OCTOBER 20-21, 2026 • JAVITS CENTER • NYC
YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TABLETALKS
Tabletalks: Sponsor & Moderator Guidelines for CREtech New York
Before you dive in…
TableTalks are 50-minute roundtable lunch discussions — think of them as a moderated group conversation, not a presentation. Your organization is sponsoring one or more topics, and this guide covers exactly what your team needs to do, and when. You'll do it all in your CREtech account — either MyExperience on desktop (same login as registration) or the CREtech mobile app. Reminder emails come from donotreply.cretech26@eventpt.com — check spam first, or email programs@cretech.com with any questions.
What is a TableTalk, really?
In plain English: It's a lunch roundtable.
A TableTalk is a 50-minute conversation between 5–8 Real Estate Owners & Operators (the property owners, developers, and operators attending CREtech) about one specific topic. It happens over lunch, on-site, on both event days. There's no stage, no slides, and no pitch — just a small group talking through real challenges, with a Moderator keeping the conversation moving.
50 min per session
5–8 participants per table
Up to 3 tables per topic
Lunch included
It's consistently one of the highest-rated parts of CREtech: real conversation with the buyers you're trying to reach, in a thought-leadership setting instead of a sales pitch.
Two roles: Sponsor and Moderator
This guide is for both — they might be the same person at a smaller organization, or two different people.
Your organization
Sponsor
Your company sponsored one or more TableTalks topics. We'll work with you to land on a topic Real Estate Owners & Operators actually care about, and help write the discussion questions.
One person, per table
Moderator
The person from your team who actually shows up and runs the conversation. Must be registered to attend CREtech. Doesn't present or pitch — just facilitates and keeps things moving.
Up to 3 tables get scheduled per topic, depending on interest — so you may need more than one Moderator.
At a glance: every deadline
All times Eastern. Rows marked "no action from you" are just here so you know the full timeline.
What happens
Opens
Deadline
Register your Moderator(s)Your action
Wed Sep 9
Fri Oct 2, 6pm
Participants complete profiles & pick topicsNo action from you
Wed Sep 9
Fri Oct 2, 6pm
Participants accept their TableTalksNo action from you
Mon Oct 5
Thu Oct 8, 6pm
Moderators accept calendar invitesYour action
Fri Oct 16
Fri Oct 16, 6pm
TableTalks happen at CREtech
Tue Oct 20, 12:05pm
Wed Oct 21, 12:05pm
Participants give feedbackNo action from you
Fri Oct 23
Fri Oct 30, 6pm
The full timeline
Tap any step to see the details. Steps marked FYI don't need anything from you.
1
Wed Sep 9 – Fri Oct 2
Register your Moderator(s)
Moderator
~5 min · Desktop & app
Hide details ▴
- All Moderators must be registered to attend CREtech by Fri Oct 2, 6pm ET.
- Meanwhile, Real Estate Owners & Operators are completing their own TableTalks profiles and picking topics behind the scenes — nothing for you to do there.
2
Mon Oct 5 – Thu Oct 8
Participants accept their TableTalks
FYI only — no action
FYI only
Hide details ▴
- Real Estate Owners & Operators accept the TableTalks they've been matched to.
- No action needed from Sponsors or Moderators at this stage — just here so you know where things stand.
3
Fri, Oct 16
Accept your calendar invites
Moderator
Same-day turnaround
Hide details ▴
- You'll get a separate calendar invite for each table you're moderating. Accept all of them the same day, by 6pm ET.
- Each invite includes the names, titles, and organizations of your participants, plus the topic and discussion questions.
- Can't make it anymore? Email programs@cretech.com immediately — don't just skip it.
- You'll also get a summary email with the times and dates for all your TableTalks, and can view them anytime in MyExperience or the CREtech mobile app.
- Sponsors get an overview email of every table scheduled for their topic.
4
Tue Oct 20 – Wed Oct 21
TableTalks happen at CREtech
Moderator
Showtime
Hide details ▴
- Held in a dedicated TableTalks area — each table has a number (check the CREtech mobile app or your calendar invite).
- You'll get a notification in the app 10 minutes before your TableTalk starts.
- Lunch is served in the TableTalks area — grab food before you sit down at your table.
- Follow the Moderator best practices below to run a great discussion.
- Occasionally a table gets consolidated or cancelled due to last-minute drop-offs — if that affects yours, we'll let you know as soon as possible.
5
Fri Oct 23 – Fri Oct 30
Feedback & contacts shared
FYI only — no action
No action needed
Hide details ▴
- After CREtech, we'll send you the contact details of everyone who sat at your sponsored TableTalks.
- You'll also get the feedback participants shared about the discussion.
Moderator best practices
A good Moderator is the difference between an okay TableTalk and a great one.
Before the discussion
- You'll get the topic and 3+ starter questions ahead of time, in the app or your calendar invite — feel free to add your own.
- Try a couple quick "yes/no" or "1-to-5" questions to keep things moving early on.
- This is a conversation, not a presentation — no slides needed.
Running the table
- Open with a quick intro of yourself (under 60 seconds), share your take on the first question, then go around the table.
- Keep the conversation moving, make sure no one dominates, and ask follow-up questions.
- Share your own perspective when it helps — but never turn it into a pitch for your product.
- In the last 3–4 minutes, recap the key themes and ask everyone for their big takeaway.
One more thing! Step in if a participant starts pitching their own product. A quick, friendly reminder that TableTalks are for learning and networking — not sales — usually does the trick. Contact details for your table are shared with you afterward via "My Schedule" in MyExperience, and in the Post Event Summary Report.
CREtech New York 2026 · TableTalks Sponsor & Moderator Guide