The 2020 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, originally scheduled for Nov. 13–16 in New Orleans, will transition to a fully virtual format given the ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Uncertainty has in many ways defined 2020. While positive indicators begin to show our economy is rebounding and treatment options for COVID-19 are proving more effective, so much remains unknown about this virus and the circumstances we will face as a nation come this fall,” says Vince Malta, president of the National Association of REALTORS®. “In order to prioritize the health and safety of our members, staff, and sponsors, NAR looks forward to hosting a fully virtual REALTORS® Conference & Expo this November.”
In May, NAR held its Legislative Meetings in a virtual format for the first time. Some 28,000 members and association staff registered for the event, roughly triple the average participation at the annual fall gathering.
In recent surveys designed to look at member and association staff interest in traveling to New Orleans for an in-person conference, more than two-thirds of respondents reported that they’d be unwilling to do so. They cited safety concerns, including their desire to avoid crowds and the unlikelihood of a vaccine being available by November.
NAR will announce details, including registration information, in the coming weeks. The virtual format will allow the association’s full governance processes to proceed normally during the conference, which will also include educational speakers, energizing livestreamed content, networking opportunities, and an industry expo.
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