We’re almost to the end of another year — one that’s continued to bring unique challenges to our industry. Before we close the book on the novel that has been 2021 and step away from our computer screens, we wanted to take a moment and wish you a happy holiday season!
We hope you stay safe and enjoy some much-needed R&R. In fact, to encourage your rest and relaxation, our team is taking a break from the blog as well. We’ll join you again in the new year with fresh articles, but until then, enjoy a recap of our most popular posts on the VTS blog from 2021.
1. Our infographic series!
Our “Day in the Life” infographic series has lived on throughout the year. From the infographic that started it all, “A Day in the Life of an Asset Manager,” to more users and use cases captured below, these posts continue to be some of our most popular this year. Check them out here:
- A Day in the Life of a Leasing Manager
- A Day in the Life of a Property Manager
- A Day in the Life of a CEO
- From Lead to Lease: The Industrial Deal Cycle
- From Offline to Online: The New Virtual Touring & Leasing Landscape
2. Commercial Real Estate Has Entered the Quant Era
In this article written by VTS Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Masiello, he says: Given the unprecedented market challenges we now face due to COVID-19 and new technologies that allow for better data capture at scale, there has never been a more critical time to take a quantitative approach and embrace the use of data. Read on to see why now is the time for commercial real estate to embrace real-time data.
3. Introducing the 2021 VTS Global Office Landlord Report: New Research on How Landlords are Navigating COVID-19 and Beyond
As our industry grappled with the biggest recession and public health crisis in a generation, the timing of our second annual Global Landlord Report was more important than ever. The report shares key insights into the priorities and strategies executives at landlord companies are focused on to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and ensure business continuity post-COVID-19.
4. VTS is Acquiring Rise Buildings
After almost a year of research, speaking to customers, and digging into the existing companies in the category, we entered into an agreement to acquire Rise Buildings, now VTS Activate, back in March. Top landlords across the US and the globe, including Blackstone, Sterling Bay, Hines, and CIM Group, are using VTS Activate to deliver a superior property experience to their tenants, as well as to manage an asset’s overall property operations.
5. COVID-19 in 2021: CRE Executive Priorities & Predictions with Brian Kingston, Chief Executive of Brookfield Property Group
In one of your favorite webinars of the year, we looked to answer the question: as we embark on our journey to COVID-19 recovery, what are the top business priorities for CRE execs – and what are they investing in to ensure their success post-pandemic? To answer it, VTS CEO Nick Romito sat down with Brookfield Property Group Chief Executive Brian Kingston in this virtual fireside chat.
6. How Tenants Expect to Experience Space in 2021
For commercial leasing, there’s no doubt that tenant needs have drastically evolved, in many ways forever. Landlords need to adapt, and fast, if they want to capture new demand as it hits the market and retain their high-quality occupants. But what does the office search process look like from the tenants’ perspective? And how do they really want to experience space in 2021 and beyond? VTS Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Masiello answers the million-dollar question in this article.
7. Preparing For A New Era: Why CRE Leaders Can’t Avoid Modernizing Their Technology Any Longer
In his role, VTS CEO Nick Romito has seen thousands of landlords and brokers embrace technology and successfully move their operations online. Yet he’s also seen resistance, with some executives viewing proptech as a “nice to have.” In this article, he shares an important perspective and explains why commercial real estate cannot avoid modernizing any longer as we enter the post-COVID era.
8. State of the NYC Office Market: Challenges Remain, but Progress Continues
Back in May, VTS Senior Market Research Manager Ted Skirbunt shared this exclusive deep-dive into the state of the NYC office market. It was a peek into the breadth and depth of market data available within VTS Data. Against a backdrop of increasing vaccination rates and key milestones, high-frequency VTS Data illustrated office demand returning in New York City in real-time. Check out the article for three key examples: New tenant requirement velocity, total square feet of new tenant requirements by month, and industry drivers of demand.
9. VP of Innovation Eric Roseman at LPC on the Need for Rapid Tech Adoption — And His Insights for Making it Happen
The pandemic has accelerated the awareness of technology's value in our industry and the need for rapid adoption. And Eric Roseman knows all about the importance of bringing state-of-the-art tech to the forefront. He’s VP of Innovation & Partnerships at Lincoln Property Company (LPC) and Managing Partner of LPC Ventures. A well-respected CRE thought leader, Eric and LPC are putting technology to work to make their buildings operate smarter, provide an improved tenant experience, and create vital partnerships throughout the industry.
10. VTS Named To the 2021 Forbes Cloud 100 For the 3rd Year in a Row!
The annual Forbes Cloud 100 list is the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world — and we’re thrilled to make the list for the third year in a row! Now more than ever, tech has earned its place within CRE, and we’re proud that our products have provided the technology, support, and guidance the industry has needed to weather the storm. Read on to understand why VTS was selected.
11. How a Deal Gets Done: Handler Real Estate, Rudin Management, Welcome Homes — and the VTS Marketplace
We sat down with Kyle Galin, an Associate at Handler Real Estate Services to find out how the group is embracing platforms like the VTS Marketplace to help their tenant clients find the best possible space. In fact, Kyle and the team used the platform in a recent transaction where they were representing Miami-based Welcome Homes in finding their first Manhattan office. The virtual tours and digital content were invaluable in getting remote decision-makers on board and excited about spaces.
12. Beyond the Tenant App: Exploring the Power of a True Tenant Experience Solution
In your second favorite webinar this year, VTS CEO Nick Romito and VTS Activate Managing Director Prasan Kale led this discussion with Hines General Manager Michelle Nanni to uncover the non-negotiable features of a true tenant experience solution, why hardware integrations and data collection are a top priority, and why landlords everywhere should be evaluating a TenEx solution now.
13. VTS Is Acquiring Lane
On the heels of our acquisition of Rise Buildings, we doubled down on our investment into tenant experience by acquiring Lane Technologies. We know there’s no overstating the opportunity that landlords now have to deeply connect with their customers — tenants — and understand that tenant experience is the solution for delivering on that opportunity as tenants get back to the office in this new world. With this acquisition, we’ve solidified our position as the #1 tenant experience platform.
14. Office Space Demand Falls for the Second Consecutive Month as Post-Vaccine Surge Subsides
Finally, our VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) report has been eagerly read each month. The VODI is the earliest available indicator of forthcoming office real estate trends, locally and nationally, and represents up to 99% of new demand for office space in seven major markets, including New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco. The most recent report shows that demand for office space fell for the second month in a row, suggesting that the initial post-vaccine surge of demand has run its course.
With that, we’ll see you in 2022!
Thanks again for subscribing to, and engaging with, our blog. We look forward to bringing you more of the content you’ve come to love in 2021. Want to hit the ground running next year? We put together these four easy actions you can take in VTS today to set your organization up for success in the New Year.
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