Events Update (April 22, 2020)

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Dear ICSC Members, 

The health and safety of our members and our team is ICSC's top priority. Since our March 13, 2020, announcement that all ICSC events through June 30, 2020, including RECon, were postponed, COVID‑19 has become the greatest public health crisis in our lifetime. The pandemic has led to business closures, city shutdowns and significant changes in behavior as we've shifted to working remotely and adhering to stay‑at‑home orders. Our thoughts are with all of those who have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by COVID‑19.

As we weigh the prospect of scheduling future live events, we are guided by the action and direction of the CDC and local and national authorities, while also considering input from our members. After much deliberation and consultation with our Chair, Vice Chair and Executive Board, it is with disappointment that we have determined RECon as well as other ICSC events that were scheduled to take place before August 15, 2020, will not be held this year. Event registrants and exhibitors will receive an individual notice offering options to either roll over your registration and/or exhibitor fees to that same event in 2021 or receive a refund. Your membership status will remain unchanged.

ICSC's Annual Meeting of Members that typically takes place at RECon each year, along with the approval of the new slate of Board of Trustees, ICSC Chair and Vice Chair, will now be scheduled for December 2020 during New York Deal Making. All current officers and Trustee terms will remain in effect through this time, and we sincerely thank them for their continued service during this difficult period.

Given the fluidity of the situation and our priority on member safety, it is difficult to determine with specificity our live event schedule post August 15, 2020. In addition to New York Deal Making, we are tentatively planning to limit our event schedule for the remainder of 2020 to five regional deal makings, beginning with the Florida Conference & Deal Making in late August, as well as the U.S. Law Conference and CenterBuild Conference. However, these plans are subject to change as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID‑19. We will communicate with you frequently and will provide up‑to‑date information about our event schedule on ICSC.com.

We are now offering ICSC Connect, an enhanced Virtual Business and Professional Learning Series, twice weekly and will soon be implementing new virtual events. ICSC Connect includes a robust calendar of topics to keep you informed and engaged on the issues we face navigating this new business environment. We are delivering news in real‑time with the more frequent distribution of SCT Week, and you can visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for the latest updates on our advocacy efforts, as well as information for small, mid‑ and large‑sized businesses, and individuals and families. Additionally, on May 4, 2020, we will launch a virtual community for industry discussion and best practice sharing among our members.

This is an unprecedented time in our history and one that has the potential to shape many aspects of our daily and professional lives going forward. ICSC remains committed to connecting the industry and helping our members navigate these uncharted waters. While we are saddened by the necessary changes in our event schedule, we look forward to serving you in new and unique ways.

Thank you for your support and membership through this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Tom McGee
President & CEO 
ICSC