With the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) Spring Convention in Las Vegas just one week away, I’m seeing a lot of positive energy leading up to the event that has gotten my attention. From jam-packed schedules to more social events and sold out room and lodging packages, the excitement is contagious. In this week’s edition of Retail Rap, I discuss why I think this year’s event carries a renewed sense of enthusiasm about the future of our industry.
First off, everyone’s schedule is fully booked, and has been for the last several weeks. Not only is this the earliest I have known those personal and professional appointment books to be fully packed, but some meetings started being formally scheduled in March. I can’t remember a time when ICSC meetings were being planned that early in the year. The big question, of course, is whether or not those meetings will pan out: Will the busier schedules translate into deals or development momentum? There is no way to answer that question now, of course, but I think it is, at the very least, a positive indicator.
Check out the full article from my recurring column, Retail Rap, at Chain Store Age.