For many years, shopping centers have constituted a popular and successful asset class that – provided the assets have been well managed – have offered stable returns and high value stability.

Those who want to exploit successful Food & Beverage (F&B) locations at high traffic locations would do well to immerse themselves in the needs of the guests. This statement may seem obvious, but it’s really not that simple.

Recruitments, promotions and appointments in the European Retail Real Estate Industry.

Department stores are a key part of the retail mix in Europe. With bleak news about the sector blowing across the Atlantic, we thought it was time to take a close look at just how things were faring here in Europe. ICSC’s research has uncovered both shared challenges and fundamental differences.

With the advent of e-commerce, stores are being used by retailers to differentiate themselves from e-commerce platforms, providing shopping experiences that cannot be reproduced at home.

Until recently, securing a renowned global fashion brand as a shopping mall anchor was often considered a guarantee for success. This was particularly the case in CEE, where many such retailers were just beginning to enter the market.

In the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “The only constant is change.” Applied in more modern terms: Only one who remains flexible and adapts his or her decisions to the constant change, can achieve ideal results in the long term. This is also true for participants in the German real estate sector.

Would you visit a café where you knew that a constant cold draft would blow onto your neck, leaving you shivering as you quickly drank your coffee, unable to truly relax? Would you take time to go window-shopping if you knew that you would be constantly battered by turbulent wind?

How the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation affects the European shopping center industry.

The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force on May 25, 2018. It harmonizes data privacy laws across Europe. Companies will be more accountable for their handling of people’s personal data and it will change how they handle information about their customers, their employees and their suppliers.

All through the years, commercial models in the retail sector have been evolving in alignment with changing consumer habits. It goes without saying that these consumer habits have experienced a huge transformation lately, especially due to the rapid advance of technologies and the digital era. However, I don’t believe that the boom of ecommerce will lead to the extinction of most shopping malls.

Often, the viability of a retail destination is judged by its catchment and the affluence of the local residential population.

Consumers have the technological freedom to shop whenever and wherever they want, and brands are expected to work much harder than ever before to maintain their loyalty.

Digitalisation, especially in the form of online trade, often gets blamed for dramatic changes in the retail sector, and the death of the classic old-school store. One might think that it is putting an end to the brick and mortar star, currently shining brightly in the investment sky.

Since real estate has become both more professional and specialised, dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate real estate education has become widely available. Investing in optimising through ongoing professional development yields returns for both the individual and the organisation.

From the very beginning, the position of the Polish Council of Shopping Centres (PRCH) was that the draft bill banning Sunday trading was a bad idea for all the interested parties.

The ACROSS Advisory Board is happy to announce its latest addition and welcomes Andreas Hohlmann, Managing Director of Unibail-­Rodamco Germany GmbH, as its new member.

Tom McGee, President and CEO of ICSC, says new Asian malls will be tailored to meet the needs of the younger generation. Existing shopping centers in Europe and the US are changing accordingly.

A lot has changed in modern mainstream cinema over the last years. Digital technology replaced the old 35mm film projection. This was not just a big leap in terms of quality, it also revolutionized the content spectrum that can be shown in cinema auditoriums.

In these uncertain times, it is no surprise that consumers are being more savvy with their money. Nowhere is this better evinced than in the growing popularity of outlet retail, which is now more attractive than ever to the UK’s bargain hunting consumers.

Jonathan Doughty, Global Head of Foodservice at ECE, was chosen by the editorial team of ACROSS and its Advisory Board as the most outstanding person of the industry in the past year. His selection also reflects the increasing relevance of gastronomy areas in European retail properties.

The editorial team of “ACROSS – The European Retail Real Estate Magazine” and its Advisory Board, which consists of 18 top experts of the shopping center industry, has chosen the most outstanding person of the industry in the past year – the “Man of the Year 2017.”

From “A” as in “Apsys” to “U” as in “Unibail-Rodamco Germany”: Representatives of 27 companies of the European real estate industry venture a glimpse into the industry’s near future.

The ACROSS Advisory Board is happy to announce its latest addition and welcomes Thomas Mark as its new member.