Against a natural background

Promoting the concept of sustainable growth dominated discussion of the European conference of the International Council of Shopping Centres staged at Warsaw Hilton Hotel between 25th and 27th April. The event attracted around 1,000 professionals

from 37 countries

Annual ICSC conferences are one of the most important happenings on the European shopping market. Warsaw hosted the council’s members for the first time, mainly due to the Polish Council of Shopping Centres, which lobbied strongly to the benefit of the Polish capital.

Anna Szmeja-Kroplewska, PCSC’s director, remarked that: “Discussions on the subject started 3 years ago and in 2005 we visited European national council conferences accompanied by ICSC president Stephen Pragnell, to bring them round to our concept. Our mission was helped by the fact that the Polish shopping centres Stary Browar, Galeria Łódzka and Arkadia had been awarded prizes by the ICSC, with Stary Browar being chosen as the world’s best centre.

Prague and Barcelona had also competed with Warsaw for the right to host the European council.”

Szmeja-Kroplewska admits that: “I feel that Poland’s proximity to Russia and Ukraine and interest in our national market were major factors in the American ICSC head office’s decision.”

Council of sustainable centres

The central issue discussed during the Warsaw meeting was that of sustainable development. It became clear from statements delivered by speakers and participants that environmental protection and the construction of friendly environments, as well as energy-efficient shopping centres, are gaining in importance.

Dr. Noreen Hertz of Cambridge Judge School opened the second day of the conference: “Should a trading company or shopping centre be unable to explain its concept of environment protection to its customers, they will increasingly chose other shopping centres.” Jaap Gillis, board president of the European section of ICSC and operations head of Redevco Europe Services, expressed similar views: “The climate is changing and our industry should adapt to the new conditions, protect natural sources of energy and learn to care for the environment. Many companies have for years been actively protecting the environment. We must highlight that and encourage others to accept a similar innovative stance.”

Energy-efficient buildings and the discharge of pollution is one aspect of sustainable development. Shopping centre owners will have improve their approach to these issues, especially since the European Union is introducing strict environmental standards. The ICSC European Sustainability Working Group, the establishment of which was announced in Warsaw by Jaap Gillis, could assist them in this. He jokingly remarked that perhaps we should change the name of our organization to the International Council of Sustainable Centres.

The ‘ReSource’ prize to encourage ICSC members to work for the environment was awarded for the first time during the Warsaw conference. It went to Sonae Sierra a Portuguese developer. Apart from ‘ReSource’, ICSC also awarded several prizes and distinctions for best European shopping centres. Portugal dominated the gala celebrations, with Sonae Sierra as well as the Forum Coimbra project and Dolce Vita Centre of Amorim Imobiliaria – presently Chamartin – a company planning to enter the Polish market – attracting approval. The event also bore a Polish accent, with Silesia City Center in Katowice receiving a distinction in the very large centre category. (mk)