Annual International Council Shopping Centers event runs Nov 2-4 at Intex Shanghai
SHANGHAI, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- With headline speakers teed up and exhibition space long sold out, the International Council of Shopping Centers is set for Wednesday's opening of ICSC RECon Asia 2011 at Intex Shanghai. The event runs November 2-4.
This is the sixth regional edition of the Council's annual convention and exhibition series, which draws together academic and government experts and the world's top executives in retail, retail real estate development, leasing, management and lending to focus on industry issues and trends.
This year's speakers and panelists include executives from Mango China, Walmart Asia, GAP, Inter IKEA Center, Disney Store, Starbucks, Taubman Asia -- the regional arm of US mall giant Taubman Centers.
"Our speakers testify to RECon Asia's growth as a genuine platform for global industry players not only for exploring Asia's possibilities, but also speaking to Asia about its opportunities and challenges," said ICSC Asia Pacific Director Tan Guan Heng.
With China rapidly urbanizing and increasingly focused on developing its domestic economy, coherent shopping center development and management become crucial. Inevitably, consumer spending -- only 37% of GDP compared to 60% or more in developed economies -- will account for a much bigger share of the Chinese economy.
While this year's event focuses on China, delegates can hear how different industry players view prospects across Asia as they compare and contrast PRC opportunities with those in their home markets. In short, RECon Asia sessions remain anchored in the wider Asian context.
The conference will tackle issues ranging from urban planning and currency risk to the changing interplay of international brand retailers and how shopping centers cope as more brands consolidate into fewer ownership groups.
In addition to conference sessions, ICSC will again operate its RECon Academy, which offers enrollees a chance to drill down into two crucial areas to professional development, namely management training and leasing.
"We've had a remarkable run-up to this year's event," Tan said. "Our exhibition space sold out faster than I've ever seen. Academy seats disappeared just as quickly and, judging from delegate registrations so far, it looks like we'll see a full house when last-minute opening day registrations are toted up."
RECon Asia 2011's major exhibitors and sponsors include: AEON Mall, Ayala Land, Inter IKEA Centre Group, Insite Asset Management Group, McDonald's, SCP, Starbucks, Taubman Asia, Taubman TCBL, The Link REIT and Yangguang Co. Ltd.
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.
Contact:
Cat Chan
+86-130-4416-3241
cchan@icsc.org
