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Shopping tourism is on the rise again. International cases have proven that shopping and overnight stays can constitute a profitable symbiosis. Nevertheless, this profitable combination of hotel and retail is still in its infancy in Europe. Christian Buer, Professor of Business Administration and Hotel Real Estate & Financing at Heilbronn University and Founder of the consulting firm Nemis, explains where and how the combination of hotel and retail has the potential for success and why we should focus on the outlet and luxury sectors in particular.

The retail and hotel asset classes are both geared towards the consumer, clearly benefit from tourism and are impacted by the “luxury vs. budget” polarization trend. Six months ago, Union Investment therefore decided to bring together its retail and hotel investment teams by establishing an Investment Management Operational department. The Hamburg-based investment and asset management company is targeting synergies and opportunities for its portfolio in the two property categories and considering acquisitions. Andreas Löcher, Head of Investment Management Operational, and Roman Müller, Head of Investment Management Retail, discuss the megatrends affecting both asset classes, highlight other similarities and identify locations of particular interest.

Retail tourism is here to stay. Travelers collectively spend billions of euros every year when they shop. They create jobs, providing income for retailers, craftsmen, and designers. Retail is one of the world’s most diverse industries, shaping every part of the travel experience, and retail tourism is playing a pivotal role in the recovery of the travel and tourism sector, which saw inbound tourism revenues surge by 82 percent in 2022, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Despite all the challenges brought on by the pandemic, retail tourism remains strong. Furthermore, if tourism and hospitality are to play an important role in the future of retail, then the presence and location of hotels is crucial, experts say. What, however, does the joint potential of the retail and hotel industry look like? This ACROSS cover story analyzes the synergies between the retail and hotel industries.

Unlike English retailers who focus on margin percentages, many German retailers prioritize profit per unit (Deckungsbeitrag), focusing on actual money earned rather than relative percentages. John Brenninkmeijer argues that to optimize assortment decision-making for a store, managers should consider the Dollar Contribution “Deckungsbeitrag” of products and the possible Opportunity Cost incurred when choosing one option over another.

“Octopus is not just creating technology; we are building an entire ecosystem that mirrors the online world’s interactivity in the physical world, all centered around our screens and the Octopus app. We are crafting an environment where digital engagement is as natural and intuitive as using a smartphone or computer,” explains Emre Yıldız, CEO and Founder of Octopus, in his interview with ACROSS.

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.

As an urban developer, JTRE is uniquely positioned in Slovakia due to its specialization in constructing whole city districts. JTRE is significantly changing the city of Bratislava. Recently, the company developed Eurovea, one of Europe’s largest mixed-use projects. ACROSS spoke to Pavel Pelikan, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, about JTRE’s plans, recent developments, and ways of doing business.

In 2023, Eurovea Shopping Center opened its doors. In Bratislava, Slovakia, a shopping center has been built to the latest standards as part of a district development. Since its opening, the large-scale project has kept all its promises and has been very popular. ACROSS spoke to the management of Eurovea about the first year of operation, its USP, and its meaning to the community. Eurovea shopping center shows that modern centers must serve people rather than just sell products.

Just a few months after the start of construction, ECE Marketplaces celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the new “Food Garden” in the Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach near Frankfurt am Main – together with the builders, representatives of the center owners, the mayor of Sulzbach and the tenant partners. The implementation of the new gastronomic offer in one of the largest, highest-turnover and most successful shopping centers in Germany for decades is thus progressing rapidly. The opening is planned for spring 2025.

The opening of Hamburg’s Überseequartier, planned for April 25th, has been postponed due to water damage. The center is now scheduled to open to visitors at the end of August, the operator Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) announced on Thursday.