Tribal gathering
Published: 08 May, 2008
In an unprecedented time of challenges, the All Ireland Retail Property Forum unites all sectors of the industry
This year promises to be the most challenging in memory for the shopping centre development community. The jury is out on where property values are going – some analysts forecast a crash, others believe a soft landing is most likely. While this year will see a slow-down in new openings, the development pipeline is still operating at full capacity with a new generation of bigger and more complex schemes on the drawing board.
With this in mind, Shopping Centre Ireland is promoting a new one-day conference for all sectors to address the challenges the current market presents. The All Ireland Retail Property Forum will take place at the Conrad Hotel, on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, on Thursday 18 September.
The day will be divided into four streams on the four big boxes developers and advisors have to tick to deliver a successful project: site assembly (including planning and infrastructure); funding; attracting retailers and consumers.
Although the event is still some months away it has received an unprecedented response from high-level speakers from government and industry able to give a unique insight into the current development climate.
Keynote speaker John Gormley TD, Environment Minister, will set out the policy framework for the next generation of retail-led regeneration projects. Joining him are developers Dominic Deeney of Chartered Land and John Laker of Centros, currently battling it out for Dublin’s northside, who will give an insider’s view of the trials of site assembly, funding and planning to overcome before a project even breaks ground.
Some of Ireland’s top legal, financial and academic speakers will explore each of these areas in a practical way, and the session will be brought to a close with the fascinating and original consumer insights of Anthony Stokan, a Canadian who travels the world studying consumer behaviour. His book, Naked Consumption, is a highly-regarded road map for the future of retail.
The All Ireland Retail Property Forum will be an annual fixture for the Irish property, retail and construction communities. Now, when quality information is at a premium, is the time to launch such an event. And to complement the daytime conference, Shopping Centre Ireland is delighted to announce its highly prized awards will be granted in Ireland for the first time. In the evening, at the glittering Conrad venue, the first All Ireland Retail Property Awards will recognise best practice and best people in the industry.
Sponsors are Willaim Fry solicitors, Tughans solicitors and Photo-Me.
For more information call +44 1293 851869 or email sci@mcculloughmoore.co.uk
