Dallas-Fort Worth State of the Market

Tue Apr 21, 2026

Buy Tickets Attendees

Dallas-Fort Worth State of the Market

How International Influence, Experience-Driven Expectations and Market Fundamentals Are Defining DFW’s Future

Tuesday April 21 2026 @ 8:00 AM CDT

$125.00

Get Tickets and Info Attendee List Get Tickets and Info Become A Speaker

Registration Questions?
**Please note we have pricing tiers based on ticket availability. Ticket prices will increase once we sell out of the current pricing tier. We cannot redeem a lower price once the ticket prices have been raised.
**Bisnow is a cashless, checkless operation. Please only submit payment via credit card.

Event Host

Terraces at Solana

Terraces at Solana is an eight-building, Class A office campus in Westlake, TX, spanning 1.1 million square feet. Set within a lush suburban environment, the campus blends a tranquil setting with the conveniences of a premier corporate destination. Thoughtfully revitalized by Singerman Real Estate and Glenstar, this iconic property features nearly 50,000 square feet of modern amenities supporting wellness, collaboration, and community, including a full-service bar and lounge, on-site food hall, health and wellness center, state-of-the-art conference center, and inviting outdoor gathering spaces throughout the property.

Speakers and Panels

Monica Paul

As the Executive Director for the Dallas Sports Commission, Monica Paul plays an essential role in implementing bid strategies and marketing programs that enhance Dallas’ acquisition of sports competitions and events, including solicitation of Olympic, professional, collegiate and amateur sports. Paul also works closely with professional leagues, the NCAA, Olympic National Governing Bodies and amateur sports federations, promoting Dallas as a premier destination for events, conventions and meetings. Paul's efforts proved instrumental in Dallas being named a Host City for FIFA World Cup 26 and securing nine matches during the tournament, more than any other market in 2026. Prior to joining Visit Dallas in 2008, Paul was the Associate Director of Events at USA Volleyball, where she oversaw the international events for the USA Women's and Men's National Teams and served as Director of Competition for the 2007 National Senior Games in Louisville, Kentucky. Before that, Paul served as Director of International and Domestic Events for USA Taekwondo, and Director of Events, Marketing and Sponsorships for the Junior Volleyball Association of Austin. Paul earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education at the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Sports Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. She currently serves on the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors, Cotton Bowl Classic Board of Directors, the Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation Board of Directors, Women in Sports & Events (WISE) DFW Chapter Advisory Board, and the University of North Texas Sports Entertainment Management Industry Advisory Board. She was selected as the DCEO Non-profit and Corporate Citizenship Award Winner in Leadership Excellence in 2023, DCEO’s Dallas 500 in 2022-2024, Women in Business honoree by Dallas Business Journal in 2020, and in 2015 she was honored as one of Connect Sports’ Top IX Women in the Sport Tourism Industry. Paul taught Contemporary Issues in Sport Management at Southern Methodist University and is also a licensed real estate agent and realtor.

Dallas Sports Commission

Executive Director

Monica Paul

Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission

Caroline Mays

Caroline Mays, AICP, serves as director of Planning and Modal Programs. In this role, she is responsible for the management and control of the Aviation, Maritime, Public Transportation, Rail, and Transportation Planning and Programming divisions. Mays is a recognized regional, state, and national leader experienced in multimodal transportation planning and programming, policy, and project development. Mays joined the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in late 2012 and has held several positions including, Statewide Freight Coordinator, Freight Planning Branch Manager, Director of Freight and International Trade/Border Section, and Director of Freight, Trade and Connectivity. She was responsible for TxDOT’s statewide multimodal freight, international trade, and statewide corridor planning programs and was instrumental in establishing the multimodal freight planning program, developing the first multimodal Freight Mobility Plan, and the Texas-Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan. Previously, she worked for the Atlanta Regional Commission MPO where she created the freight planning program, managed the development of an award-winning Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan, and oversaw the Intelligent Transportation System planning program. She also worked as a transit planner for Rockland County, New York. Mays is a member of the Transportation Research Board, where she contributes to technical and research programs. She has been an active member of standing technical committees including the Committee on Agriculture and Food Transportation as chair, the Freight Systems Group, and the Intermodal Freight Transportation Committee. She has served as chair on three National Cooperative Research Program panels. Mays is the chair of AASHTO’s Special Committee on Freight and represents AASHTO and the United States on the World Road Association’s Freight Committee. Mays is a member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. She received her bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Waterloo and a master’s degree in science in planning from the University of Toronto.

Texas Department of Transportation

Senior Director of Planning and Modal Programs

Caroline Mays

Senior Director of Planning and Modal Programs, Texas Department of Transportation

Aarica Mims

SVP, Development, KDC

Stephen Cummings

Complex Managing Director, Loews Hotels & Co.

Hector Sanchez

CEO, Premier

Amy Pratt

Director, Dallas Cowboys

Steve Mckeever

Founder, McKeever Companies

Glenn Silva

COO, Lone Star Pace

Alejandro Guerrero

Design Director, Principal, Gensler

Sandra Akmansoy

Principal, Rider Levett Bucknall

Moderator

Howard Altshuler

Partner, Audit – Financial Services, Weaver

Why You Should Attend this DFW State of the Commercial Real Estate Market Event

What You’ll Learn:

How major global events contribute to brand identity, perception and investment interest in a region the size of DFW
How hosting the 2026 World Cup may influence district activation, tourism patterns, hospitality demand and long-term development opportunities across DFW
How experience-driven expectations are shaping new projects in office, multifamily, hospitality, retail, industrial flex and mixed-use environments
What developers mean when they talk about experience driven development and how this factors into underwriting, design and long-term value
What strategies development teams are using to advance projects in a market defined by cost pressures, selective capital and shifting feasibility
How hospitality, programming, F&B and placemaking are influencing leasing velocity and the performance of mixed-use districts
What types of projects are most likely to move forward in 2026–2028 and how owners are adapting partnerships, timelines and deal structures
How consumer behavior and tenant expectations are reshaping the definition of amenity, public realm and overall user experience
What developers, investors and owners are watching most closely as DFW enters a cycle shaped by global attention, population scale and evolving demand

How You'll Do More Business From Attending This Event:

Join Bisnow’s 2026 DFW State of the Market to tap into one of the country’s most powerful growth stories. Recent estimates show the Dallas–Fort Worth region at more than 8.3 million residents and uniquely home to two cities over 1 million people, making it one of the fastest-growing major metros in the U.S. Lean this scale, combined with a $78.3B-a-year airport economy supporting over 684,000 jobs, is driving demand across every asset class from urban mixed-use and hospitality to industrial, office and multifamily. With Dallas set to host nine 2026 World Cup matches and a projected tournament impact of roughly $1.5–$2.1B to the region, the global spotlight on North Texas will only intensify opportunities for destination districts, hotels, entertainment concepts and experience-led development.

Get an inside look at how this momentum is translating into real projects: Dallas now leads the nation’s hotel construction pipeline with 197 projects and more than 24,000 rooms, while DFW’s industrial market still has over 21M SF under construction. See how active developers are responding to these shifts as they rework partnerships, refine experience driven strategies, and advance their pipelines as DFW moves into its World Cup moment and beyond. Join Bisnow to gain perspective from active owners, developers, capital providers and city leaders on the factors influencing decision making and project momentum across the region.

Who You’ll Meet During Networking: Owners, developers, investors, brokers, lenders, architects, engineers, contractors, city and economic development leaders, design and placemaking professionals, hospitality and mixed-use operators, and other senior CRE decision-makers shaping projects across North Texas.

Why You Should Attend: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than we do. Join Bisnow as we jump into the market to analyze its strengths and strategize on its areas of opportunity. You don't want to miss this event!

Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring? Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support.

For questions about venue or location, or to request disability-related accommodations, contact claire.ahrens@bisnow.com no later than 7 business days before the event.

For on-stage content or speaker related questions or recommendations, please email our Texas event producer Ansley Bird at ansley.bird@bisnow.com.

Venue

Terraces at Solana – Building 2
1500 Solana Boulevard
Westlake, TX 76262

Ballroom/Floor: Second Floor

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Breakfast and Networking
9:05 AM 9:50 AM	The 2026 World Cup and DFW How Hosting the World Will Shape DFW’s Built Environment
9:50 AM 10:10 AM	Networking Break
10:10 AM 10:55 AM	Why People Choose Places The Role of Hospitality, Activation and Experience-Driven Development in DFW
10:55 AM 11:40 AM	What Gets Built Now The Strategies, Market Forces and Deal-Driven Projects Shaping DFW
11:40 AM 12:00 PM	Closing Networking