Callie Dalton of Long & Foster Real Estate’s Oak Grove office in Roanoke, Virginia, joined about 200 of her leading luxury real estate peers at the Christie’s International Real Estate 2016 Luxury Specialist Conference in Washington, D.C., last month. In addition to the exceptional networking and educational programs at the conference, Dalton earned the prestigious “Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist” designation by attending the annual event.

“As a Christie’s specialist, I’m able to maximize the value of the Long & Foster | Christie’s International Real Estate brands when serving my high-end clients,” said Dalton. “Christie’s is synonymous with luxury—whether it’s art or real estate—and through the conference and designation, I gained valuable insight into what’s most desired in the luxury markets, enabling me to even better support my clientele.”

The two-day conference gave select agents from the Christie’s International Real Estate network, which includes Long & Foster Real Estate, 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.

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 $118B 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, the largest firm in the Christie’s International Real Estate network and the nation’s No. 1 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, CEO, 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 COO 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.

To learn more about Long & Foster, visit www.LongandFoster.com.