Open Mall Lanzarote, best shopping center at the AECC 2024 Awards
The Spanish Association of Shopping Centers and Commercial Parks (AECC) has put the finishing touch to its 20th Congress, which this year was held in Valencia, with the presentation of the traditional AECC Awards. These awards recognize the effort and excellence in the work carried out by different players in the industry. On this occasion, more than 120 nominations were received.
The Special Awards category includes the Jos Galán Award, which recognizes a professional career that has made a significant contribution to the shopping center and retail park sector. This year the award was given to Amid Achi, president and founder of Grupo Número 1.
The award for the outstanding shopping center 2024 was also presented to Parque Principado.
Nominations AECC Awards 2024
Winners 2024
Best Shopping Center or Park:
Open Mall Lanzarote, presented by Archigestión.
Best Major Renovation/Transformation/Expansion of Shopping Center or Business Park:
Garbera Shopping Center, presented by Unibail Rodamco Westfield.
Best Small Renovation/Transformation/Expansion of Shopping Center or Business Park:
Puerto Venecia, presented by the Community of Owners AF3 Puerto Venecia.
Best chain, franchise or independent retailer:
Ale-Hop, presented by Clave Dénia
Best Restoration Concept:
Sibuya Urban Sushi Bar, presented by Grupo Sibuya.
Best Leisure Concept:
Ilusiona, presented by Ilusiona.
Best New Brand Addition to a Shopping Center or Retail Park:
Motocard Centro Comercial X-Madrid, presented by Motocard.
Best Major Marketing Campaign:
Premieres Sevilla Fashion Outlet, presented by Via Outlets Spain.
Best Small Marketing Campaign:
30th Anniversary El Paseo Shopping Center, presented by Carmila España.
Best Innovation Action / Digital Strategy:
Digital Strategy, presented by Merlin Properties' X-Madrid.
Best Sustainability Action and Impact on the Environment:
Arenas de Barcelona: AI at the service of sustainability, presented by Merlin Properties.
Best Social Responsibility Action and Impact on the Local Community:
Toilet for ostomates, presented by Centro Comercial Islazul.
Best Implementation of a Corporate ESG Strategy:
Beyond ESG Boundaries / Trascendiendo los límites ESG, presented by Castellana Properties.
The jury is composed of relevant industry professionals such as Concha Ávila, director of Real Estate at Kiabi; José Antonio Durán, CEO and founder of Mass Retail; Víctor Fernández, head of Asset Management of Shopping Centers at Merlin Properties; Ana Lázaro, director of Marketing of Shopping Centers at Gentalia; Jorge Orondo, senior Energy & Utilities manager at Castellana Properties; Maurice Meulendijk, fund manager and head of Retail Southern Europe at Nuveen Real Estate; Elin Vigren, head of Property Management Retail at CBRE; and Beatriz Vidal, director of the AECC, acting as secretary of the jury.
Eugenio Pérez Rodríguez, president of the awards jury, thanked "the involvement and commitment of all the candidates for the awards". He added: "The response from all the agents in the sector has been massive and the jury has been pleasantly surprised by the quantity, diversity and originality of the proposals received. I would especially like to thank all the members of the awards jury for their involvement with the awards, it has been a pleasure to share journeys and learning with all of them".
Technology, geopolitics and catering marked the second day of the Congress
The second day of the XX Congreso Español de Centros y Parques Comerciales kicked off with a presentation by Jaime García Cantero, independent analyst and content director of Retina in El País, who focused his speech on new technological trends and their impact on consumption. Accompanied by recognizable (and not so recognizable) movie stills, the expert spoke of uncertainty and the concept of the 'black swan' (unforeseen and revolutionary trends that change everything): "The world we are living in has to do with a world in which certainties have disappeared forever. We have become accustomed to the unforeseen and the lack of forecasts. We must focus, however, on the 'gray rhinos' (those problems that are always there, but which we all ignore), as they weigh us down when the black swans arrive."
Regarding AI, "AI does not question what we do, but what we are. Previous technologies have changed the way we do things, but AI questions us as humans," added Gª Cantero, who reviewed three trends related to artificial intelligence: first, technological, social and personal acceleration; second, inequality; third, polarization. "The risks are there, but if we have created this technology, we will be able to control it for the good. It is also a very effective tool for science and innovation."
Along these lines, the expert reviewed three micro-trends that most directly affect the sector: "The emotional continues to be a differential, but we have to think about what comes next. In addition, we must understand technology and data as a tool for making what we do more flexible. And, finally, data is the basis of AI. Therefore, shopping centers are not only physical spaces, technology and the digital world are the 'skin' that covers the physical world", a layer of data that covers the space".
Finally, García Cantero listed the tools of resistance that people have against AI: "The purpose (what we use technology for), the stimulus (taking the machine one step further) and the criterion (AI is a tool at the service of our criterion) are still the heritage of people. AI may be a great opportunity for people to humanize themselves," he concluded.
Technological trends were also the focus of the debate at the first round table. Moderated by Carlos Guinea, director of Innovation at Castellana Properties, the round table was attended by Marcos Estopiñan, head of Digital & Innovation at Carmila; Idriss Goossens, founder and executive chairman of Proptech Lab; and David Salazar, Manager Advisory Services at EY.
Technology continues to be a fundamental lever to build competitive advantages in our sector. During the session the trends that will mark the coming months have been addressed, the state of the PropTech ecosystem at European level has been analyzed and the focus has been put on the challenges and opportunities incorporating Generative AI in companies.
This day also featured a keynote speech by José Manuel García-Margallo, Spain's former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation between 2011 and 2016. Focusing on the current geopolitical situation, the politician referred to the new world order. Experts agree that the world is entering a new era characterized by the struggle between traditional and emerging powers through fierce competition and even violent confrontation. The multilateral rules and institutions that have made economic integration and free trade possible are in jeopardy, as are international agreements on arms control and the fight against climate change. The tensions are accompanied by a "battle for the narrative" that shapes global public opinion and government action.
The second round table of the day delved into the ever-growing and increasingly complex restaurant offerings. Moderated by Yago Bonastre, global director F&B and Leisure at Nhood, the debate was attended by Ana Alcobia, vice president in Iberia of Time Out Market; Jerome Lesparre, co-founder of Biltoki; and Tristán López-Chicheri, CEO of L35 Arquitectos.
Experts have tried to shed light on how the customer journey now introduces more complex formulas within a growing offer of brands and services. The new role of restoration in Real Estate becomes a central axis in new, and not so new projects, being able to revitalize, regenerate and create spaces that are destinations by themselves. The impact is generated by giving the user a different experience, attracting new consumer profiles, benefiting both the rest of the brands that are around it, as well as adding value to the property.
The afternoon session included sessions on the Getafe Terminal Retail Park project, led by Luis Civantos and Alejandro Laguna, heads of Goodman; and the intervention of Andrés Pulgarín, CEO of Botslovers, on ChatGPT and generative AI.
