Long & Foster’s Aaron Gilbert gathered with leading residential real estate associates in Washington, D.C., in September for Christie’s International Real Estate’s 2016 Luxury Specialist Conference. Christie’s International Real Estate is the world’s top luxury network.

The two-day event, held Sept. 22-23, gave select agents from the Christie’s International Real Estate network an opportunity to explore best practices and strategies, as well as gain competitive insights on ways to successfully maneuver in today’s ever-changing, high-end global property market. Upon completion, attendees received the designation of Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist from Christie’s Education. Gilbert, of Long & Foster Real Estate’s Stony Point sales office in Richmond, Virginia, was among those who received the prestigious designation.

Christie’s International Real Estate is the real estate arm of Christie’s, the world’s leading art business and the arbiter of luxury for 250 years. The invitation-only real estate network is composed of top brokerages from around the world, with more than $118 billion in real estate transactions in 2015.

Washington, D.C., was the ideal location for this event given its dynamic international flair and the strong presence of host city affiliate, Long & Foster Real Estate, which is the largest firm in the Christie’s International Real Estate network and the nation’s largest privately owned brokerage.

“Our unique symposium offered a concentrated focus on techniques and tactics for marketing to buyers and sellers at the ultra-high-end, all while allowing attendees to explore new ways to increase their level of service to clients through their exclusive connection to Christie’s International Real Estate and Christie’s,” said Dan Conn, chief executive officer of Christie’s International Real Estate.

“We were proud to be working in tandem with Christie’s International Real Estate to ensure the success of this important international gathering,” said Jeff Detwiler, president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster Companies, parent company of Long & Foster Real Estate. “Bringing together our fellow top brokers from our elite network not only benefitted the relationships formed from one associate to the next, but also put a spotlight on the Washington, D.C., community and its flourishing high-end market, where Long & Foster is the dominant player in luxury real estate.”

The conference included a myriad of panels, seminars and presentations by luxury experts, including Christie’s specialists, focused on a range of topics – from selling strategies and marketing techniques to current trends in luxury goods and design. About 200 professionals from throughout the world took part in the conference.

“It was an honor to be one of only three Richmond region Long & Foster Real Estate agents in attendance at the prestigious Christie’s International Real Estate conference and to receive the designation of Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist. The entire event was first-class from start to finish and I cannot wait to share the wealth of information that I learned during this conference with my luxury clients in Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond and surrounding areas of Central Virginia,” Gilbert said.

Long & Foster Real Estate is the No. 1 privately owned residential real estate company in the United States. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.