NEW YORK, March 11, 2016 – As the world of retail continues to evolve and adapt in the 21st century, the so-called “post-recession rebound” is a thing of the past; the industry is at its strongest that it has been in years. The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is excited to continue this momentum at RECon 2016, the world’s largest conference for the retail real estate industry to be held May 22-25 in Las Vegas.
ICSC’s #RECon16 is a can’t-miss for anyone involved in the retail real estate industry. Last year’s show hit record levels with more than 36,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors – and two-time Super Bowl Champion Peyton Manning as the keynote. This year’s show is shaping up to be one for the books with unparalleled networking, deal making and educational opportunities for professionals around the world.
Check out the top five talks below with Earvin “Magic” Johnson headlining the A-list lineup of keynotes that include Zappos CEO and venture capitalist Tony Hsieh; makeup maven and lifestyle expert Bobbi Brown; Restoration Hardware CEO and Chairman Gary Friedman; and global strategist Parag Khanna.
- The conference’s keynote is Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of the most powerful African-American businessmen in the world. He is a Major League Baseball owner, an NBA Legend, a two-time Hall of Famer, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a motivational speaker. A man of many hats, Johnson has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into the business world, propelling his company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, to the status of #1 Brand in Urban America. He also serves as the Chairman and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation, which is currently celebrating over 20 years of success.
- Keynote speaker Tony Hsieh is the Author of #1 NYT Bestseller, "Delivering Happiness" and Zappos CEO. "Delivering Happiness” outlines his path from starting a worm farm to life at Zappos. He shows how a very different kind of corporate culture is a powerful model for achieving success and happiness. Hsieh is also leading the “Downtown Project,” a group committed to transforming downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world. And, he’s hosting a happy hour, complete with tours, tacos, and a llama, at his Downtown Project on Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 4:30-6:30pm for RECon attendees.
- Keynote speaker Bobbi Brown is the founder and chief creative officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. She changed the face of makeup, filling a void in the market of simple, flattering and wearable makeup. In addition to running her company, she regularly shares her expertise, that extends far beyond the beauty industry, on television, in magazines and newspapers, and online. Her message is, "The secret to beauty is simple—be who you are.”
- Gary Friedman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Restoration Hardware, is a true example of how far hard work and dedication can go, as he humbly began his career at The Gap Inc. as a stock boy in 1977. Friedman spent 11 years with The Gap Inc., in various leadership positions, becoming the youngest manager in the company's history, in addition to the company's youngest district manager and regional manager. Prior to Restoration Hardware, he worked for Williams-Sonoma, Inc., holding many top level positions.
- Parag Khanna is a leading global strategist, world traveler, and best-selling author. Dr. Khanna frequently speaks at international conferences and holds a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics, and has both a Bachelors and Masters from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Dr. Khanna has a laundry list of awards under his belt and has served as a distinguished fellow many times. In 2008, Dr. Khanna was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century,” and was featured in WIRED magazine’s “Smart List.”
Don’t miss out – follow updates on Twitter via @ICSC and use the hashtag #RECon16.
Registration is now open! Registration fees for ICSC RECon 2016 are $570 for members in advance and $1,120 for non-members in advance. To qualify for the advanced rate, registration must be completed by April 29, 2016. To register, contact ICSC’s Members Services Department at 646-728-3800, or register online. Press registration is complimentary. To obtain press credentials contact Noelle Malone in ICSC’s media relations department at 646-728-3540 or nmalone@icsc.org.