Symbols Of Our Future

摘要

Having recently returned from New York City and the 30th annual NYU investment conference, there continues to be mixed signals and a bit of consternation about the near-term health of our industry. Compared to the full-steam-ahead mentality displayed at the Dubai conference just a few weeks earlier, here in the States, adjectives heard most often during panel discussions were "caution, confusion, concern." There was also uncertainty as to the depth of unofficial recession here, as well as how far offshore the credit crunch and inflationary pressures would extend heading into 2009. Many experts said it will get worse before it gets better, and Barry Sternlicht predicted 18 more months of pain.