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THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

A major expansion is underway at EUROPARK Salzburg, Austria’s leading shopping destination. Construction preparations began in October on the site currently occupied by the parking area between EUROPARK and the SPAR headquarters in Taxham. The new extension will be built above the existing underground garage, with structural work scheduled to start in January 2026 – all without any disruption to ongoing operations at the center.

Westfield Shopping City Süd (SCS) demonstrates what the future of shopping centers looks like: Top international brands, nationwide store premieres, and an expanded premium segment meet a new entertainment area featuring bowling lanes, escape rooms, karaoke, and arcade games. A culinary offering ranging from iconic US burgers to French bakery artistry and Thai brunch creations is added to the mix. The result: a destination that no longer only attracts people for shopping, but brings together visitors of all generations more often, for longer, and in more diverse ways – setting new benchmarks for footfall.

Data is reshaping retail real estate: When landlords, tenants, and tech providers share insights, collaboration replaces caution. From predictive analytics to AI-driven platforms, smarter partnerships are turning fragmented spaces into connected experiences and transforming relationships into resilient growth. Gareth Jordan, Director of Retail Advantage at ART Software Group, delves into data through client insights, demonstrating how shared innovation and intelligence are essential partners for growth.

The retail destination MILLENNIUM City is expanding its brand offering with the addition of TK Maxx. The new store, opened on November 6, brings another international retailer to the urban mixed-use center and reinforces its position as a versatile hub for shopping and leisure in Vienna.

NEPI Rockcastle has decided to appoint Marek Noetzel as its designated CEO, effective 1 April 2026. Mr. Noetzel was confirmed as the company’s permanent COO in June 2022 and is responsible for its operations across 60 properties in eight countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

A new chapter begins for Gropius Passagen in Berlin-Neukölln. With the appointment of Christian Danne as Center Manager, one of the city’s top retail destinations is setting a fresh strategic course. Covering around 94,000 square meters of retail space, featuring over 150 stores, and welcoming roughly ten million visitors a year, Gropius Passagen remains a key anchor of Berlin’s retail landscape.

A special honor for Alexander Otto, CEO of the ECE Group: at this year’s MAPIC trade fair, Otto received the MAPIC Lifetime Award as a “Pioneer of Places” in recognition of his exceptional achievements and outstanding contribution to shaping and advancing the shopping center industry over the past three decades.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has been awarded two times at MAPIC 2025, Europe’s most prestigious retail real estate show, held each year in Cannes, France. Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier won Best Urban Regeneration Project and Westfield London was named the Most Influential Retail Property Project of the past 30 years.

At MAPIC 2025, NEINVER unveils a major evolution of Alpes The Style Outlets – its second outlet in France – redesigned to be more sustainable and to deliver a higher-quality experience for visitors and brand partners. The Spanish multinational, with three decades of European outlet expertise, also shares updates on its refurbishment and extension programme, which is accelerating across the portfolio.

Retail PIN, the German-based think tank for retail real estate, has published its new position paper, which explores how retail properties can generate impact today: economically, socially, and environmentally. The paper provides insights on management, leasing models, operations, and legal frameworks, offering a holistic perspective on the evolving retail property landscape.

As Europe’s retailers and landlords head into the most decisive quarter of the year, success hinges not only on footfall, but on clarity. With up to 40% of annual revenue at stake, real-time sales collection and automated reporting have become critical tools to track performance, manage risk, and capture opportunities. From tenant health to turnover rent, automation is transforming holiday trading from a logistical scramble into a data-driven advantage.