The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference is an annual event that brings together professionals in the retail industry. ICSC Las Vegas was held May 21st-23rd this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Each year, the event provides an opportunity for industry experts to network, share ideas, and learn about new trends and innovations in the retail industry.
“It was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces, strengthen our current partnerships, and establish valuable new connections,” says Claudia Crow, Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy at TCN Worldwide Real Estate Services. “Our team had an exceptional time at ICSC Las Vegas, solidifying existing partnerships and forging new relationships at one of the largest events in the commercial real estate industry.”
Justin Shoemaker, Executive Vice President with Landmark, who has been attending ICSC’s annual conference for nearly twenty years, primarily utilizes the single largest retail conference to connect and drive business.
“This conference is incredibly productive,” adds Shoemaker. “Many deals are made during the three days. What the general public is probably unaware of is that retailers and restaurants end up in the communities we live in because of this event.”
Shoemaker also indicated that while most initial introductions are done before the conference, the event is an in-person forum that allows you to put faces with names. Meetings are held every half hour in shopping center or retailer booths. He typically schedules sixteen meetings a day.
The three-day conference featured educational sessions, keynote speeches, and an exhibition hall, where attendees learned about new products and services related to the retail industry. Shoemaker noted that while you see some familiar brands, it is an excellent place for new companies and brands to splash.
Some of the educational sessions included:
- Understanding the Retailer’s Site Selection Criteria –attendees discovered why retailers select one site over another, how retail site selection is as much of a science as an art form, what data they use to determine their decision, and the information used to pitch committees.
- Developing Where We Shop, Dine, Live, Work, and Play –attendees heard industry experts discuss various aspects of a mixed-used development and how planning, design, operations, finance, and leasing all come together to create vibrant centers and communities.
- Innovative Strategies for a Transformative Future – attendees learned the strategies retail and economic development experts use to reimagine their communities and how retailers view site selection within those areas.
With over 30,000 attendees from around the globe, it was an incredible opportunity for Landmark and TCN to connect with investors, developers, brokers, and retailers across almost every industry sector.
Landmark and TCN Worldwide look forward to the new and exciting developments that will emerge next year at ICSC 2024. As retail real estate continues to evolve, the annual event remains the conference of the year for high-level networking and new business opportunities in the retail industry.
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