 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Shopping Centers Today -> April 2004
 PRINT THIS STORY: |
  CHANGE TEXT SIZE: |
|
SPRING CONVENTION TO LOOK FORWARD — AND BACK
BY DEBRA HAZEL
Many of retail real estate’s greenest novices will have an opportunity to quiz some of the industry’s most influential veterans when professionals from around the world gather for ICSC’s 47th annual Spring Convention, which this year is titled “Shopping Centers: A Legacy of Excellence.”
Last year more than 32,000 delegates came from 48 countries. At least as many again are expected at this year’s show, to be held May 23-26 in Las Vegas.
Among the experienced hands participating in this session about turning points in the industry are Matthew Bucksbaum, chairman of General Growth Properties; Norman M. Kranzdorf, senior vice president of retail at Urdang Associates Real Estate Advisors; and Rebecca Maccardini, SCMD, president of Rebecca Maccardini Resources. Leading the discussion will be former ICSC President John T. Riordan. Besides talking about the growth of the business and sharing their own perspectives on the future, the panelists will take questions from the audience. Once again, there will be two days of educational sessions covering a range of issues, from the local to the global. On Monday morning the annual mayors’ panel will explore public and private partnerships. At press time the mayors of Akron, Ohio; Detroit; Hempstead, N.Y.; and Long Beach, Calif., were on the program.
Immediately following, the year’s “hottest retailers” — selected through a survey of hundreds of shopping center managers across North America — will be honored at the second annual awards ceremony. This year’s host will be supermodel and designer Kathy Ireland, who will offer perspectives on lifestyle changes, media influences, marketing trends and global conditions that affect consumers’ thinking and shopping habits.
As always, attendees can do more than just talk shop. Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard will deliver an inspirational speech at Tuesday’s breakfast. And later that morning there will be a debate about the impact of the U.S. presidential election on the industry between Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak and Bill Press, co-moderator of MSNBC’s Buchanan and Press.
At lunch Robert L. Tillman, chairman and CEO of Lowe’s Cos., will discuss the growth of his company from a single hardware store in 1946 to a chain of more than 900 home improvement superstores today. Concurrent sessions that afternoon will include panels on “smart growth,” post-Sept. 11 security and retailing in secondary markets.
As always, the meeting will include three days each of the Leasing Mall, at which professionals from around the world gather to strike deals, and the Trade Expo, where vendors and suppliers to the industry display their goods and services. At press time 830 companies were scheduled to exhibit in the Leasing Mall and 320 in the Trade Expo.
Social events include an hour-long cocktail reception at the Trade Expo on Sunday that begins at 4:30 p.m. The Trade Expo will display exhibitors’ promotional boards in the Public Sector Plaza. (In years past this was called the Municipality Court but has been renamed to better reflect the breadth of the exhibitors, not all of which represent municipalities.)
The traditional Sunday evening Welcome Reception will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel from 6 to 7:30. The Next Generation Reception for professionals new to retail real estate will take place later that evening from 9 to 11 at Rain at the Palms Casino Hotel. Preregistration is required for the Next Generation event.
 | Current Issue March 2010 |