Expert series

Today we welcome guest author Will Odwarka, an International Hospitality and Franchise Expert with decades of executive leadership experience. Odwarka examines the profound impact of recent geopolitical tensions on Dubai’s hospitality sector, exploring how sudden revenue shocks are forcing a rapid structural shift. He argues that operators must move away from event-heavy, transit-reliant models toward more …

The shocking truth about Dubai’s hospitality panic (and who is secretly getting rich) Read More »

In a world driven by metrics, data points, and digital noise, it is easy to forget that the heart of any successful modern destination isn’t just its infrastructure—it is the emotion it evokes. As shopping centers and public spaces evolve into experience-driven hubs, the tools we use to engage visitors must evolve with them. True …

Gift Cards as the Most Underrated Marketing Tool of Modern Destinations Read More »

In this issue, retail strategist, four-time author, and pop-up expert Ghalia Boustani takes us beyond the hype of temporary retail to reveal the operational engine behind successful brand activations. In The Pop-Up Playbook: Management Strategies for Experiential Retail Success, she argues that pop-ups have evolved from simple short-term marketing stunts into a critical, multi-billion-dollar strategic channel. …

The Pop-Up Playbook: Management Strategies for Experiential Retail Success Read More »

In this issue, Linda Johansen-James, CEO of International Retail Group, explores a critical blind spot in modern commerce: why brands are losing customers before a transaction even begins. Drawing on a career spent coaching over 54,000 employees, the retail industry veteran argues that a front line team isn’t just a step in the buyer’s journey—they …

Your Frontline Team Is Your Brand: Why Retailers Are Losing Customers Before the Sale Even Starts Read More »

In this issue, Reinhard Winiwarter, Publisher of ACROSS Magazine and a veteran of European retail real estate, explores how customer insights have evolved into the industry’s most valuable asset. Drawing from his extensive career in center management and retail development, he examines thewidening data quality gap between retailers and property managers. Winiwarter argues that overcoming these …

From Gold to Currency: Why Data Sharing is the Future of Physical Retail Read More »

In this issue, Alex Andarakis, the Founder and Managing Director of Andarakis Advisory Services, explores the diverging retail strategies of Gymshark and Squat Wolf as they navigate the high-stakes transition from digitally native disruptors to physical retail powerhouses. While both brands achieved rapid scale through the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) model—leveraging influencer ecosystems and social media dominance—their shift into brick-and-mortar storefronts …

Clicks, Bricks, and Heavy Lifts: Decoding the Divergent Retail Playbooks of Gymshark and Squat Wolf Read More »

In an era where algorithms predict our needs before we feel them, the physical spaces we inhabit are undergoing a radical transformation. As we navigate the complexities of the 2026 property market, a singular truth has emerged: a building’s “intelligence” is only as valuable as the human connection it fosters. In this insightful article, Gabriele Bertini—a veteran …

In the Age of AI, Human-Centered Mixed-Use Is the Only Real Estate That Matters Read More »

Unfortunately, we live in an era where tragic attacks in public spaces are no longer “if” scenarios, but “when.” Whether it is a targeted act of violence or a sudden emergency, the vulnerability of high-traffic environments has never been more apparent. Yet, in this issue, we must address a sobering reality: while the risks evolve, …

Why Mall Security Can No Longer Wait Read More »

In this issue, Michel Žalac, founder of Caron Partners and growth operating partner for mixed-use destinations, explores the subtle but costly shift that happens when a destination stops feeling like one place. We often treat “digital transformation” as a checklist of tools, yet the most common point of failure isn’t a lack of technology—it is the presence of fragmentation. When …

When a Destination Stops Feeling Like One Place Read More »

n the world of retail property, we are obsessed with metrics. We track foot traffic with laser precision. We analyze sales per square meter until the spreadsheets bleed. We celebrate the success of marketing campaigns based on clicks and impressions. But despite all this data, most shopping centers are still facing one fundamental, existential problem: They …

The Invisible Shopper: Why Modern Malls are Risking Everything on Guesswork? Read More »