Page 88 - RLI March 2019

EVENT PREVIEW | ICSC EUROPEAN CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

WHAT DOES THE

FUTURE HOLD?

The European Conference & Exhibition will combine the idea exchange of ICSC’s
European Conference with ICSC’s innovative exhibition. The event will once again

take place at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona, Spain across the 10-11 April.

itled Space, Place and the Future of Retail, the future in the retail real estate industry, shopping centres Like the previous year, the event will begin with a retail tour on Key conferences to take place on day two include:
2019 edition of the ICSC European Conference & and stores must continually evolve to deliver an experience the morning of the 10th, before the conference begins proper
Exhibition invites delegates to join together in Barcelona beyond the simple purchase of goods and services. at 1pm with a welcome session from Conference Moderator Gen Z, Your Future Shopper – The Step Change has Arrived
T pand their networks, be inspired, share practical Space, Place and the Future of Retail will bring together over Ken Hughes, Leading Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist. The future belongs to Generation Z, with 40 per cent of
to ex
insights and capitalise on retail trends to grow businesses. 1,000 leaders from 50 countries covering the retail, real Key conferences set to take place on day one include the population in the US and Europe by 2020. Prepare for
Much more than just commercial entities, successful estate, investment, F&B and proptech sectors. It will be the following: the end of how you do business. While Millennials ushered
shopping centres and retailers help build communities, fuel everything and everyone that attendees need to know in in the omni-channel world, it is the only world Gen Z has
local economies and inspire innovation. To guarantee their one great place on two indispensable days. Armageddon or Renaissance? – Let the Debate Begin ever known. What does this consumer step change mean
Setting the stage for the conference, this candid reality for your business? The Gen Z conference will be led by
check of the challenges facing retail real estate is combined Ken Hughes, Leading Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist.
with a look at the opportunities that they present the in-
dustry. Peter Wilhelm, ICSC European Chairman & CEO of Making the Numbers Work – Evolving Business Models
Wilhelm & Company will present The Challenge side of this When retailers are squeezed, click & collect showcase
debate, whilst Bill Kistler, Executive Vice President & Managing don’t do percentage rents and other uses won’t pay
Director – EMEA, ICSC will present the side of The Opportunity. retail rents, is it any wonder ‘retail’ has become a tough
sell to investors? How can landlords justify the capex
The Halo Effect – Discovering the Power of Place needed to stay current and increased operating costs to
Most bricks and mortar retailers also sell online to engage deliver a great experience when the numbers don’t add up?
customers in both the virtual and real world. Pure play
e-commerce companies are discovering that a physical Fireside Chat – Thriving in Challenging Times
presence helps increase their overall sales. What is this As the saying goes, ‘it’s always darkest before dawn’! This
‘halo effect’ and how are they capitalising on it? In this turning point for our industry is creating real opportunities
conference there is a focus on The Lobby in Stockholm and for those who can see past the doom and gloom. What does
it will be headed by Annelie Gullström, Head of Business the future hold and what do you need to do today to ensure
Development at AMF Fastigheter. that you and your business thrive?

More than Retail – The Heart and Soul of Great Cities The 2019 edition of the ICSC conference will conclude on
A vibrant mix of shopping, dining and leisure is essential to the 11th with the Closing Night Networking Drinks reception.
serving citizens and attracting new jobs and investment. SES
Spar is working with the City of Vienna on the largest mixed-
use project in Europe – a new community for over 30,000
people. Learn from this amazing case study about how our
industry is creating value beyond retail and complementing
other uses. This session will be chaired by Marcus Wild, CEO
of SES Spar European Shopping Centers.
The first day will end with the Opening Night Party, which is
being sponsored by Savills.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR
PLACE AT THE EVENT, PLEASE VISIT:
www.icsc.org/attend-and-learn/events/details/
european-conference-exhibition

MARCH 2019 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 89