Waterford to welcome back national property summit for second year

A national summit for Ireland's estate agency industry is set to return to Waterford next summer following the success of its inaugural event in the city.

The REAL Estate Agency Summit will take place at the Theatre Royal on Thursday, June 24, 2027, bringing estate agency owners and property professionals from across Ireland and the UK to Waterford.

More than 200 people travelled to the city for the first summit in June of this year, which brought Irish and international figures in the property industry together to discuss the future of the sector.

The event will now return for a second year, with organisers hoping to establish Waterford as the home of an annual national gathering for the industry.

Among those confirmed to speak next year are international real estate coach Tom Panos and UK property industry figure Verona Frankish.

Mr Panos also spoke at the inaugural Waterford event this year, marking his first visit to Ireland.

The 2027 summit is expected to examine some of the biggest changes facing estate agencies, with artificial intelligence and new technology among the topics on the agenda.

Business growth, leadership, recruitment, marketing, changing consumer expectations and the development of agency brands will also be discussed.

Further speakers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The summit was founded by Regina Mangan, Managing Director of Waterford-based Liberty Blue Estate Agents, with the aim of creating a national event focused on the business side of running and growing an estate agency.

Ms Mangan said the industry was currently changing at a pace it had not previously experienced.

"AI and other technologies are transforming how agencies market themselves and generate business, while consumer expectations are changing and competition is becoming increasingly sophisticated," she said.

"The agents who succeed in this environment will be those who are prepared to challenge how they have always done things, invest in their people and embrace new ways of working."

Ms Mangan said the idea behind the summit was to give those working in the industry an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day running of their businesses and learn from others working at an international level.

The response to the inaugural event prompted its return to the city next year, with attendees again expected to travel from across Ireland and the UK.

Ms Mangan said feedback following the first Waterford summit showed an appetite within the industry for another event.

"The feedback from our first event told us that people who were there really benefited. They left with fresh, practical ideas to implement, new connections and renewed energy to grow their businesses," she said.

"And there is a serious appetite for more. Agents want to hear how other businesses are growing, how leaders are adapting to technology and AI, how they are building teams and brands, and what the most successful agencies are doing differently."

The event's platinum sponsor, property portal MyHome, has also confirmed it will continue its sponsorship in 2027.

MyHome Managing Director Joanne Geary said the company was "delighted" to continue its involvement following the success of this year's event.

"The quality of discussion, highly relevant topics, level of engagement and the opportunity to connect with agents from across the country made it a standout event in the industry calendar," she said.

The REAL Estate Agency Summit 2027 takes place at Waterford's Theatre Royal on Thursday, June 24, 2027.