ICSC Convention Recap
The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) real estate convention, RECon 2017 was held from May 21 – 24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year, the conference lived up to its billing as the “World’s Largest Retail Real Estate Convention” with an estimated crowd of 37,000. The impact of technology and social media on retail continued to be a major theme at the conference.
This was reflected by the keynote address given by Steve Wozniak, CoFounder of Apple and in the professional development seminars offered at the event.
Retailers and shopping center owners alike continue to be challenged by increasing competition from ecommerce businesses and the need to develop an effective multi-channel strategy in this rapidly changing, and increasingly mobile, retail landscape. Food, wellness and fitness were the HOT segments at this year’s convention.
My primary focus was to meet with national hotel and restaurant real estate executives and their tenant representatives. I was able to meet with seven national brands and a small contingent of new hotel brands considering the Kansas City market. It was very encouraging that all were very aware of the Gardner market and the announcement of a new Hampton Inn is being watched closely. A few real estate executives and tenant representatives are interested in the east side of I-35 and 175th St.
Overall it was a successful trip with many networking opportunities!
Click here to view the EDC ICSC brochure.
Site Consultant “Legend”, Mike Mullis, Visits SWJC Area
At the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) investor briefing held May 31, guest speaker J. Michael Mullis shared how Kansas City continues to be a location of choice.
Following the briefing, Mullis and his colleague, Denise Mott, joined EDC President, Greg Martinette, and KCADC President, Tim Cowden, for a tour of the Southwest Johnson County area.
“I suggested to Mike and his colleague, Denise, that they had to see all the development that had occurred in SW Johnson County since they were here a few years ago” explained Cowden. “It’s not often you can get someone of the project profile/client list of J. M. Mullis, Inc., to spend the better part of a morning doing windshield work in your community/region.
