmingham Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• HAR's full time PR Manager works closely with the HAR International program on providing details to the media about our programs and our statistics learned from our annual survey. Members of the local press are regularly invited to various events such as International Day. HAR International also supplies global members to the press for interviews regarding various current events such as Mexicans selling their homes and leaving The Woodlands. Sample of what we send out to the media and the Greater Houston Partnership: Top 10 Countries That Visited HAR.com in February 2017. (Houston Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• Our association is fortunate to have two Platinum Media Partners, The Palm Beach Post in Palm Beach County, and TC Palm’s St Lucie Tribune in the Treasure Coast, who each support the association by providing weekly print space in the Sunday real estate sections of these very widely circulated newspapers. We also have contracted with a local public relations firm for increased media exposure. Using these resources, the communications team has been extraordinary in their efforts to incorporate the Global Alliance in articles of international importance, as both the consumer and REALTOR® would benefit. . (REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

• The real light-bulb moment came when I finally gave in to the encouragement of Judy Sykes and David and Patsy Wyant to obtain my CIPS designation. I cannot tell you how valuable those classes were and I'm excited to use my knowledge to help HIREC be even more successful. I believe that all association executives managing an association with a global council or international division should get their CIPS designation. Even better, if they don't have a council, the designation will help them create one so that their members can expand their market and be more successful. Thank you NAR! (Crystal Lancaster, staff, Hawaii International Real Estate Council, 2017 Silver Council)

• After taking my CIPS course in 2016, I said I wanted to become more involved within my local association, especially through the global sector. I applied for the C.A.R. Global Council and quickly became engaged within the network. Since last year, my network has grown tremendously and I have connected with numerous industry veterans and global and commercial powerhouses. They have offered me fantastic tips, resources and insight on how to obtain a successful global business and I know this due to my involvement with C.A.R. Global. This ultimately has expanded my brokerage, but opened the doors to connect with other internationally based professionals (attorneys, tax professionals, luxury and commercial agents, etc.) not only around the city, but the country and world. C.A.R. Global Council has provided great value to me, and now as the elected incoming vice chair, I am dedicated to expand the Council and network as a valuable resource within the association and beyond. (Rob Rosmis - 2017-2018 Global Vice Chair, Chicago Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• “Real estate is not local anymore, it is a global business. Being a member of the Global Business Council, it provides me many opportunities to network with international fellow REALTORS® and exchange knowledge, cultures, and business practices of different countries through educational and informational seminars, workshops, events, trade shows, and conferences. These definitely give me an edge to expand my business horizon as well as add more fun to my work. Being involved in the steering committee of the Global Business Council, it also helps prepare me to be a leader and more involved in the local association. Thanks Global Business Council!” - Mark Wong, REALTOR® with Alain Pinel Realtors, Saratoga Past SILVAR Global Business Council Chair, SILVAR Director-At-large (Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)

• “Being a member of the GBA placed me and my business in a superior position when dealing with my foreign clients. Since becoming a member I've enriched my knowledge of global business through the professional education, meetings, events, and showcases abroad. The GBA has profoundly connected me to the global real estate market.” (Aviva Eyal, member, REALTORS® of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Diamond Council)

How do you plan to build upon your accomplishments for next year? What do you hope to achieve?

• We plan to build upon our 2017 accomplishments by building staff’s global industry network of peers, increasing ABoR resources devoted to the International Committee and investing in the development of the International Committee as global real estate professionals. (Austin Board of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• In 2018, the NVAR GBC would like to have a government/economic development partner for MIPIM and any other international congresses our members may attend.  We just discovered that the director of the Governor's Office on Economic Development was taken over by a very good friend of the REALTORS® from the Assembly. We should have much better access to that office with him at the helm. (More of our PAC dollars at work!). In addition, the Elko Association will hopefully have a GBC that meets on a schedule. Lastly, NVAR will increase CIPS designees by an additional 20% by promoting various opportunities to earn the designation locally, regionally, or internationally.  In the last year, the increase was from 50 CIPS designees to 120. (Nevada Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• Included in a total web transformation of our entire association, we will be increasing the awareness and branding of the Global Business Council. We have developed other promotional items such as a global council banner that goes with us to events where we can display and raise awareness of the global brand for Illinois. We are working very closely with our state’s new economic development office CEO. He transferred here from Rochester, NY and he has an awareness of the REALTOR® association there and he is believer in the strength of the real estate industry and its effect on building a state’s economy. As the state association Global Business Council, we have the ability to be the face of real estate to state leaders and decision makers so while we are working on the growth of our own program, we also want to be a support for our local programming and to the degree possible will leverage their efforts so that we are a well-organized team working towards a shared goal to increase foreign investment and continue to increase the global footprint for our members across the state of Illinois. (Illinois REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council).

• Building on the past success of our strong international program, our goal is continue to expand and to identify opportunities to promote our market worldwide and to bring more business to our members.  We continue to nurture our current partners and to identify new markets to target to secure healthy global investment in our exceptional global city.  We continue to work with local governments and officials to enhance our global position and to make our city more attractive for foreigners and international investment. We work to expand international professional development and events to better equip more members with the knowledge and education and tools and resources to be most successful when serving foreign clients. And we remain open and receptive to new ideas and opportunities to leverage and expand our international prominence and exposure throughout the world. We also are dedicated to working with our partners and other U.S. associations to help them connect globally and achieve greater business results.  We offer education, information, resources and events to accomplish these goals. (Miami Association of REALTORS®, Diamond Council)

• One of the biggest parts of our international program is the MIPIM conference. In 2017, we planned and executed our own booth with the sole purpose to showcase the San Diego-Tijuana megaregion. We were able to attract development projects for our pitch book—which had never been done in San Diego—and bring with us a developer, a commissioner from the Port of San Diego, and the Mayor of Chula Vista (San Diego County's second-largest city). During the conference, we had set up meeting with prospective investors and developers. Three investors were interested in a project, with two still in the running to invest. We also attracted attention from other countries who were interested in our ties with Mexico and how we have worked to build a solid working relationship. All of this was a complete success and now we have San Diego developers wanting to talk about 2018. (Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Silver Council)

• In our second year, MetroTex Global Business Council has achieved effectively all of our three-year program goals. Our web page was recently released, but improvements depend on the fact that the entire website is under review. Our only lacking area was an inbound or outbound trade mission organized by MetroTex. Some members participated in inbound missions from Mexico and other countries, but we did not participate as a council, except in the TAR Real Estate Cruise. Membership in the GBC has risen dramatically, exceeding 250 as of this writing, and could be expected to go above 300 in 2018. In addition, our CIPS designees have more than doubled (from < 20 to >50). We are actively participating in AMPI, AREAA and NAHREP activities, both as a council and individually. In addition, many of our GBC members have actively moved into global real estate as a part of their business plan. For many, this has resulted in a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of their business. For the association, it has resulted in an influx of previously uninvolved members to our boards, committees, councils and events. The broad variety of backgrounds has been a very healthy growth for the association board. In addition, many of the GBC members have become more active in state, regional and national arenas. (MetroTex Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Gold Council)

• In 2017 the HAR International program decided to create greater HAR member opportunities to participate in global inbound real estate transactions by enhancing our sphere of influence with the local international community. We have accomplished this by: 1. Identifying and creating working relationships with five consulate offices of foreign countries to include Mexico, Canada, India, Australia and Japan. Meetings have occurred with all five office representatives and we inform them throughout the year of HAR International programs and ideas that may be of use to their citizens. Example: After Hurricane Harvey, HAR set up a temporary housing portal on our website and we informed the five consulate offices to share the link with their citizens who may have been displaced due to flooding. 2. We have used our space in the monthly member magazine to feature articles of a global nature and publish statistics relative to the number of visits from foreign countries to HAR.com. We have profiled specific country's investors as well. 3. We upgraded our International 101 Day to a more sophisticated version that was approved for five hours of CE credits. Topics included working with clients from India and how to list a property in Mexico while you are in Houston. (Houston Association of REALTORS®, 2017 Platinum Council)