CURRENT FEATURES AND LEAD INTERVIEWS

AEDAS - SMART GROWTH, COOL DESIGN

Having enjoyed a rewarding year in 2009, Aedas has
re-engineered its business to offer the very best service and to generate true value. RLI talks to Chief Executive Officer Asia, David Roberts, about the company’s triumphant turnaround and a future that looks brighter by the day...

AURORA FASHIONS
After a challenging year of consolidation,
Aurora Fashions is focused on the task at hand – to take its portfolio of well-respected brands to a wide audience.
RLI talks to Group Property Director Ian Dudley to talk about the group’s plans for international expansion...

BENOY
Was a challenging year for all and so it was encouraging to see Benoy – the award-winning, international architectS, masterplannerS and interior designerS – working tirelessly to consolidate and indeed extend its well-established global trading position. As a result, the practice has announced that International work constituted around 75 per cent of its annual turnover last year…

OKAIDI
Firo Djavanshir, International Franchise & Business Development Director of the ID Group talks about the success of French children’s apparel retailer, Okaidi, its strategy for global growth and the key drivers behind the brand’s success to date…

PACIFIC HOTELS GROUP
With the successful integration of its two brands under one business, a brand review with Interbrand and a focus on building its people capabilities in the last year, Pan Pacific Hotels Group is confident in its position in the global market. President & CEO A Patrick Imbardelli talks to RLI about the group’s strategy moving forward…

FEATURES ARCHIVE

FEBRUARY 2010

MIDAS RETAIL - GOING FOR GOLD
One of the UK’s largest independent construction and property services providers, Midas is a privately-owned and financially secure business based in Bristol. With ten strategically placed offices
throughout the UK, the company boasts over 30 years experience and a turnover in 2009 of £240M.

SCOIN SHOP
Having opened its first new store outside south africa at westfield london in the uk, Alan Demby, chairman of the south african gold coin exchange and the scoin shop, talks to rli about the company’s plans for continued expansion, both at home and internationally, throughout 2010 and beyond

MÖVENPICK HOTELS & RESORTS
With the quintessentially Swiss passion for achieving the highest quality in everything it does, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts continues to open upscale offerings throughout its key markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. RLI talks to President & CEO Jean Gabriel Pérès…

ST DAVID'S PARTNERSHIP
St David’s in Cardiff instantly established itself as the region’s key retail destination and integral to the shopping heart of the city. RLI talks to Caroline Kirby, Property Director, and Joanne Skilton, Retail & Leasing Director with Capital Shopping Centres

PARFOIS
Parfois is finding the key to customer retention is to guarantee a fresh and exciting range that is regularly updated. International Business Development Manager Filipe Correia talks about this and the brand’s sustained growth

NEW LOOK
Celebrating its 40th Anniversary year, New Look continues to tap into the Zeitgeist with fun, energetic and individual fashions. Here, Chief Executive Officer Carl McPhail talks to RLI about the brand’s plans for growth and the importance of staying one step ahead of the game

AEDAS
David Roberts, Chief Executive Officer Asia of Aedas, talks to RLI about the practice’s continued innovation in leading global design and the importance of recognising, and taking advantage of the opportunities that the global recession has presented

BETU
As Hong Kong fashion retailer Betu continues to develop and evolve its offer to meet customer’s changing desires, Billy Tung, Director of Tungtex Group (Retail) and Fiona Cheung, General Manager (Retail), talks to RLI about the brand’s ongoing roll-out of improvements.

NOBU
In two decades, celebrity chef and restaurateur Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has created a global brand with NOBU, renowned for its amazing menu, beautiful décor and superior dining experience. Today, he shows no sign of slowing down as he plans his next raft of openings and takes that big ‘next step’…

GRANGE HOTELS
The opening of its new hotel at St Paul’s in London heralds a new step in the evolution of Grange Hotels. Damon Goldsmith, Assistant Director of Sales, talks to RLI about the company’s solid performance, its search for new and exciting opportunities and the importance of listening to the customer

TIMBERLAND
Having successfully launched its striking new store in Westfield London, Mike Lynskey, European commercial Director of Timberland, talks to RLI about the brand’s unique position in the market, its innovative and eco conscious product range and its desire for growth

THOMAS PINK
Renowned the world over for its stylish, quality offer, Thomas Pink continues to explore opportunities for development and growth. President and CEO Jonathan Heilbron talks to LIaM MALONIE About the company’s reputation as a leading international brand

ISG
Having established a reputation for the very highest standards throughout an extensive portfolio, ISG has entered a new phase of evolution. Here, Managing Director of ISG Cathedral, Darren Hill and John Mawhinney, Director of Retail Solutions, talk about the recent rebrand of isg cathedral and its desire for continued growth

SWAROVSKI
For over 100 years, Swarovski has developed its supreme mastery of precision-cutting, to become the world’s leading producer of cut crystal, genuine gemstones and created stones. Here, RLI talks to Robert Buchbauer, a member of the Swarovski’s Executive Committee

VINCCI
Having wowed customers throughout Asia and the Middle East with its contemporary, fun fashion and affordable prices, Vincci now plans to introduce its stylish offer to a wider international audience. Executive Director CY Cheong talks to RLI about his plans for growth

GPL RETAIL DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS
Having introduced an innovative new approach to the US store expansion process, Graham Luck, founder and Principal, GPL
Retail Development Solutions, talks about his company’s desire to assist companies from around the world with their entry into the American market

PELICAN HILL
An elegant new luxury resort in an idyllic South California location, The Resort at Pelican Hill has already won a number of prestigious accolades. RLI talks to Ralph Grippo, President of the Irvine Company Resort Properties, about his company’s approach to customer satisfaction and that all-important ‘wow’ factor

CHALHOUB GROUP
A family-owned operation that has grown to become
a major force in the Middle East retail market and Distribution Market, The Chalhoub Group is facing the current economic crisis head-on with its customer-centric development strategy. RLI talks to Joint CEO Patrick Chalhoub to find out more…

PIAGET
Having enjoyed a record year in terms of growth, luxury watchmaker Piaget looks to the future with great optimism. CEO Philippe Leopold-Metzger talks to RLI about the brand’s winning philosophy and its plans for expansion through new stores in Asia and the Middle East

PAPA D'ANJO
A beacon of style and quality, Papo d’Anjo has been producing well-made children’s clothing for the past 14 years. Company founder Catherine de Monteiro barros talks to RLI about the brand’s commitment to design and consistency, new openings in London and plans for the Asian market

CAMINO REAL
An iconic Mexican brand, Camino Real Hotels is drawing upon
40 years of experience to face today’s tough economic conditions.
Vice President Ignacio Pérez Cárdenas talks about the importance of meeting customer’s expectations to provide an experience that will never be forgotten

MAMAS & PAPAS
Luisa and David Scacchetti, co-founders of Mamas & Papas, talk to RLI about their brand’s impressive new store design concept, unveiled at its latest UK stores in Belfast and London, and about its continued drive for major openings in the Middle East

OASIS
Having launched its new design concept to much acclaim, Oasis is now focused on an extensive programme of refits, as well as plans for a huge international store roll-out. Retail Operations Director Ian Wallis talks to RLI about this next stage of evolution and the importance of remaining true to brand values

HILTON LUXURY HOTELS
Amar Lalvani, Global Head, Luxury & Lifestyle Brand Development with the Hilton Family of Hotels, talks to RLI about the challenge of driving the expansion of group’s luxury offer and the importance of maintaining the extraordinarily high standards that are synonymous with the family name.

BEST WESTERN
Best Western International continues its drive to produce hotels of comfort and quality, expanding its portfolio into new territories. Although the market remains tough, CEO David Kong is ready for the challenge and sees 2009 as a year of great opportunity for the brand.

FAIRMONT
KidZania offers a truly revolutionary take on edutainment with an amazing selection of role-playing activities that enthral and excite children of all ages.

KIDZANIA
KidZania offers a truly revolutionary take on edutainment with an amazing selection of role-playing activities that enthral and excite children of all ages.