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Opinion

PERSONAL COMMENTARIES OF PLACEMAKING EXPERTS

As the year draws to a close, Reinhard Winiwarter, founder and publisher of ACROSS Magazine, and Klaus Striebich, Managing Director of RaRE Advise and Head of the ACROSS Advisory Board, pause to reflect on the retail real estate industry’s current state. Although 2024 has shown many positives, the two industry experts are concerned about one thing: the possibility that many industry players will not be able to keep up with the speed of change.

Hamburg’s iconic Mönckebergstrasse is set to welcome a transformative development project: Elisen Palais will breathe new life into a historic site once home to the renowned C&A building. This ambitious project seeks to create a climate-neutral, mixed-use property while paying homage to the architectural history of the area, as Nikolas Bosnić, Head of Development Redevco DACH, explains.

The challenge is to transform the shopping center from a place of consumption to a world of experience that seamlessly combines leisure, entertainment, and shopping. In his guest article, Sebastian Guth, Managing Director of 21Media, explains the role of B2B and B2C marketing in the transition of brick-and-mortar retail and shopping centers.

“It’s a fair question these days in lots of Western countries, Europe first and foremost. Running a restaurant in Europe requires a more nuanced approach than simply focusing on high revenue figures,” shares Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based firm Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting in his latest “F&B Insights” column. “The notion that success is guaranteed by sheer volume is misleading, as the current challenges facing the industry demand a deeper understanding and strategic planning,” he explains. Opening a restaurant in Western Europe may seem daunting to some, but it is essential to address the underlying issues that have been exacerbated by the recent global pandemic.

“We are all aware of the seismic changes in the retail landscape in recent years that have affected both owners and occupiers”, says Chris Fleetwood, Deputy COO Real Estate at Redevco. Therefore, a combination of macroeconomic events, higher-for-longer interest rates and inflation, increased consumer awareness of their own environmental footprints and values, and the emergence of transformative technologies have created an ever more competitive environment.

Retail is and always will be about four things – recruitment, transaction, fulfillment, and retention. The interesting thing is that transaction and fulfilment are increasingly migrating to the online sector. “Even though I am generalizing, and I suppose I am being slightly provocative, it seems that brands will increasingly occupy physical space for the purpose of recruiting and retaining customers,” states Ibrahim Ibrahim, Managing Director of Portland Design.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Will Odwarka, CEO and Founder of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Al Mamlaka Social Dining, and One & Only´s One Za’abeel are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Jan Tanner, Managing Director at Bredella AG for Implenia Switzerland, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Bredella Areal in Pratteln, Switzerland is one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Herman Kok, Associate Partner at DISCvision, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Beurstraverse in Rotterdam, and Elektrownia Powiśle in Warsaw are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Designer Outlet Gdańsk, Designer Outlet Algarve, and Designer Outlet Kraków are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Angelus Bernreuther, Head of IR at Kaufland Stiftung & Co. KG, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, NIVY Center (Bratislava), Merlata Bloom (Milano), and Norblin Factory (Warsaw) are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Joanna Fisher, CEO of ECE Marketplaces, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, The Playce and Foodgarden at Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach, Germany are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of FİBA Commercial Properties, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Galataport Istanbul is one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

“Artificial intelligence, or AI, is everywhere don’t you agree? From healthcare to finance to retail, businesses are harnessing the power of AI to drive innovation, optimize processes, and improve customer experience. But despite the widespread use of AI, many businesses are still hesitant to fully embrace it,” states Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based firm Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Klaus Striebich, Managing Director of RaRE Advise, and Head of the ACROSS Advisory Board, Milano´s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. is one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.