Page 36 - #200 June/July 2025

RLI Interview

A New Era

Ahead of its 30 anniversary later this year, RLI
th
caught up with Francesco Pupillo to discuss how
one of the biggest events on the retail real estate
calendar is reinventing itself and how it will be
proposing a new offering to guests.

Francesco, MAPIC is known as the global nesses. We have made a number of changes What new opportunities does the updated
meeting place for retail real estate. What to facilitate this and to encourage more format create for retailers, developers,
was the core vision behind reimagining meetings and networking. In addition to the investors and solution providers alike?
the format for 2025 and can you share usual stands and exhibitions, this year’s event
how industry feedback or global trends will have a greater emphasis on deal-making, Landlords come to MAPIC to showcase their
influenced this decision to evolve the adding more business lounges and network- locations to tenants and secure deals. Brands
event’s structure? ing spaces to enable this. The main confer- come here to understand the best locations. Our
ence agenda will also be supplemented with mission is to offer the meeting point between
In MAPIC’s 30-year history, the retail prop- a dedicated ‘matchmaking’ event which will the two and bring more and more brands to
erty sector has evolved - and the pace of bring retailers and property players together landlords to help them to have the highest
change has accelerated rapidly over the past with the aim of scouting around 10-15 US and number of business opportunities. MAPIC is
few years. As a result, our clients’ needs Asian brands seeking to expand their footprint Europe’s premier platform for connecting land-
have evolved in line with these changes. in Europe. lords and brands. The feedback from attendees
The period from 2010 to 2015 saw a wave is clear: they come to MAPIC to meet brands
of development activity across Europe with and sign leases. That’s why MAPIC 2025 will
malls under construction in almost every In what ways is the 2025 format a focus squarely on retail leasing. Landlords will
city and investors readily deploying capital direct response to the shifting dynamics meet brands actively seeking space. Our main
into retail. As the sector has matured, there of retail, leisure and placemaking? audience includes leasing teams, asset manag-
is still an appetite for investment but the ers and heads of development.
opportunities for ‘ground-up’ development The sector is now united in recognising the
are much scarcer. Today, the focus in much role of the experience in retail. In a compet-
more centred on transforming existing itive retail landscape, this is the main driver How do you envision the long-term evolution
assets and making them relevant to current of customers’ decision making. In a world in of MAPIC beyond this year’s innovation?
needs. As such, MAPIC is less of a showcase which you can shop 24 hours a day, seven
for new developments and more of a market - days a week from the comfort of your own MAPIC is the most important showcase for
place for investors, brands and the agents of home, you need a compelling reason to visit players in the retail real estate sector inter-
change to converge with the aim of creating a physical destination to spend your money. nationally, particularly in Europe. To maintain
the best and most profitable assets possible. This radically changes the way we conceive this leadership, we must continuously evolve
and create places and radically alters the with the market. The most telling change is
role of this industry - we need to be creative the near disappearance of new development
What are the most significant changes as well as commercial. projects in Europe, once the main draw for
attendees and exhibitors can expect in exhibitors. Companies are now focused on
the new MAPIC format? optimising existing assets, regenerating
How has the content strategy evolved urban areas and developing mixed-use
There are a number of - particularly around AI, sustainability, concepts. There’s less to ‘showcase’ in the
local shows that focus investment and consumer engagement? traditional sense. As a result, participants
on vision and strategy, now approach MAPIC differently.
but people do not come The content strategy will always focus on
to MAPIC for that. The the issues that affect the sector and the
investors are here to issues we need to be addressing to deliver On a personal note, what excites you most
meet the emerging the best spaces. But we will also be increas- about this bold new chapter for MAPIC?
new brands and ing our focus on growing brands in line with
concepts that will our new deal-led format. This industry is I am keen that MAPIC remains a flagship event
add value to their good at sharing ideas and collaboration within the retail calendar and continues to be a
assets and the and our role isn’t to dictate this agenda but, place where people come to meet with business
brands are here rather, to bring the brands and the assets prospects that they can’t access elsewhere. It’s
to secure the together in an environment that helps them about facilitating the right conversations, the
best locations to understand each other’s needs and ulti- right connections and ultimately, making deals
grow their busi- mately, to do deals. happen - a prime focus for this year’s event.

36 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL JUNE/JULY 2025