Commercial Real Estate at a Crossroads: Office Occupancy and Demand Insights from BOMA's Second COVID-19 Impact Study

As businesses reconsider their physical footprints in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, space reductions and reimaginings are on the horizon, even as the value of the in-person office remains strong for tenants. In short, commercial real estate and the future of the office as we know it are at a major crossroads. This is just one key takeaway from the Q2 2021 BOMA International COVID-19 Commercial Real Estate Impact Study published by BOMA International, underwritten by Yardi and developed by Brightline Strategies.

This first of three 30-minute information sessions explores the findings of this study related to office occupancy and demand. With almost two-thirds of the tenants surveyed saying they believe COVID-19 was a “tremendous inflection point” for their workplaces that will transform the way they do business for some time to come, what impact will the pandemic have on the future of the commercial real estate industry?

During this session, participants will:

Explore the comprehensive findings of BOMA International’s second nationwide study of U.S. office tenants tracking the impact of the pandemic on corporate occupiers;
Learn more about which tenants are the most likely to renew their leases and which are more likely to be reassessing their space needs; and
Hear what office tenants are saying about how much they value their physical office spaces and what that means for future office demand and occupancy levels.

Michael Broder

President & CEO

Brightline Strategies

Michael Broder serves as president and chief executive officer of Brightline Strategies. Prior to forming the company in January 1999, Mr. Broder served as campaign strategist and media consultant to several gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional candidates throughout the northeast region during the 1994, 1996 and 1998 election cycles. He also served in the Office of Political Affairs in the first Bush Administration.

Mr. Broder's work has received numerous awards including: Pollie, Telly, ADDY, AMR Gold Medals, and the International Television and Video Association Award of Excellence. He has lectured at the George Washington University's undergraduate School of Political Communications and the Graduate School of Political Management.
Mr. Broder holds a B.A. in Political Communications from The George Washington University, a M.A. in Campaign Management from the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University, and a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

James Moore

EVP & COO

Brightline Strategies

James Moore is the Chief Operating Officer at Brightline Interactive based in Alexandria, Virginia. Previously, James was the Managing Director at CLS Strategies and was a Senior Vice President at Edelman

Kevin Hudak

VP for Research and Strategy

Brightline Strategies

Kevin Hudak is a Strategy Vice President, Research at Brightline Strategies based in Virginia. Previously, Kevin was a Senior Research Analyst at The Tarrance Group. He received a BA degree from Dartmouth College

Henry Chamberlain, APR, CAE, FASAE (Moderator)

President and COO

BOMA International

Henry Chamberlain directs BOMA International’s staff in support of the association's 87 U.S. local associations, BOMA Canada and its 11 regional associations, and 17 BOMA international affiliates. Founded in 1907, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is a federation of U.S. local associations and global affiliates. The leading trade association for commercial real estate professionals for more than 100 years, it represents the owners, managers, service providers and other property professionals of all commercial building types, including office, industrial, medical, corporate and mixed-use. BOMA International is the partner individuals in the commercial real estate industry choose to maximize value for their careers, organizations and assets. Its mission is to advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence and knowledge.

Prior to joining BOMA, he was director of communications for the Gannett Company during the launch phase of the Nation’s Newspaper – USA TODAY. He began his career in Washington working in the press office of a national presidential campaign.

Chamberlain is a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, American Society of Association Executives, and the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He serves on the Careers Building Communities Steering Committee. Chamberlain is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Brian Sutherland (Moderator)

Vice President of Commercial Real Estate

Yardi

As Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for Yardi, Brian is responsible for leading U.S. commercial sales, marketing and product strategies for asset management, procurement, coworking and energy solutions.

COVID-19 Impact Study Infographic