On the red carpet at the Real Estate Board of New York’s 130th Annual, held Jan. 22 at the Waldorf Astoria New York, Connect CRE asked industry leaders whether the momentum that the industry saw in 2025 will carry through into 2026, and if so, where. By and large, their responses were bullish, although not without a few caveats.

Bruce Mosler, chairman of global brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield, credited the “extraordinary” leasing volume experienced by the office sector to the return-to-office wave. “People want to come back to the office, but they don’t want to come back to the same old workplace,” Mosler clarified.  

In the video below, you’ll hear further insights from Mosler, along with Gary Malin, COO, Corcoran Group; Gary Rosenberg, president, Rosenberg & Estis; Camille McGratty, head of real estate, Hospital for Special Surgery and 2026 REBNY honoree; Peter Riguardi, chairman and president, New York region, JLL; James Wacht, managing member, Lee & Associates and 2026 REBNY honoree; Jeff Gural, chairman, GFP Real Estate and 2026 REBNY honoree; Leslie Himmel, founder and managing partner, Himmel + Meringoff Properties; and Kevin Hoey, EVP, L&L Holding Company.