C&W appointed MAPIC's first 'retail knowledge partner'

Global real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield has become the first retail knowledge partner of MAPIC, the annual international retail real estate market in Cannes. The conference is set for an all-time record number of participants in 2007, with numbers up by 15% on the same time last year. MAPIC attrracted 8,698 visitors in 2006.

As part of its role as knowledge partner, Cushman & Wakefield will co-organise a series of panel sessions on 'Fast-Growing Europe' on the opening day of MAPIC, on Wednesday 14 November, in Auditorium A, level 3 of the Palais des Festivals. Topics include Czech Republic: Development Overload? Is Slovakia the Answer? Chaired by Jonathan Hallett, C&W's head of Czech Republic and Slovakia.. Romania: New EU Shop Floor? Chaired by Razvan Gheorge, general manager of C&W's office in Romania, Cushman & Wakefield Activ Consulting. And Russia's 2nd-Tier Cities Chaired by Konstantin Sakharov, executive director, and head of retail in C&W's Russian office, Cushman & Wakefield Stiles & Riabokobylko.

Commenting on the announcement, John Strachan, Cushman & Wakefield's London-based global head of retail, said: 'This is a tremendous opportunity as the world’s leading retail property consultant to team up with such a globally important event in the retail calendar. This comes at a time when we are seeing the increasing globalisation of retail and no signs of let-up in demand from retailers for the right space in the right location.'

Jonathan Hallett added: 'Russia, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are among the world's most dynamic retail hotspots. Just in these four Central & Eastern European countries, we are expecting more than six million square metres of gross lettable area of new shopping space to open in the second half of 2007 and in 2008.'