Downtown Santa Monica Commercial Real Estate Summit

Thu Feb 13, 2025

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Downtown Santa Monica Commercial Real Estate Summit

Name: Downtown Santa Monica Commercial Real Estate Summit
Start: 2025-02-13T08:00:00-08:00
End: 2025-02-13T12:00:00-08:00
Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

A Deep Dive into Retail, Hospitality, Development & Investment Throughout DTSM

Hosted at Fairmont Miramar Hotel

Thursday February 13 2025 @ 8:00 AM PST

$125.00

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Presenting Sponsor

Event Host

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. is a dedicated 501(c)3 non-profit working in partnership with the City of Santa Monica to foster economic vitality and enhance community life in Downtown Santa Monica. We focus on thoughtful planning, development, and the coordination of initiatives that support downtown businesses, property owners, residents, and visitors. DTSM, Inc. oversees the Property-Based Business Improvement District, which is defined by Ocean Avenue to the west, Wilshire Boulevard to the north, Lincoln Boulevard to the east, and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south.

Speakers and Panels

Developments Influencing Downtown

Analyzing the Key Projects within DTSM’s Neighborhood

Bruce Fairty

COO, Cypress Equity Investments

Larry Wilkes

SVP, Development, Related CA

Jeremy Bachrach

Senior Director, Tishman Speyer

Moderator

David Martin

Director, Community Development, City of Santa Monica

Hospitality Outlook & Landscape

Hotel Development, Investment, Market Trends & Elevating Guest Experiences

Dustin Peterson

Principal & VP, The Athens Group

Jon Farzam

Co-Owner of The Shore Hotel, Jon Farzam is a community leader and philanthropist in his neighborhood of Santa Monica. As part of a family-owned business in the town, he is proud to be in the position to help enrich the lives of others, whether through offering a memorable stay to guests, working with local nonprofits, or providing affordable rates so that the homeless population in the city has a place to safely rest their head. Jon obtained his degree in Hospitality Management from Collins College where he continued to be an active member of the school as a member of the Alumni Board. During his time in college, he was also inducted into the International Hospitality and Tourism Management Honor Society. Jon Farzam’s education, combined with the hands-on experience gained through working in the family business, has imparted him with an unparalleled understanding of the hospitality industry. With his extensive knowledge, he is committed to sharing his insight with those seeking careers within hospitality. He occasionally organizes and executes guided tours of the hotel for college students. While there, Jon gives them the opportunity to meet with management, ask questions, learn the operations, and help guide their professional decisions. More than anything, Jon loves being a resource to his community and works to find ways of helping at every chance he gets. Jon Farzam recently became involved with the Surf Bus Foundation, a non-profit organization that brings underprivileged children to the beach to engage in surf activities and ocean education. Though a majority of the kids are residents of Los Angeles, many of them have never laid eyes on the Pacific ocean. Jon and The Shore Hotel have partnered with the organization, providing them with free nights to stay at the hotel. Outside of his work with his community and local non profits, Jon and his family have created a hotel that possesses the Santa Monica Green Certification and the LEED Gold Certification, and has obtained the Environmentalist Level awarded by the California Green Lodging Program. The hotel boasts many sustainable and eco-conscious features, including a solar energy-powered heated swimming pool and a stormwater management system. What’s more, recognizing the homelessness epidemic in Santa Monica, The Shore Hotel offers some of the most affordable rates imaginable for the area, ensuring that when someone needs a roof over their head, they have an option.

Shore Hotel

Co-Owner

Jon Farzam

Co-Owner, Shore Hotel

Misti Kerns

President & CEO, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Younes Atallah

Atallah—awarded Outstanding General Manager of the Year 2022 by California Hotel & Lodging Association—joins Regent Hotels & Resorts to open the first destination in the Americas for IHG Hotels & Resorts’ reimagined upper luxury brand. He will oversee the launch and operations of the beachfront resort. Atallah joins Regent Santa Monica Beach with more than two decades of luxury hospitality experience. He is an expert at delivering luxury service, with a focus on growth, positive guest and team member experiences, and bottom line profit. Most recently, Atallah held the position of general manager at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, where he lead the property through the pandemic, returning stronger than ever with a record setting year in 2022, yielding the highest top line revenues in the history of the hotel. Prior, Atallah spent 10 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and 11 years with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (including the lauded Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort) in prime destinations such as Palm Beach, Florida, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Wailea, Hawaii. An engaged hospitality leader who actively contributes to local associations and industry programs, Atallah serves on the Board of Directors as vice-chair for Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, as well as the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. Atallah is passionate about community organizations and giving back, and has partnered with non-profit organizations including Santa MoniCARES, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Elemental Music, and more. Born and raised in Jordan—and a citizen of the world holding three nationalities—Atallah is fluent in Arabic and English, and proficient in French. Atallah received a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a focus in hospitality management from the University of Central Florida, as well as a professional certificate in hospitality administration and management from ESSEC Business School.

Regent Hotel

Younes Atallah

GM, Regent Hotel

Moderator

Jennifer Taylor

Economic Development Manager, City of Santa Monica

DTSM Retail Market Outlook

Tenant Demand Drivers & Leasing Insights

Wally Marks

Principal, Walter N. Marks

Daniel Negari

CEO, XYZ

Rob York

President, York Consulting Group

Christine Deschaine

SVP, Kennedy Wilson Brokerage

Andrew Thomas, LPM

Andrew Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.), a non-profit organization that plays a vital role in shaping the future of Downtown Santa Monica. Since taking on the position in 2022, Andrew has led efforts to foster economic stability, urban development, and community engagement, working closely with the City of Santa Monica to implement strategic initiatives that enhance the downtown experience for businesses, residents, and visitors. Under his leadership, DTSM, Inc. continues to be a driving force in the area’s transformation. Prior to this, Andrew served as the founding Executive Director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, where he spent more than a decade revitalizing the Westwood Business Improvement District, a bustling community adjacent to the University of California, Los Angeles. Before that, Andrew spent a decade as Director of Operations at DTSM, Inc., further cementing his strong commitment to urban management and the Santa Monica community. Andrew’s influence extends beyond the local level. He is an active board member of the California Downtown Association, working with downtown advocates and placemaking professionals across the state. Additionally, he participates in the Los Angeles Business Improvement District Consortium and the Rotary Club, continuously contributing to discussions on urban development and community well-being. He has also served on notable advisory councils, including the Geffen Academy, the University of California Police Department, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Regional Advisory Council, where he worked on policies addressing critical urban issues. His co-authorship of the International Downtown Association’s 2019 report on parking and mobility demonstrates his expertise in urban infrastructure planning. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. In his spare time, you might also find him playing bass guitar, a passion he’s nurtured since his youth.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

CEO

Moderator

Andrew Thomas, LPM

CEO, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

Why You Won't Want To Miss This Conference:

What You’ll Learn:

How does Downtown Santa Monica hotel and retail development activity compare to other major markets throughout the Los Angeles region?
What are city officials and hotel owners predicting in terms of how to accommodate guests during the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics?
What recent shifts are top retail tenants seeing with consumer trends, and how are they impacting their real estate needs?
How are investors assessing growth opportunities across different retails products, including shopping centers, malls, ground-floor urban retail and suburban storefronts?
What are hotel and retail CRE leaders and property managers doing to enhance the overall appeal of their assets?
What does the next wave of retail space look like, and what are tenants looking for in their spaces?
How are developers and designers elevating guest experience and upgrading assets?
What types of tenants are moving to DTSM?
What projects will have the greatest impact on residents of Downtown Santa Monica?
How are leaders providing an experience to those living, working, playing and visiting Downtown?
How are dealmakers financing new development in today’s market and navigating deal-making downtown?

Notable Projects & Deals:

XYZ: Third Street Promenade

Shore Hotel: Newly built in 2011 /// Shoreside Santa Monica: Restaurant opening soon (2025) inside of Shore Hotel

Santa Monica Hotel: Remodeled and rebranded in 2024

Ocean View Hotel: Remodeled in 2015

Who You'll Network With At This Discussion: Owners, Developers, Investors, Architects, Construction, Designers, Brokers, Lawyers, Financial Institutions & Government Officials.

How You'll Do More Business From Attending This CRE Event: Enhance your business by gaining a stronger understanding of where hospitality and retail deals are getting done throughout Downtown Santa Monica, and how this is impacting the future of hotels, stores, shopping centers, malls and mixed-use communities. Join industry leaders as they discuss DTSM development and investment opportunities, neighborhood trends, demand for space, tenant updates, new projects, and more.

Why You Should Attend This Session: 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 us.

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our event producer, Samantha D'Angelo at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact thea.parkert@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
101 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (At the corner of Wilshire Blvd. & Ocean Ave)

Ballroom: Starlight Ballroom/ foyer

Parking Information:

Event Valet Parking $24 per person

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Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Networking, Breakfast & Coffee
9:00 AM 9:45 AM	Hospitality Outlook & Landscape Hotel Development, Investment, Market Trends & Elevating Guest Experiences
9:45 AM 10:00 AM	Networking Break
10:00 AM 10:45 AM	DTSM Retail Market Outlook Tenant Demand Drivers & Leasing Insights
10:45 AM 11:30 AM	Developments Influencing Downtown Analyzing the Key Projects within DTSM’s Neighborhood
11:30 AM 12:00 PM	More Networking!

Interested in Sponsorship?

Contact avery.warren@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

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Call:	202-684-2034
Email:	eventregistration@bisnow.com