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PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

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 Nové Lido urban district aims to rejuvenate the area between Old Bridge and Apollo Bridge in Petržalka – a project with ten years of planning that will expand Bratislava´s city center on the Danube’s right bank. This will build on the area’s historical identity, while also setting new ecological and community standards for Slovakia and CEE. Ongoing BREEAM Communities International certification confirms our commitment to sustainably develop this zone in the heart of the city.

UŠĆE Shopping Center, jointly owned by MPC Properties and Atterbury Europe, has announced its ambitious redevelopment project to elevate the shopping experience. The project, set to revamp the center’s infrastructure and offerings, promises to blend exciting new features with modern amenities, solidifying its position as a hub for leisure, socializing, and shopping.

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, the 4th largest European operator with 12 managed outlet shopping destinations in 7 countries, has been acquired by the French FREY Group, a developer, investor and manager, and a real estate company listed on the Paris stock exchange, specialising in the development and operation of open-air shopping centers in Europe.

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

PIER 14 stands for fashion, lifestyle and culinary delights on the Baltic coast. The concept store brand offers guests an experience that goes far beyond ordinary shopping and dining. Previously, their concept store in Zinnowitz was named Store of the Year in 2015 and 2018 (Fashion category) by the German Retail Association. Now, the brand has won its Store of the Year Award for the third time, awarding the “Strandterasse” (beach terrace) in Ahlbeck, Germany in the concept store category.

The 2025 travel season is picking up speed and the ALEXA at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz is already seeing a significant increase in international visitors. The shopping center, which is owned by Union Investment and managed by Sonae Sierra is benefiting greatly from the ongoing recovery in Berlin tourism after the pandemic. With targeted concepts for national and international guests, ALEXA is consolidating its position as a premium destination at Alexanderplatz.

The Nordic Real Estate Forum 2025, held March 20 in Tallinn under the theme “New Normal in Real Estate,” examined the critical intersection of technology and sustainability in commercial real estate. Key discussions revolved around geopolitical uncertainties, infl ation, and shifting investment strategies, but one theme stood out across panels: technology’s role in enabling ESG compliance and operational efficiency.

The multisports specialist Decathlon and the department store chain GALERIA announced a strategic cooperation that aims to change the retail sector in Germany in the long term. As part of this cooperation, Decathlon is opening new stores at several GALERIA locations throughout Germany.

LATEST TRENDS

Shopping Malls in the USA, Middle East, and Asia are not just places to shop but have emerged as epicenters of social interaction, thrill, and recreation. Europe is on the brink of embracing this trend, says Matthias Clostermann, Owner and General Manager at Clostermann Design. Therefore, malls across the continent are inching towards becoming entertainment hubs. But there is still a lot of hesitation.

The biggest challenge facing the F&B industry is the cost of doing business. While the coronavirus has run its course through the markets, operators are struggling to return to profitability in the face of current economic challenges. Ian Hanlon, Director of Coverpoint, explains how the current challenges can be addressed and highlights trends in the shopping center food scene using best practice examples from the industry.

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

PLANS OF INVESTORS AND OWNERS

“Without experimenting, you cannot learn anything,” states Ihsan Elgin, Executive Board Member of Finberg. As an investor, he is very serious about the impact of the metaverse on life and business. The convergence of virtual and real realms within the metaverse allows companies to fasten collaboration as well as to enhance communication, and this is only one of his conclusions.

“The rapid change in the world now necessitates being more than an observer and follower; it requires rapid implementation,” states Yurdaer Kahraman, FIBA CP CEO and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board. Therefore, he values the Metaverse as an engaging way to reach a younger, digitally connected consumer audience. He shows the perspective of a company that took the metaverse path very early.

E-Commerce does not run over shopping centers because they offer much more than a shared space where people purchase different products. To enhance the appeal of traditional shopping mall experiences, especially to Gen Z customers, enriching these “add-ons” is crucial. A new generation and metaverse-based loyalty programs can be a big part of this. Ahmet Usta, ELYT.net Co-Founder, explains what Metaverse business cases make sense for the placemaking industry.

A metaverse use case in practice: Fiba Commercial Properties and Elyt.net introduced at İnegöl Shopping Mall, Turkey, a metaverse-based, new-generation loyalty program. The important learning: Consumers are ready. The interest in the program was unbelievably high. Visitors were happy to receive gifts and be part of an application that involved innovative technology like NFT.

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