Join Columbia GSAPP for the 2025 Real Estate Development Conference, Elevating Cities: Actioning Real Estate, on September 19, 2025, at the Mandarin Oriental, New York City.

The conference will bring together influential voices in development, urban planning, investment, architecture, and policy — and demonstrate the dynamic influence of real estate development on shaping the future of cities. Highlights will include how innovative design, sustainable growth strategies, and equitable development practices are transforming cities into more livable, resilient, and connected communities. Through a series of thought-provoking panel discussions, the conference will examine how cities are adapting to complex challenges and what’s required to build urban environments that are smarter, more inclusive, and resilient for the future.

Invited speakers include Larissa Belova ‘09 MSRED (UBS Asset Management); Nicholas Bienstock ‘92 MSRED/'96 MBA (Savanna); Melissa Román Burch (NYCEDC); George Theron Bynum IV (City of Tulsa); Tommy Craig '82 MBA (Hines); Jonathan Flaherty '07 MSUP/MBA (Tishman Speyer); Sonny Kalsi (BGO); Barry Langer '02 MSRED (Vornado Realty Trust); Tiffany Lau '09 MSRED (A P A R T Companies); Adam Lubinsky '01 M.Arch (Columbia GSAPP); Nitin Motwani '04 MSRED (Merrimac Ventures / Miami Worldcenter Associates); Claire Newman '07 MSUP (Trust for Governors Island); Jonathan F.P. Rose (Jonathan Rose Companies); Howard Slatkin '00 MSUP (Citizens Housing and Planning Council); Maria Torres-Springer (Ford Foundation); James von Klemperer (Kohn Pedersen Fox); Claire Weisz (WXY); Tom Wright '95 MSUP (Regional Planning Association / Columbia GSAPP) and additional guests.

Marriott International’s acquisition of the citizenM brand underscores the value of vertically integrated, design-led hospitality platforms. Rani Gharbié ’13 MSRED, who led Investment & Development for the Americas and contributed to global strategy, helped shape the company’s distinctive development model and this milestone transaction. The deal values citizenM’s brand IP at US $355 million, with up to US $110 million in earn-outs. Its US $4 billion portfolio—40 hotels across the U.S. and Europe—remains under ownership and operation.

In parallel with his work in hospitality investment, Gharbié teaches GSAPP’s Private Equity Development – Hotels course, bridging capital markets and design through the lens of hotel development.