GlobeSt.com quoted Akerman U.S. Real Estate Summit speakers Len O'Donnell, president and COO of USAA Real Estate; Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties; Vincent Signorello, president and CEO of Florida East Coast Industries; and Lee Pillsbury, co-chairman and CEO of Thayer Lodging Group in the article, "What’s the Most Active Sector in CRE?."

The commercial real estate executives agreed at the annual day-long Summit that suburban areas and secondary markets are still far from recovery in 2013 and competition is fierce in gateway cities such as New York, Miami, Houston, and San Francisco that guarantee the most yield. The retail and hospitality real estate sectors are becoming increasingly active and luxury brands are paving the way for more development in these urban areas.