Page 48 - RLI May 2019

EVENT REVIEW | ICSC EUROPEAN CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

ThE BEST Of RETAIL

The ICSC European Conference & Exhibition explored the very best of retail at its Executive Vice President & Managing Director – EMEA, ICSC

reimagined flagship event which took place on 10-11 April at the Fairmont Rey Juan I
Carlos Hotel in Barcelona. For the first time, an innovative exhibition floor was added to

the traditional conference format, allowing the latest and greatest retail concepts to be BILL KISTLER
showcased to the over 800 delegates attending from over 39 countries.

speakers including, amongst many others, Christophe Cuvillier,
Group CEO of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, speaking about
why the challenges facing physical retail are opportunities
rather than threats, Jonas Kjellberg, Serial Entrepreneur
and Founding Partner of Skype, talking about the kind of
innovative thinking that is needed for success, and David
Delgado, NASA’s Visual Strategist, exploring the importance
of imagination, wonder and the desire to explore.
Other notable topics included ‘Armageddon or Renaissance?’
which explored a retail industry in transformation, ‘Show me
the Money! – Where Is It and How to Attract It?’ which heard
online retailers discuss what they are looking for in the physical
world and ‘What’s in Store? – Unique Insights into Rapidly
Changing Retail Strategies’, which explored the much in-vogue
‘phygital’ strategies.
In total, the conference consisted of 17 key sessions and an
equal amount of smaller break-out sessions, designed to allow
for interaction and specialisation, in one of three categories:
workshops, ‘Small talks’ and especially-themed outlet sessions.
The buzzing showcase area hosted major European
developers and retail property owners including ECE, Ingka
Centres, Multi, SES Spar and Sonae Sierra, displaying their most
innovative projects. The floor also featured an exhibit, courtesy
of Bompas & Parr and Gensler, called ‘The Purpose of Place’.
Adding an experiential element to the exhibition floor, visitors
were encouraged to walk through five interactive booths, each
dedicated to one of the five senses – showcasing how great
places can evoke powerful sensory responses.
Bill Kistler, EMEA Managing Director and Executive Vice
President of ICSC, commented: “We made the decision to take
our proven European Conference concept and integrate it with
from left to right: an innovative exhibition floor, adding a new, dynamic dimension
LISA WAgNER, Principal, TORg, The Outlet Resource group
ChRIS WEILMINSTER, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Urban Edge Properties to the experience – and are proud to say that it truly made Serial Entrepreneur, Author and Investor
RIChARD BROADhEAD, Managing Director, Oldrids & Downtown the event better than ever before. It was great to see delegates
MAThIEU BONCOUR, head of Corporate Communications, Compagnie de Phalsbourg
interacting in whole new ways, boosting networking opportunities
and knowledge-sharing. Once again, we have proven that coming JONAS KJELLBERg
to Barcelona is an indispensable opportunity for retail real estate
he European Conference & Exhibition combined along with three Gold Sponsors, Multi, Sonae Sierra and Union professionals to come together in an increasingly digital world.”
the idea exchange of ICSC’s European Conference Investment and Silver Sponsor CoStar. The ICSC European Another highlight of the event was the celebration of Europe’s
with ICSC’s innovative exhibition. The 2019 edition Partners for the event were Aareal, ADG Group, BNP Paribas most outstanding new, refurbished and established retail places
Tinvited delegates to join together to expand their Real Estate, CBRE, ECE, JLL and Wilhelm & Co Group. through the announcement of the 2019 ICSC European
networks, be inspired, share practical insights and capitalise on Before the conference programme began at 1pm on the Shopping Centre Awards, which took place on the first day of the
retail trends to grow businesses. 10 April with a welcome session from Conference Moderator event. The winners included CascaiShopping in Cascais, Portugal
Much more than just commercial entities, successful Ken Hughes, Leading Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist, two (Refurbishments and/or Expansions, Small/Medium), Iso Omena
shopping centres and retailers help build communities, fuel retail tours had been organised, one to the exciting locations in Espoo, Finland (Refurbishments and/or Expansions, Extra Large),
local economies and inspire innovation. To guarantee their of La Maquinista and Diagonal Mar shopping centres, and one Muse in Metz, France (New Developments, Small/Medium) and
future in the retail real estate industry, shopping centres to Les Glòries and Arenas de Barcelona before attendees Adigeo in Verona, Italy (New Developments, Large).
and stores must continually evolve to deliver an experience filtered into the hotel for the start of the conference proper.
beyond the simple purchase of goods and services. The two-day event was headlined ‘Space, Place and the The 2020 ediTion of The iCSC european
The ICSC Global Sponsor for 2019 was Cushman & Future of Retail’, a theme that explored the various disruptive
Wakefield, and they were joined by three Platinum Sponsors, forces reshaping and evolving the retail industry. The busy ConferenCe & exhibiTion will reTurn To
Moddo, Savills and SES Spar European Shopping Centers, conference programme welcomed world-class keynote barCelona on The 1-2 april.

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