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PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

Since opening in 2016, Avion has grown to become one of northern Sweden’s most popular destinations for retail, leisure, and food experiences. Now, the next step is being taken when Ingka Centres begins the first phase of the expansion of Avion Shopping. As Umeå grows, the meeting place will be expanded by 12,000 sqm with the goal of continuing to be a vibrant local meeting place with positive experiences in focus. The project is estimated to cost approximately 31 million euros and will be completed in autumn 2025.

With the official opening ceremony on Friday 21 June 2024, SES Spar European Shopping Centers has successfully implemented its first hotel project. After just under two years of construction, with harry’s home a timeless and modern city hotel has been created in the center of Lienz, Austria.

Sonae Sierra avoided €22 million in operating costs during 2023 by implementing a wide range of measures that improved eco-efficiency levels. According to the Economic Environmental and Social Report (EES Report) for 2023, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 88% since 2005, reduced its electricity consumption by 68% since 2002 and achieved a 41% reduction in water consumption since 2003. The firm’s waste recycling rate has significantly increased 255% since 2002, reaching 67% in 2023.

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

Retail parks have established themselves as one of the most stable asset classes in the retail sector in recent years. Making clever adjustments to the tenant mix ensures both the security and long-term development of a retail property. That fact is clearly demonstrated by a number of assets in MEC’s portfolio, in particular, by the Dreieich Nordpark case study, as Christian Thiele, Head of Leasing Management at MEC, explains.

“Across all markets, we are seeing that retail has remained a resilient and thriving sector,” explains Cristina Santos, Executive Director Property Management at Sonae Sierra. More than almost any other European company, Sonae Sierra is strategically diversified across several regions and adapts to the specific requirements of each. The company has extensive experience with its own properties and has increasingly used that knowledge as a cornerstone of its approach to manage third-party properties.

Retail is polarizing towards the absolute top locations, among them metropolitan locations, and A-cities. There are many cases proving this but there are also exceptions – and not just any, but successful exceptions. The recent DeepTalk online-discussion took a closer look at one such exception and looked a little behind the letting and positioning strategies of the Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken in Germany, one of the outstanding best-practice examples.

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

LATEST TRENDS

It is a complex task to ensure project profitability. There is a struggle between doing what is right and what is reasonable. As an expert in the world F&B development Will Odwarka, founder and CEO of Dubai-based firm Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, states in his newest column: “However, in an ever-growing and competitive landscape, it is crucial to establish distinguishing factors that are recognizable and embrace them wholeheartedly.”

Frequency, length of stay, atmosphere – there are many reasons why gastronomic offerings are an essential part of retail. Olaf Hohmann, Head of Retail Gastronomy Research at the EHI Retail Institute, uses Germany as an example to show the development, trends, and potential of retail gastronomy.

“Le big TamTam” is an extraordinary project in the heart of Hamburg’s city center that combines culinary diversity, entertainment, and modern shopping – all within a heritage-protected building. A colorful food market, complete with an event stage and central bar, is being developed on an area of 2,000 sq m in the basement level of Hamburg’s Hanseviertel district. Extensive remodeling work has been underway since last year. The team at umdasch The Store Makers is responsible for general contracting work and furniture construction for this flagship project.

Start of construction and strong letting success for the new “Food Garden” in the Main-Taunus-Zentrum: In November, construction work began on the new highlight in the middle of the shopping center – a high-quality and varied range of restaurants with five free-standing restaurant buildings, partly covered and partly open terraces, green outdoor areas and sophisticated architecture. The opening is planned for spring 2025.

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

Few changes have been as noticeable in business and society as the technological developments of the last 15 years. New platforms and digital ecosystems have opened up huge new global opportunities. Within the shopping center industry, a whole new segment has emerged: The Proptech sector. Peter Tonstad, CEO of Placewise, looks back, explains the most important developments, and reveals the biggest challenges facing retail real estate.

Meeting customer expectations for omnichannel experiences is key to the success of the mall of the future, argues Peter Tonstad in his PropTech column. His company, Placewise, is heavily investing in products in order to address the longer-term expectation that shopping centers will become true omnichannel offerings.

Now, more than ever, consumers want to reduce their overall expenditure, lower their consumption, and adopt sustainable practices. As a result, retail destinations must incorporate sustainability to meet growing customer expectations and nurture their customer relationships. That is why Coniq has created this list of top tips to help start any mall’s sustainability journey.

PLANS OF INVESTORS AND OWNERS

WHERE THE INDUSTRY MEETS