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Local Governments, Global Developers and Retailers Meet to Focus on Growth Opportunities

ICSC RECon Asia 2010 convenes November 7-9, Beijing International Hotel and Convention Center

BEIJING, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. (ICSC), organizer of RECon Asia 2010, had begun the countdown to its fifth annual regional convention and exhibition at Beijing International Hotel and Convention Center November 7-9.

The program starts on November 7 with management training sessions RECon Academy followed by an evening welcoming reception. Beijing Vice-Mayor Cheng Hong will formally open the RECon Asia 2010 conference and exhibition November 8. The two-day exhibition and conference brings together global retailers, consultants, global and regional developers, architects and solutions providers to focus on industry trends and prospects.

Previously known as ICSC Asia Expo, the annual exhibition and convention was renamed RECon Asia to align with ICSC's "RECON" brand known in North America, Latin America and the Middle East.

The RECon Academy on November 7 offers two comprehensive half-day sessions for mall operators on shopping center management and leasing. "Owners and investors have long called for quality on-the-job education programs to build up mall management talent as China's inventory of international caliber retail centers keeps growing," explained ICSC Asia Pacific Director Tan Guan Heng.

The workshop covers the gamut, from improving cost efficiencies to establishing the perfect retail mix. "We're offering really practical and locally adaptable tools that top mall managers have honed over the years," Mr Tan said.

CONVENTION FOCUS ON CHINA GROWTH

"Naturally, a lot of discussion will focus on China, our host market," Mr Tan said. At the conference, developers and retailers will focus on expansion opportunities in China's first-, second- and third-tier markets, and consider strategies to capitalize on them.  In some cases, delegates will get to hear government representatives on economic plans being mapped in Chengdu, home to the fast emerging Qingyang District, and in the historic city of Xian.

And on the "Retail Runway" top global retailers such as Cotton On, Desigual (Spain), List Fashion Group (Italy), Sacoor Brothers (Portugal), Parfois (Portugal) and Vivienne Westwood will give presentations on their latest concepts in branding and marketing innovation.

EXHIBITION GLITTER

There will be also be plenty of flash provided by some of the region's most prominent developers showcasing mall projects, each tailored to capture China's and Asia's huge growth potential.  The list includes Aeon Mall, Ayala Land, Beijing Hualian Group, CapitaMalls Asia, DLF, Sands Retail Asia and Yangguang.

Global recognition to Asia Shopping Centers

The annual ICSC Asia Shopping Center Awards, now recognized as the region's benchmark standard for the retail industry's top marketing and development initiatives, will be presented at a reception on November 8, following the first day's conference program. This year 120 entries representing 14 Asian countries have been selected as finalists for its Asia Shopping Centre Awards competition. "For the first time, we have 10 finalists from Mainland China -- providing yet more quality opportunities to retailers who seek to expand their reach into this multi-billion-dollar market." said Mr. Tan.

ICSC Study Tour

A pre-event Study Tour November 2-6 will offer global players an up-close look at China's super-charged focus on quality: Shanghai's spectacularly transformed and now upscale Huai Hai Lu; Beijing's BHG Shangdi Mall, probably China's boldest adaptation of the American suburban mall model; and Dalian's transformative face-lift of the Dalian Tianxing Roosevelt Center. The tour, sponsored by mall developers Beijing Hualian Group and Perennial and commercial real estate consultants TCBL and T&C promises retail professionals first-hand insights on China's high-growth, fast-changing retail economy.

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, China's retail sales of consumer goods for the first half of 2010 totaled RMB 7.27 trillion (USD1.09 trillion), 18.2% up on the same period in 2009.

RECon Asia 2010 is sponsored by: CapitaMalls Asia (Diamond), Beijing Hualian Group, Perennial, DLF (Platinum), MK Illumination, Sands Retail Asia (Gold), TCBL, Yangguang Co Ltd (Silver) and CBRE (Knowledge Partner).  For more information on ICSC RECon Asia, please visit http://www.icsc.org/2010APC/index.php

About the International Council of Shopping Centers, (ICSC)

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials.  As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world.  For more information, visit www.icsc.org

For media registration please contact:

Hong Kong

Sandra Pang/Rachel Chung
Pronto Communications
Email: prontopr@pacific.net.hk
Tel: +852-2540-6872 / +86-159-2155-0440

Beijing

Merry Yin
Pronto Communications
Email: Merry.yin@prontochina.com
Tel: +86-10-8451-2339 / +86-135-8184-4086

Source: International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. (ICSC)
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