Mipim maintains place in the sun…
The annual rumours about whether or not Cannes will continue to host Mipim, the European property jamboree (combined with serious business networking event, of course), are not likely to surface again for a while in fact, not for another 10 years. This is because Reed Midem, the trade show organiser, has just signed an agreement
with the City of Cannes to maintain its international shows on the Cote d’Azur until at least 2014. Next year’s show is set to get bigger yet: there are plans to enlarge the Espace Riviera conference centre by 3,000m² and by 2008 make a 10,000m² underground extension to what has become affectionately known to some as “the bunker”.
…while ExpoReal seeks touch of Cannes
Speaking of property shows, the Munich-based ExpoReal is hoping to broaden its appeal, especially to UK members of the property community, who are lagging behind their continental neighbours in
take-up of stands and visitor numbers. This year’s fair attracted 17,700 visitors to its 42,200m² of exhibition space, but we hear that the show’s organisers were quizzing journalists over lunch about how to attract more UK participants, perhaps by holding evening events at the hall complex. The scribes felt it useful to point out that attractive as the grounds of Munich Messe are, they can’t quite match the lure of Cannes’ La Croisette.
Another trophy development for Sonae
Portuguese shopping centre operator Sonae Imobiliária has added to its trophy cabinet once again. This time AECC, the Spanish shopping centre association, has named its Plaza Mayor development in Malaga as the “most innovative development in integrated commerce” (which is presumably a snappier title in Spanish).
This recognises the diversified leisure and retail offer of the scheme, which recreates a typical Andalusian village. Last year the centre attracted 6.4m shoppers who racked up €40.6m in sales. The tally of awards won by Sonae’s shopping centres has now topped 40.
