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Shopping Centers Today -> April 2001
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NEW FORMAT COMES TO SPRING CONVENTION
The annual ICSC Spring Convention May 20-23 will seem new even to the event’s most seasoned veterans.
In a major break with tradition, the convention’s three main components — the Leasing Mall, Trade Expo and educational sessions — will run concurrently on Monday and Tuesday. Hence the convention’s name, “Three in One in 2001: The One for You.” The Trade Expo still starts on Sunday.
“That has been received very positively by many members,” said Phyllis Peterson, manager of leasing, deal making and exposition sales for ICSC. “People can come in on the Saturday and get straight down to work.”
A wall separating the Expo from the Leasing Mall will come down to create a single space for the opening of the Leasing Mall in the Convention Center Monday. business reporter Mike Jensen.
While morning and luncheon presentations and panel discussions will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton, post-lunch sessions will take place at the Convention Center. This marks the first year that ICSC has organized Tuesday afternoon sessions, according to Lorraine Mazza, staff vice president of conventions and conferences; up to now sessions have ended Tuesday morning.
Thanks to ICSC’s revamped Web site, exhibitors have known about some of these changes well ahead of time. They have been able to log on and find out all about the Leasing Mall and Trade Expo as well as get a floor plan, drawings, booth design criteria, a listing of other exhibitors, and a link allowing them to create their listings in the convention directory.
“In our mailing costs, we are saving a ton,” said Peterson. Up until now, the registration process has involved four separate mailings — some quite heavy — to each of the 800 or so exhibitors. The Web site also is saving people a ton of time, having dramatically reduced the number of telephone calls from exhibitors with questions, Peterson said.
The Expo and Leasing Mall have sold out well in advance of the convention once again, although the waiting list is shorter this year than last, Peterson said. That is due to continued industry consolidation rather than the economic slowdown, she added.
There will be 850 companies in the Leasing Mall and 330 at the Expo. The vast majority of those who exhibited last year are returning, and they will be joined by some new ones. In an expanded municipalities court, economic development delegations are coming for the first time from New York City; Boston; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Harrison County, Miss.
Again this year there will be leasing suites on the Mezzanine level, and 13 companies will play host to leasing meetings there.
Even though the Leasing Mall is opening early, there will still be a full program of panel discussions and presentations. Tuesday’s “blockbuster” general session will feature retired CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, and Crate & Barrel founder Gordon Segal will follow with a luncheon address. Other guest speakers will include Parris N. Glendening, governor of Maryland; and Mike Jensen, former chief financial correspondent at NBC News.
There also will be a full array of panel discussions.
Meanwhile, ICSC is expected to appoint John M. Ingram, vice chairman of Arlington, Va.-based The Mills Corp., to be its chairman for the following year. He will take over from Chairman Robert L. Ward, president of Westcor Partners, Phoenix.
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