There’s no substitute for hearing it directly from the source. The NAA 2010 Student Housing Conference delivered by offering a special session that featured seven students from off-campus rental housing who shared their thoughts on off-campus living.
The 60-minute general session, moderated by Jessica Nix, National Director of Marketing for Place Properties, gave attendees the chance to listen to student panelists’ candid responses about what attracts them to a rental community and what keeps them there. The students, representing markets nationwide, also commented on how they communicate with each other, their families and rental housing management. They talked about what amenities are most important to them, what circumstances they felt would justify rent hikes and other critical operational topics.
Hundreds of industry professionals gathered at the third annual NAA Student Housing Conference & Exposition in February in Las Vegas. The two-day event also included break-out sessions as well as opportunities for networking with peers and meeting with supplier partners at the exposition.
“The student panel was the best event because it gave us exactly what we wanted to hear in terms of what students are looking for,” said Craig Cadwallader, Property Manager, Campus Edge, Raleigh, N.C. “The breakout session on social media also was good because it exactly targeted the demographic-type of renter that we have in our properties, and it’s always amazing to learn how important it is to provide the right technology and Internet hook-up that college residents need.”
The breakout session lineup also included topics such as apartment turns, mobile marketing, resident surveys, onsite management, developing business relationships with universities, utility cost management, fair housing and amenity offerings.
A panel discussion featuring three prominent student housing management and development firm executives opened the conference. Moderated by NAA Student Housing Conference Chair Mike Peter, President and CEO, Campus Advantage, the panel featured executives Mike Mouron, President and Chairman, Capstone; Jim Short, President and CEO, Campus Living Village; and Tom Trubiana, Chief Investment Officer, Education Realty Trust; who addressed everything from bandwidth and student privacy to amenity offerings, management, marketing and setting rent. (See p. 56 for details.)
Entrepreneur Tony Hsieh, CEO of online apparel retailer Zappos.com, delivered a keynote presentation, speaking about how companies can create “happier” work environments, the value of delivering strong customer service and the importance of hiring staff members who fit a company’s culture.
More than 100 exhibiting companies and 10 sponsors filled the trade show floor, including three Doctorate-level sponsors: Apartment Guide, Campus Advantage, University Furnishings; three Masters-level sponsors: Greystar, IRIO Mobile Marketing and RealPage; and three at the Bachelors level: Capture the Market, University Loft and Yardi.
“Apartment Finder enjoyed the opportunity to share our new products with the student housing industry,” said Michelle Childers, Apartment Finder. “You always expect to make connections through expos but we were pleasantly surprised by the information gained and contacts made during the seminars at this year’s conference as well.”
NAA raffled off two Kindles and an iPod Shuffle during the reception, sponsored by the Doctorate and Masters sponsors. Katherine Finley, Cedar View Management; and Kimra Holcomb, Wilkinson Asset Management; won Kindles and Kimberly McCall, JMG Realty, won an iPod shuffle.