LeadingRE Chairperson of the Board Michael Saunders (Michael Saunders & Company) presents the Global Leadership Award to Benedetta Viganò (Giorgio Viganò Real Estate) at the LeadingRE 2025 Global Symposium in Prague. To see the Global Symposium photo gallery, click here. Photo credit: Ekaterina Kisel.
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– Awards presentation highlights outstanding member achievements amid sessions exploring global trends, local impact, and innovation in international real estate. –
CHICAGO — October 14, 2025 — The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) 2025 Global Symposium—themed “Bridges to the Future: Global Insight, Local Impact”—brought together top real estate professionals from 31 countries for three days of global learning, collaboration, and innovation, October 7–9, 2025, in Prague, Czech Republic.
The annual event united some of the world’s foremost real estate leaders to explore how global trends, shifting demographics, and new technologies are reshaping local real estate markets. Attendees engaged in immersive workshops, thought leadership sessions, and networking experiences designed to strengthen cross-border business and inspire growth.
“The Global Symposium embodies what makes LeadingRE truly unique— a network that thrives on connection, collaboration, and shared vision,” said Chris Dietz, President of Global Operations at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “By bringing together exceptional leaders from 31 countries, we not only explored the future of real estate but also strengthened the bridges that unite our global community. The insights, innovation, and relationships forged here in Prague will drive local impact and global growth for years to come.”
Featured speakers included Adam Challis, Global Director, Strategic Insights, JLL; Abhii Dabas, Founder and CEO, INTRIC Technologies; Jan Kasl, President, Czech Chamber of Architects; and Dr. Marci Rossell, Chief Economist, LeadingRE. Prague-based LeadingRE member Filip Šejvl, Managing Partner, Philip & Frank, discussed Prague’s fascinating history, its evolving future, and key insights into one of Europe’s most dynamic real estate markets.
More than 45 LeadingRE members and staff members also spoke at the event, exploring critical topics, including the impact of AI and data on real estate, the evolution of branding and trust, international migration trends, and market growth.
A dedicated Commercial Real Estate Workshop focused on opportunities in mixed-use, retail, and office sectors, alongside strategies for leveraging the LeadingRE’s new commercial platform, LeadingRECommercial.com, to drive business expansion. In the Luxury Portfolio International® Workshop, luxury specialists examined evolving client expectations, the global outlook on wealth and property, and strategies for serving next-generation high-net-worth buyers.
The event’s Gala Reception and Awards Presentation celebrated outstanding member achievements and network collaboration. Awards were presented by LeadingRE Chairperson Michael Saunders, Michael Saunders & Company (Sarasota, Florida U.S.); LeadingRE President/CEO Paul Boomsma; and LeadingRE President of Global Operations Chris Dietz.
The Global Leadership Award was presented to Benedetta Viganò, Giorgio Viganò Real Estate (Milan, Italy), who was recognized as a driving force in LeadingRE’s global network for many years and for encouraging global member engagement, passionately advocating for cross-border referrals, and helping ensure LeadingRE’s standards were upheld worldwide.
The Global Ambassador Award went to select members who embody the very best of LeadingRE and Luxury Portfolio International®, acting as champions who actively engage at every level and inspire others through their leadership: Berry Everitt, Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa); Louis Harding, Betterhomes LLC (Dubai, United Arab Emirates); and Stavroula (Vicky) Vamvaka and Christos Bletas, newdeal real estate group (Athens, Greece).
M.Residence (Strovolos, Cyprus) earned the Rising Star Award for demonstrating exceptional engagement from the very first day of membership, with special recognition for superior co-branding with LeadingRE, superior global event participation, and referral excellence.
The Longest Distance Referral Award honors member companies whose collaboration bridged continents through exceptional referral partnerships. This year’s recipients completed transactions spanning nearly 10,000 kilometers: Brown Harris Stevens (New York, New York, U.S.) and Bibian Group Israel Real Estate (Tel Aviv, Israel); Shorewest, REALTORS® (Brookfield, Wisconsin, U.S.) and newdeal real estate group (Athens, Greece).
The Referral Accelerator Award recognized four companies for their steadfast commitment to fostering client introductions through persistence and determination: Best Place Zabel (Berlin, Germany); Betterhomes LLC (Dubai, United Arab Emirates); Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage (Toronto, ON, Canada); and Espaces Atypiques (Paris, France).
The Destinations by LeadingRE Lead Mastery Award went to ORIA Real Estate Advisors (Lisbon, Portugal) for exceptional strategic execution and innovation in engaging, converting, and nurturing e-leads. For having the most exciting new development launch, including unique and innovative property features and an exceptional marketing strategy, Limassol Greens (Limassol, Cyprus) earned the Destinations by LeadingRE Best New Development Launch.
Delegates also immersed themselves in Prague’s rich culture through curated experiences, including a property tour hosted by Philip & Frank and a variety of excursions showcasing the city’s architectural and historic treasures. The event concluded with a memorable closing celebration at Villa Richter, the Czech Republic’s oldest vineyard, offering panoramic views of the city. The 2025 Symposium benefited from the support of sponsors JamesEdition, Property Webmasters, and Besley & Copp.
Next year’s Global Symposium will be held October 27–29, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain.
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About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®
Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE.com) is a global network of top independent real estate firms, with 550 companies and 135,000 sales associates in over 70 countries. LeadingRE supports its members with powerful connections to other market leaders and access to innovative, performance-driven programs. LeadingRE also operates RELO Direct®, Inc. (RELODirect.com), its full-service relocation management company providing mobility services for corporate and government clients; and Luxury Portfolio International® (LuxuryPortfolio.com), its luxury marketing division, which markets approximately 50,000 luxury homes annually. Additionally, LeadingRE is active in commercial real estate, with over 200 firms in 20 countries specializing in the commercial arena (LeadingRECommercial.com), and in global project marketing through Destinations by LeadingRE (DestinationsByLeadingRE.com).