European Shopping center industry’s biggest conference in Stockholm next week (EU).
Over 600 shopping center professionals will head to Stockholm from 16-18 April to debate critical industry issues at the annual 2013 ICSC European Conference. This year’s focus is on innovating today for success tomorrow and the Conference is chaired by one of the industry’s most well respected personalities: Cushman and Wakefield’s Dr. Yvonne Court.
Court said: “A successful shopping center is about delivering the whole package to customers: tenants and shoppers. And the industry has a unique advantage over the internet: buying online can never achieve the experience and social interaction that most shoppers seek.”
This year’s highly anticipated conference forum of CEOs, where top industry leaders share their views and opinions with delegates, includes Sonae Sierra’s Fernando Oliveira, Marcel Kokkeel of Citycon Oyj, Laurent Morel, Klepierre and Thierry Halff of Maus Freres.
Sessions on the European economy, future retail and social trends will be led by keynote speakers and a panel session on the increasing importance that a strong food and beverage offer plays in shopping centers is expected to offer delegates ‘food for thought’.
One of the biggest topics continues to be e- and increasingly m- (mobile) commerce. Many, but not all retailers are embracing it across Europe and uncovering a rich seam of customers willing to engage with them either online or via social media, as well as in physical shops. This will be discussed throughout the conference and to pick up retailer ambitions, a conference session on International Retailer Expansion will be moderated by an expert on the topic, Barbara Somogyiova, of successful retailer List Fashion, itself expanding across the globe.
An investment session on the Global Shift in Shopping Centre ownership will include a panel from across the globe, including Jaap Gillis CEO of Bouwfonds Retail, James Bury of Pradera, ICSC Trustee Mike Rodel and David Toledo of Centro Comercial Unico, Columbia. A highlight of the ICSC European Conference is always the annual Shopping Centre Awards celebrating the best developments across Europe.
Chair of the ICSC European Board, Alexander Otto, who speaks at the conference added: “In current challenging times retail must remain dynamic and innovative. In order to succeed in the future we have to continue our dialogue. This conference provides a perfect platform for key players, decision makers and specialists in the retail industry to exchange know-how and best practices.”
The ICSC European Conference always delivers high-level and thought-provoking debate. It’s big enough to attract the industry’s most senior leaders, small enough to meet them.
Source: Nicky Godding
