How to keep retail vital in cities? Find out at the International City Retail Experience!
Edited on
20 June 2019On 5 April 2018, the URBACT network RetaiLink will hold its final event: the International City Retail Experience 2018 (ICRE2018). The conference will take place in Hoogeveen (NL), one of the city partners in the RetaiLink network. Opened to European retailers, administrators, city managers, real estate owners, and other stakeholders of city centres and retail areas, the event will be an opportunity for them to learn how to keep the inner cities vital.
RetaiLink gathers ten European cities that have been looking for ways to revitalise their retail areas. The network's partners are Basingstoke and Deane (UK), Bistrita (RO), Fermo (Italy), Hoogeveen and Hengelo (NL), Igualada (ES), Liberec (CZ), Pecs (HU), Romans (FR) and Sibenik (HR). During two years, thanks to frequent meetings and with the help of experts, RetaiLink cities inspired each other to create innovative strategies to enhance the competitiveness of small and/or independent retail businesses, considered key economic drivers in cities. ICRE2018 will present the conclusions of fruitful transnational work.
What is ICRE2018?
Karel Loohuis, mayor of Hoogeven, tells us more about the event: "During ICRE2018, visitors will share insights with one another from their own public or private perspective. We will discuss solutions and innovative strategies. Visitors will then go home full of inspiration, with an enlarged network and with practical tools ready to use in their own city and enterprise".
The one-day event will include interactive sessions on public-private collaboration, customer experience, retail marketing and city marketing, public space and trends. Mona Keijzer, Dutch State Secretary of Economic Affairs, will talk about the Dutch Retail Agenda and the cooperation between national, regional and local governments and entrepreneurs. Other speakers include Simon Quin, director and visiting professor at the Institute of Place Management in Manchester Metropolitan University, who will share 25 success factors to promote city centers' vitality and viability, and Björn Kuipers, FIFA and UEFA elite group referee, also an award-winning entrepreneur, set to give an inspirational speech.
Have a look at the latest verion of the programme here and register at www.icre2018.eu! Attendance is free for RetaiLink partners and ULG members. For other participants, special entrance fee for early birds until 15 February. Hurry up!
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