The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)'s Baltic States National Committee is holding its first, ever, Baltic States Retail Real Estate Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania on 24 September 2008.
Marcis Budlevskis, Director of Lease and Business Development at Linstow Center Management Ltd in Riga, Latvia and chairman of the ICSC Baltic States National Committee, which was set up just a year ago, said: "The shopping center industry here has only really been established for ten years, during which time The Baltic States have seen rapid growth, Now, like most countries this is leveling out and the economic environment is more challenging and this conference will help us to debate the issues important to retailers, developers, investors and all those involved within the industry in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia."
The one-day conference, entitled Baltics Retail: What Comes Next? and being held at The Reval Hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania, will focus on trends within the shopping center industry across the Baltic States, retail regeneration within Baltic Cities and a retailer panel discussion with retailers Apranga, Deichmann, Kolonna Group, MOS Retail, Sportland & Stockmann.
Other topics include using branding as a tool to increase shopping center profitability and understanding the growing importance of non-rental income.
The International Council of Shopping Centers has set up a growing number of National Committees in response to members' requests for the opportunity to meet and network in their own countries. Committees organize events, networking and information sharing for members in their country and provide information to retailers and investors considering new markets.
Source: ICSC
