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Event Review “ Thank you for hosting such an amazing “ Thank you for an illuminating series of panel discussions today—each one was
incredibly engaging. We also had the opportunity to meet some fantastic and
forum. Congratulations again for your 20
Future Retail Experiences Tour years celebration” genuinely helpful individuals during the networking sessions.”
Reuben Storevold
Anna Watkins
Ceo & Founder,
Managing Director
Barrafina
Nordic Retail Property
A Journey Through Innovation gines British elegance and Oxford Street charm in
Macao, boasting over 150 premium boutiques across
On 25 June, a curated tour of London’s most innovative 600,000sq ft and having previously won the Global
retail destinations including: Harrods, Swaine, Aran- RLI Award for ‘Most Innovative Retail & Tourism
yani and Outernet offered delegates a chance to see Destination’.
ideas from the forum brought to life. The tour show-
cased live examples of immersive retail, cutting-edge Meet the Moderators
tech and storytelling-led design.
“The tour highlighted how brands express their DNA Three dynamic moderators led the day’s discussions.
through heritage and tech—an inspiring perspective.” Dan Innes, Founder of Innesco, brought depth from
— Stephen Hay, Little Bird Told Me decades of placemaking experience. Nisreen Sho-
Harrods Harrods Swaine cair, a driving force in retail innovation in the Middle
Reflections from the Global Community East, added perspective on the future of experiential
and tech-enabled growth. And Jayne Rafter, whose
More than just a conference, the RLI Connect Global Aranyani visionary leadership founded RLI Connect, ensured
Forum 2025 was a celebration of community, crea- each session pushed the boundaries of possibility and
tivity and commercial vision. Across all sessions, a performance.
common theme emerged: this is a moment of rein -
vention and RLI is at its heart. Attendees praised the A Platform for World-Class Brands
quality of speakers, the depth of discussion and the
authenticity of connections made. Speakers and delegates represented some of the
most forward-thinking organisations globally. From
Here are a few heartfelt testimonials: luxury houses like Harrods and Amouage to develop-
ers such as Merex Investment, Cenomi Centers and
“You delivered a masterpiece. An extraordinary few New Murabba, the event reflected the evolution of
days.” — Angela Farrugia, Brand X Society retail into a dynamic, integrated lifestyle sector. The
line-up was bolstered by bold thinkers like Anne-So-
“A truly impressive event - engaging discussions phie Sancerre (URW), Nadine Merabi (NADINE
paired with remarkably thoughtful questions.” — MERABI), Neil Dolan (Little Lion Entertainment) and
David Sheldon-Hicks, Territory Studio Tattu Karrie Goldberg (Outernet Ventures).
“This platform is unique - it brings world-class, Themes That Transcend
C-suite conversations to the heart of London.”
— Pete Cooper, Pradera Lateral Whether exploring how AI personalisation is shap-
ing loyalty or how experiential design can transform
“20 years of RLI. A trailblazing legacy that continues urban destinations, the consistent thread through-
to open doors and shape the future.” — Karrie Gold- out was the convergence of innovation, experience
berg, Outernet and strategic growth. Each panel delivered not only
thought leadership but actionable insight, supported
Looking Ahead by real-world case studies from global retail power-
houses.
As RLI steps boldly into its next chapter, the 2025 Global
Forum stands as a beacon of what’s possible when the A Word from Our Delegates
world’s brightest minds unite around purpose-driven
innovation. With a continued focus on partnership, With attendees flying in from over 20 countries,
sustainability and immersive excellence, the platform including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, France,
remains essential for any stakeholder seeking to lead Malaysia and the US, the global spirit was palpable.
the future of retail and leisure. Comments ranged from ‘an extraordinary few days’
“The entire experience - speakers, sessions, tours, Outernet to ‘the only platform that genuinely moves the needle
-
awards - was built on care, vision and unmatched profes on global retail dialogue’. The curated speaker line-up
sionalism.” — Lisa Hood, Aranyani and relevant panel themes made for an agenda that
was both ambitious and attainable.
Spotlight on Headline Partner – Sands Retail
Marking the Milestone – 20 Years of RLI
A cornerstone of this year’s forum, Sands Retail once
again took centre stage as the Headline Partner. Their 2025 marks two decades since Retail & Leisure Inter-
portfolio of properties - including the Shoppes at Four national launched. What began as an industry-first
Seasons, Shoppes at Venetian, Shoppes at Parisian publication has evolved into a global platform ena-
and Shoppes at Londoner - was highlighted as exem - bling investment, insight and cross-border collabo-
plary destinations that bring luxury, entertainment ration. The Forum was not only a celebration of the
and tourism together under one roof. Particularly The Georgian at Harrods The Lower Third past but a call to shape what’s next - boldly, creatively
noteworthy is the Shoppes at Londoner, which reima- and collaboratively.
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