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Search Results for: shopping center – Page 29

Alexander Otto wins award at MAPIC 2025 /// Credit: ECE

ECE CEO Alexander Otto receives Lifetime Award at MAPIC 2025

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.

Left: Magnolia Park in Wrocław, Poland, Right: Marek Noetzel /// Credit: NEPI Rockcastle

NEPI ROCKCASTLE: “A STRONG GERMANY IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR REGION”

NEPI Rockcastle is on the path to growth: Its portfolio value is over €8 billion, net operating income has risen by 12%, and occupancy rates are close to 100%. In this interview, Marek Noetzel explains how the company has achieved such results despite geopolitical uncertainties, why retail parks are thriving while mega deals are stalling, and how photovoltaic and mixed-use projects are shaping the future of retail in CEE.

Credit: Echo Investment

Echo Investment sells Libero Katowice, Poland

The largest single-asset retail transaction of the year in Poland has been finalized, as Echo Investment sells Libero shopping center to Summus Capital, an Estonian-based investment company. The value of the deal amounts to €103 million.

Credit: BIG CEE

How BIG CEE is redefining Retail in the Balkans

BIG CEE has rapidly grown into a leading force in Southeast Europe’s retail real estate market. CEO Lev Weiss discusses the company’s journey, from its first projects in Serbia to major milestones across the Balkans, and shares his vision for future expansion and brand building in the region.

From left to right: BIG Andrychow, BIG FASHION Novi Sad, Big Čačak /// Credit: BIG CEE

THINKING BIG: FROM THE BALKANS TO POLAND

BIG Shopping Centers Ltd. was founded in 1994 and has grown from a local property developer into a global real estate group with operations in Israel, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. Today, the company is valued at approximately €4.45 billion on the TASE and holds nearly 90% of AFI Properties Ltd., extending its reach to seven countries and more than 1.38 million sqm of leasable space. Its portfolio includes open-air shopping centers, malls, outlets, offices, and even renewable energy, with a consistent focus on creating long-term value through brand strength and operational excellence.

Credit: © Westfield Donau Zentrum

50 Years of Westfield Donau Zentrum in Vienna: A Milestone Shaping the Future of Urban Retail

Vienna’s Westfield Donau Zentrum is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the motto “50 Years of Future – Shaping the Shopping Experience of Tomorrow.” Austria’s largest shopping and leisure destination is not only looking back at five decades of transformation but also forward, with a clear focus on innovation, sustainability, and urban quality of life.

Image credit: MPC Properties /// Portrait credit: Miomir Milic

GREEN CONSTRUCTION, HEALTHY SPACES: MPC PROPERTIES’ SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY

From pioneering Serbia’s first LEED-certified shopping center to installing solar plants and creating rooftop gardens, MPC Properties is setting new benchmarks in sustainable real estate. This exclusive article by Slobodan Cupać, Head of Technical Operation and Facility Management, reveals how green construction, energy efficiency, and community engagement are shaping a healthier, more resilient future.

CC REAL’S GASTRONOMY STRATEGY: “HANDS-ON MANAGEMENT INSTEAD OF STANDARD SOLUTIONS”

Gastronomy is no longer just a side element, but a key factor for the attractiveness and dwell time of shopping centers. At CC Real, F&B, therefore, has a permanent place in the expansion and repositioning strategy. Why culinary diversity is a matter for top management, which trends they consistently embrace, and why courage, hands-on management, and individual concepts make the difference: Those are the topics discussed by Markus Brugger, Managing Director Asset Management, and Sorin Scurtu, Executive Director Leasing. Despite their enthusiasm for gastronomy, the managers have a clear message: Well-executed gastronomy is a differentiating factor, but not a universal remedy.

Credit: ACREM

Shaping Retail in Albania: QTU Celebrates 20th Anniversary

QTU, Albania’s first shopping center, marks its 20th anniversary – celebrating two decades of redefining retail, leisure, and family experiences. The milestone highlights a story of innovation, customer loyalty, and strong emotional connection. Its month-long anniversary campaign drew record footfall and reinforced QTU’s position as Albania’s most established and future-ready shopping destination.

Credit: CEEPlay

DESIGNING PLAYFUL LANDMARKS AND TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC SPACES

Ibrahim Eker is the founder of CEEPlay, a company that has become known across Europe and beyond for its unique realizations of placemaking through innovative, architectural playgrounds. Collaborating closely with Carve, a design studio that is world-renowned for its groundbreaking work, CEEPlay has turned children’s playgrounds and public spaces into eye-catching landmarks that stimulate not only children, but the communities around them. In this in-depth conversation, he reflects on his journey, his design philosophy, the impact of play on urban environments, and the future of public space.

Credit: Alkaş & HAN Spaces

“TÜRKIYE’S RETAIL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK FOR 2025”

The retail market in Türkiye is undergoing radical change: There are fewer but stronger new store openings, record rents in Istanbul’s prime locations, and global brands positioning themselves alongside ambitious Turkish players expanding abroad. With steady demand fueled by tourism and projects such as Florentia Village and Tersane İstanbul redefining urban destinations, 2025 has been all about selective growth, seamless customer touchpoints, and retail at the heart of city life.

Credit: HyperIn

HOW MONETIZATION STRATEGIES ARE EVOLVING WITH TECHNOLOGY

What if your shopping center could predict which tenant would fail three months before they knew it themselves? What if empty walls and busy corridors could generate as much revenue as the stores beside them? What if finding the perfect pop-up tenant took minutes instead of months?

Credit: BALFIN Group

BALFIN GROUP: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS AND BEYOND

With malls, retail parks, hotels, and housing projects, BALFIN Group is setting new standards in Southeast Europe. In this interview, Vice President Csaba Toth outlines the expansion from the Balkans to Western markets and explains why digital innovation and an integrated approach make BALFIN a prime partner for investors and brands.

Credit: umdasch

EXPERIENCE TRUMPS SPACE: WHY RETAIL REAL ESTATE NOW NEEDS TO OFFER MORE THAN SQUARE METERAGE

The traditional formula of “square meters times footfall” has become less and less relevant. Silvio Kirchmair, CEO of umdasch The Store Makers, explains why retail properties today need to be places that offer experiences, partnerships, and pleasant atmospheres to survive the retail revolution. Away from pure space and toward lively, multi-functional locations – that’s how brick-and-mortar retail can make a comeback.

Credit: MK Illumination

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE OVER SQUARE METERS: HOW LIGHTING, IDENTITY, AND STORYTELLING MAKE RETAIL REAL ESTATE FUTURE-PROOF

In a world where square meters no longer guarantee success, Thomas Mark, President of MK Illumination Group, argues that the future of retail lies in how spaces make us feel. From safety to storytelling, light plays a pivotal role in transforming commercial real estate into places of belonging, optimism, and human connection. As retail shifts from transaction to transformation, emotionally intelligent design is becoming a strategic necessity not just to attract visitors but to inspire loyalty, community, and lasting value.

Credit: FREY

FROM PROMENADES TO OUTLETS: FREY’S BOLD PATH TO MARKET LEADERSHIP

FREY Group has transformed the retail landscape with its open-air Shopping Promenades, and now it is venturing boldly into the outlet sector. In this exclusive interview, Chairman & CEO Antoine Frey explains why the acquisition of ROS was pivotal, how cultural placemaking and B Corp sustainability guide the company’s vision, and why projects like Malmö Designer Village and Designer Outlet Berlin are setting new standards across Europe.

HUMA IN SANKT AUGUSTIN – A PIONEER OF THE HYBRID RETAIL CONCEPT

The huma shopping center in Sankt Augustin is a unique development in the German retail sector: An established center has been successfully combined with a fully-fledged outlet area for the first time. ACROSS spoke with Dr. Maximilian Gutsche, Managing Director of the Jost Hurler Group, and Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Group, about the background, implementation, and market success of this model, as well as how it could be replicated elsewhere.