Held as a hybrid event on 23rd September 2021 at The Londoner Hotel in London, UK, Retail and Leisure International’s sixteenth Global RLI Awards provided a unique evening that recognised and celebrated the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts from across the globe.
As the world continues to adapt to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, RLI decided there was no better way to showcase the best of the best in the industry to key global sector leaders than to offer a hybrid event, allowing people from across the world to watch either live in-person or for those unable to travel, from the comfort of their computer, laptop or mobile screen.
The ceremony began with a reception where people could catch-up with friends and colleagues in the industry before taking their seats to watch an RLI video highlighting extracts from previous awards over the last five years in Dubai, London and Los Angeles as well as last year’s virtual event. As anticipation started to build, Presenter Lucy Alexander and RLI Publisher Jayne Rafter took to the stage to kick-off the evening.
In her opening speech, RLI Publisher Jayne Rafter said: “Retail will reinvent itself once again and in time we will look back on Covid-19 as a catalyst for some of the biggest changes the world will see, the birth of big ideas and innovations. And tonight we will honour the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts from across the globe. The retail and leisure industry is exciting, dynamic and innovative and the Awards pay tribute to those companies that continue to push the boundaries; who are not afraid of the challenges that they are presented with; and who refuse to settle for anything but the very best.”
Following an exquisite three-course meal and coffee with petit fours, and the fantastic ‘We Will Rock You’ as the evening’s entertainment, it was time for the main event, the Global RLI Awards 2021.
And the winners are…
RLI Future Project
Winner: Al Khiran Hybrid Outlet Mall, Sabah Al Ahmed Sea City, Kuwait
Highly Commended: MixC Dongguan Songshan Lake District Mixed Use Development, Dongguan, China
RLI Most Anticipated Opening 2021
Sponsored by Naar Technology
Winner: St James Quarter, Edinburgh, Scotland
Highly Commended: Festival City Chengdu, China
RLI Most Innovative Retail & Entertainment Project
Sponsored by Concept i
Winner: Grandscape, Texas, US
Highly Commended: Zijing Paradise Walk, Hangzhou, China
RLI Best Placemaking Scheme
Winner: Novotown, Zhuhai, China
Highly Commended: Khorfakkan Beach, Sharjah, UAE
RLI International Shopping Centre – New Build
Sponsored by MK Illumination
Winner: ALEJA Shopping Center, Ljubljana Šiška, Slovenia
Highly Commended: Maximo, Rome, Italy
RLI International Shopping Centre – Renovation
Sponsored by MK Illumination
Winner: 360 Kuwait
Highly Commended: Centre Manor Sierre, Switzerland
RLI International Outlet Centre – New Build
Winner: Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, Thailand
RLI International Outlet Centre – Renovation
Winner: Vicolungo The Style Outlets, Italy
RLI Most Innovative Marketing Campaign
Sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn.
Winner: The Boulevard: Outlet Shopping, Banbridge, Northern Ireland
Highly Commended: The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
RLI Global Retailer
Sponsored by ECE
Winner: U.S Polo Assn.
Highly Commended: AWWG
RLI Most Innovative F&B Concept
Sponsored by We Love Food
Winner: Time Out Market
RLI Entertainment & Leisure Operator
Sponsored by Sands Retail
Winner: Gravity Active Entertainment
Highly Commended: Red Engine
RLI Developer
Sponsored by Design International
Winner: Brookfield Properties Development
Highly Commended: Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq)
RLI Designer
Winner: Concept i
RLI Interior Excellence
Winner: NIKE House of Innovation, Paris, France by umdasch The Store Makers
Highly Commended: RS No. 9, London, UK by GH+A Design Studios and Clements Retail
RLI Special Recognition Award for Innovation in Technology
Presented by RLI
Awarded to Necsum Trison for M Plaza
We will announce the dates for next year’s events in the coming weeks, stay tuned…
