Over 700 delegates are expected at the 2014 International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) European Conference, being held from 2-3 April 2014 at the Istanbul Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
The 2014 ICSC European Conference focuses on consumers, who no longer have to conform to prescribed shopping centre opening hours as they can shop on-line, but increasingly look to their local shopping centre for leisure rather than just retail enjoyment.
Chair of the 2014 ICSC European Conference programme planning committee, Klaus Striebich, Managing Director Leasing at ECE Projektmanagement, said: “Shopping patterns have changed for ever, and e-commerce is a valuable retail channel but it cannot deliver everything shoppers want, and that presents shopping centres with a golden opportunity. The 2014 ICSC European Conference looks at how we can serve shoppers better and we will hear from inspirational speakers on wide-ranging topics.”
“It will bring together the retail real estate community and all stakeholders to discuss new ideas and ways to create a common future for retail and shopping centres.”
ICSC is proud to announce that Mr Ali Babacan, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey and an expert in international business has agreed to be the keynote speaker. Other expert speakers include eBay Marketplaces Vice President, Alexander von Schirmeister, on eBay’s approach to customer service; retailers such as Daniel Lopez, board member at MANGO; and investors such as Robert Welanetz of Blackstone who is also a Past Trustee ICSC. Other speakers for the two-day event include international economists, shopping centre asset managers and the CEOs of some of Europe’s most important shopping centre companies, including Christophe Cuvillier, CEO of Unibail-Rodamco and Alexander Otto, CEO of ECE Projektmanagement who will participate in the highly regarded ICSC European Conference CEO Panel session.
Striebich added: “Changing consumer shopping habits requires a different approach by shopping centre developers and asset managers. The ICSC European Conference is the only dedicated annual event focused entirely on this multi-billion euro industry that contributes substantial employment and investment into local and national economies across Europe. I am delighted to be leading the 2014 Conference planning committee and to sharing new ideas with industry leaders from across the world who, along with the next generation of professionals, have the absolutely critical task of seizing the initiative and driving the industry forward.”