The Commercial Real Estate Awards – the brainchild of Selman Yalcin, President of RED Connect – recently just wrapped its second annual New York City event at The James NoMad Hotel. Arguably one of the biggest nights in commercial real estate, the esteemed black-tie gala celebrated the industry’s top property developers, owners, operators, and brokers for an unforgettable evening of recognition and networking. Guests enjoyed a 3-course dinner while mingling with commercial real estate icons. The globally recognized event attracted attendees from around the world and proudly stands as the sole independent real estate awards organization that receives hundreds of nominations.
Hosting the evening’s ceremony was real estate luminary Bob Knakal, Founder of RK Real Estate NYC, who also received the “Lifetime Achievement in Real Estate Brokerage” award. Attendees were moved and inspired by heartfelt acceptance speeches of both industry veterans and emerging talents, including Eric Brody of Anax Real Estate Partners (“Most Innovative Capital Advisor Of the Year”), Leo Jacobs of Jacobs PC (“Bankruptcy Attorney of the Year”) and Bentley Zhao of New Empire Corp (“Most Dynamic Developer of the Year”).
“The award is more meaningful this year than in prior years. Industry-wide, transactions are down. The industry is reeling. But the spark to ignite a recovery starts with us. The RED awards give us that opportunity to celebrate together, innovate together, and bring about a recovery faster with all RE professionals in one room,” Brody of Anax Partners emphasized. “The RED Awards’ significance cannot be understated.”
Since its inception in 2021, the Red Awards have quickly become the most anticipated events in the industry. Beyond their prestigious award ceremonies, Red Connect has connected over 35,000 professionals in major cities like New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles through hundreds of networking events dating back to 2015. Winners are selected by a 9-person committee.
“The night was a unique opportunity to connect with the industry’s best,” Yalcin said. “We’re excited to announce additional upcoming Red Awards ceremonies in Miami, New York City, and Chicago within the next year. These events will continue to provide a platform for recognition and networking, fostering the growth and success of our industry.”
Red Connect collaborated with Hundred Stories as their official Public Relations and Programming partner for the Commercial Real Estate Awards and the Miami RED Awards, which took place in February. Robin Dolch, founder and CEO of Hundred Stories, notes: “With many industry awards focusing solely on the property or project, the people behind them often get overlooked. Selman has made sure to change that narrative by honoring the passion and hard work of those driving the industry’s success.”
Looking ahead, RED Connect is excited to continue breaking the boundaries of real estate with upcoming ceremonies, including the Architecture & Construction on May 16th in the Miami Design District and the Residential Real Estate Awards on June 19th in New York.
To learn more, please visit https://redawards.nyc/
About Red Connect
Selman Yalcin, a seasoned professional with a career spanning the construction and real estate industry since 1992, founded Red Connect in 2015. Starting as a construction worker, Selman climbed from the ground up to become a supervisor and project manager. In 2015, Selman leveraged his years of expertise to initiate Red Connect’s real estate networking events, attracting hundreds of individuals across New York, Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles monthly. In 2021, Selman expanded his vision through the formation of the Red Awards, encompassing residential and commercial real estate awards, as well as Architecture/Construction awards in New York. Expanding further, he launched Red Awards Florida, recognizing outstanding contributions in the Sunshine State. Currently hosting five awards ceremonies across two states, Selman is set to expand the Red Awards to two additional states in the coming year.
About Hundred Stories
For over a decade, Hundred Stories has been at the forefront of media relations, event production, and brand partnerships in the luxury real estate and hospitality sectors. Lauded for their unique ability to foresee and leverage emerging trends in lifestyle, design, architecture, and business, as well as bring together thought leaders, influencers, and like-minded brands, the Hundred Stories team are experts at crafting distinctive and enduring stories across all channels that matter.
