“It’s actually not typically that you just get to see everybody in the identical place,” Jason Oppenheim of The Oppenheim Group stated Wednesday. “It’s just about simply The Hollywood Reporter Energy Dealer Awards that I get to see everybody in a single room. That’s actually cool. That makes this particular.”
Oppenheim was joined by colleague and Promoting Sundown co-star Mary Bonnet to current THR‘s fourth annual Energy Dealer Awards. Neither was apprehensive. As a substitute, they had been thrilled to have the ability to current awards of advantage to associates and associates. “I might say I’m far more nervous at another award reveals,” Oppenheim stated. “However I really feel snug in entrance of those folks. We do offers with them. I see them day by day.”
Eclectic brokers, wearing every part from night robes to well-worn denims, mingled outdoor on the serene and chic Swan Lake and the Resort Bel- Air, the place the awards ceremony was held. As with the earlier ceremonies, the occasion was offered by luxurious actual property PR agency The Society Group. Occasion companions included Fleetwood Home windows & Doorways and inside design and residential styling firm Vesta Dwelling.
Alexander Ali, Kimberly Koza, Alexis Lopez and Gary Gumbleton
Jason Sean Weiss
The honors had been held together with THR’s 2024 listing of Hollywood’s High 35 Actual Property Brokers, which celebrates the highest sellers within the higher Los Angeles space primarily based on MLS-listed gross sales to Hollywood shoppers, total deal quantity and media visibility.
Visitors included honorees like James Harris and David Parnes, Josh and Matt Altman, Cindy Ambuehl, Alexia Umansky, Tomer and Isidora Fridman, Carl Gambino, Michael Nourmand and Rochelle Atlas Maize. The heady grouping of business luminaires dazzled Chase Koplow, nominated for Apartment Sale of the 12 months.
“It’s very thrilling. It’s my first time being right here, and I hope for a lot of extra,” he stated. However even this younger newcomer knew that regardless of the bucolic setting, the delicate melodies of the violin gamers notes, and the well mannered chit-chat, electrical energy and ambition permeated the flower-scented air. “There’s plenty of hunters right here tonight,” he stated smiling. “A whole lot of wolves.”
Kurt Rappaport, Josh Altman, Brett Baer, Iris Loeffler and Jacob Greene
Jason Sean Weiss
For listing main-stay Juliette Hohnen of Douglas Elliman, a gathering of so many different heavy-hitters introduced out emotions akin to a household reunion of overachievers. “I actually do love them, and typically I actually hate them,” she joked. “It largely has to do with how a lot I’ve needed to drink. If I’ve a glass of champagne or a shot of tequila, they’re cute.”
Talking of champagne, the occasion kicked off with Bonnet and Oppenheim pouring a Coup Champagne tower, as swans glided throughout the lake. Visitors then discovered their seats, delighted to come back throughout matte black mini bottles of Coup Champagne with their names etched on them.
Over a meal of scrumptious steak and salmon (the rolls remained virtually universally untouched), brokers acquired remarkably private, chatting about every part from romances to selections about kids and favourite holidays spots. However the dialog all the time turned to the highest concern on everybody’s thoughts: the market. “It’s inconceivable to not speak about actual property,” stated Heather T. Roy of Douglas Elliman, her companion Learka Bosnak enthusiastically agreeing. “We’ve been right here 5 minutes, and we have already got three addresses we have to have a look at.”
Brett Baer, Julian Buckner, Maggie Grillon and Kiel Wuellner
Jason Sean Weiss
Brokers and presenters alike had been sincere in regards to the difficult state of luxurious actual property over the previous 12 months, although a joke was by no means far behind. “As brokers, we now have a lot extra to elucidate about 2024 to our shoppers,” Oppenheim stated on stage. “First, it was the ULA tax, then the toughest factor to elucidate although is why are there two brokerages with the identify Hilton in it? However for me, the toughest factor to elucidate to anybody is why Million Greenback Itemizing remains to be on the air.”
Ex-couple Bonnet and Oppenheim additionally engaged in a good-natured spat onstage, with Workforce of the 12 months winner Aaron Kirman lastly heckling from the viewers that the 2 ought to get again collectively. A fast-witted Bonnet cheekily responded, “Have you ever seen my husband?”
Million Greenback Itemizing’s Josh Flagg acquired in on the enjoyable when he accepted the award for Media Maverick for launching Property Media, which brings collectively luxurious actual property’s greatest personalities to ship content material that entertains and informs. “Thanks guys. Though my present shouldn’t be on the air nonetheless, we’re going 20 years now on air. We made it longer than Knots Touchdown, which made it 13 seasons… I actually recognize it. I don’t have something to say however thanks. And that’s all I acquired to say.”
“That’s the way you turn into a media maverick,” an amused Oppenheim joked. “You don’t put together a speech.”
Regardless of the banter, there have been heartfelt moments of true camaraderie. Westside Property Company’s Kurt Rappaport gained the Stratospheric Sale Award (his third in a row) for the $210 million greenback sale of Oakley founder James Jannard’s Malibu property. “I simply really feel so fortunate and blessed to be right here and have fun us, have fun our business, which we don’t do sufficient,” he stated. “I’m very lucky to work with folks. I like to work with folks, and that’s what offers are about. It’s about working with folks.”
Jason Oppenheim and Linda Could
Jason Sean Weiss
Maybe probably the most touching speech of the night time got here when business luminary Linda Could of Carolwood accepted the Philanthropic Affect Award for her shut relationship with A Place Known as Dwelling, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, The Wallis Middle for Performing Arts and the L.A. Philharmonic, amongst different charitable organizations. In her speech, she famous how philanthropy is usually woven into the true property enterprise.
“I cherished listening to that I used to be going to be honored,” she stated. “That is actually close to and expensive to my coronary heart. My husband and I actually care about philanthropy. A whole lot of instances after I’m working onerous on a deal and on the finish of the deal, I’m certain plenty of you will have performed it, you’ve despatched a verify into that shopper’s favourite charity as a substitute of going and shopping for a giant present — and so they cherished you for it.”
Different winners included Santiago Arana of The Company for Celeb Property Portfolio. His shopper roster contains Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Sofía Vergara. Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker was honored as an Agent of Historic Structure in celebration of her longtime dedication to promoting vital historic properties. The Company’s Mauricio Umansky, Taaseen Qureshi and Michelle Montany gained Apartment Sale of the 12 months, for the $24 million greenback sale of the penthouse at 8899 Beverly Boulevard.
Peter Owens of Douglas Elliman gained the Rising Star Award. “That is an unbelievable honor,” he stated. “I used to be telling some new associates tonight that I acquired my begin in residential actual property at an organization referred to as Purple Bricks…I used to be charging $3,000 per itemizing and couldn’t afford hire. So, to be right here tonight, incomes this award means a lot to me.”
Aaron Kirman
Jason Sean Weiss
Certainly, gratitude and a quiet hopefulness had been the order of the night time. Workforce of the 12 months went to Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property Southern California, which topped The Actual Deal’s 2023 rankings with $1.1 billion in on-market sales. Founder Aaron Kirman congratulated all of the attendees for persevering with to excel in a difficult market. “I understand how onerous all of us work,” Kirman stated. “It’s a very robust job. It’s getting tougher day by day. And on the finish of the day, everyone on this room must be tremendous pleased with themselves and preserve it rolling.”
See the complete listing of winners beneath.
Workforce of the 12 months: Aaron Kirman
Philanthropic Affect Award: Linda Could
Agent of Historic Structure:
Nominees: The Altman Brothers Workforce; Jade Mills; Smith & Berg Companions
Winner: Jade Mills
Apartment Sale of the 12 months:
Nominees: James Harris & David Parnes (Carolwood) and Ginger Glass (Compass); Sally Forster Jones, Tomer Fridman & Amir Ensani (Compass); Josh Altman & Chase Koplow (Douglas Elliman); Michelle Montany, Taaseen Qureshi & Mauricio Umansky (The Company)
Winner: Michelle Montany, Taaseen Qureshi & Mauricio Umansky
Media Maverick:
Nominees: Josh Flagg; Jordan Cohen; Tracy Tutor
Winner: Josh Flagg
Stratospheric Sale:
Nominees: James Harris & David Parnes; Kurt Rappaport; Kurt Rappaport & Andreas Elsenhans (Westside Property Company) and Helen Chong & Susanna Leung (Haylen Group)
Winner: Kurt Rappaport
Rising Star:
Nominees: Brendan Brown (Plus); Ryan Jancula (Compass); Sasha Kaplan (Coldwell Banker); Peter Owens (Douglas Elliman); Jonathan Perez (Westside Property Company); Nick Sandler & Bennet Hirsch (The Company)
Winner: Peter Owens
Celeb Property Portfolio:
Nominees: Cindy Ambuehl; Santiago Arana; Justin Paul Huchel
Winner: Santiago Arana