Innovation, technology dominate RECon Europe, under way in London

“There is a stronger focus on innovation,” said William Kistler, ICSC's executive vice president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In addition to landlords and retailers, this year’s exhibitors include "PropTech" and experiential retail companies. “Those companies are all about reinventing the retail experience," Kistler said. "That is an element that’s becoming increasingly important, and we felt that had to be in the show as well.”

Representatives of some 44 million square metres of retail space and roughly 1,600 shopping destinations across 39 countries have converged on the Business Design Centre for this 11th annual conference to learn about some of the latest trends in travel; “retailtainment” and leisure; innovation; food-and-beverage; and high-street shopping.

"We are delighted to welcome leading retail brands such as Inditex, Arcadia and Uniqlo," Kistler said. Delegates are also hearing about the expansion plans of such companies as the Light Cinema, Olive Oil & Oregano and Gruppo Teddy. 

A panel discussion on flexible retail and involving representatives of BrandSpots, Store2Be, Storefront and We Are Pop Up will reveal how these concepts are revolutionizing the traditional retail experience.

Sarah Cole, manager of international research at ICSC, is presenting the highlights of ICSC’s latest research report on the socioeconomic impact of retail real estate in Europe.  

The landlord lineup is changing as well. In addition to shopping centre owners and managers, ICSC has also invited railway station managers for the first time. Grandi Stazioni Retail is among ICSC’s new railway amici. This unit of Gruppo Ferrovie Dello Italiane, the Italian national railway system, represents 13 of Italy’s largest railway stations — 1.5 million square metres of renovated space that upwards of 600 million passengers pass by annually, according to the company’s website — as well as three terminals in the Czech Republic.