This month, Anacle had the opportunity to attend FuturePlace’s Future of Malls Summit at Dolton House. With over 300 attendees representing large tenants, owners, suppliers, and agencies.

We heard from many insightful speakers and attendees, including, QIC, Scentre Group, LeaseInfo, CapitaLand, Dec the Malls, MobileCorp, Cradlepoint, and TOMRA to name just a few.

Chris Chong from CapitaLand, Singapore was a key highlight for Anacle, sharing their multifaceted strategy to transform and redefine retail experience. Chris spoke about their platform for asset management which is dedicated to maximising asset performance over time through meticulously planning, executing, and tracking investments. This strategic approach aims to deliver strong returns in the medium to long run. 

Warren Hamilton, Managing Director of Anacle Australia, who attended the Malls of the Future Summit says, “In shaping the future of malls, new technology and platforms play a crucial role — from architecting vibrant community spaces, to delivering customer-focused experiences and leisure options, to proactive and efficient mall operations.”

In the 1950’s Australian born architect, Victor Gruen birthed the concept of the indoor mall with communal experiences at the forefront of his designs. Malls of the future are embracing this older, more traditional concept, bringing back communal spaces and making shopping a more community based experience.

This was seen last year when select Westfield stores across Australia set up Disney Store Pop-Ups, which incorporated a ‘Your Disney Moment’ campaign, photo-ops, story time experiences, and a Disney100 Mickey Mouse statue. This campaign is set to continue in 2024 after popular demand. See link for more details: https://www.shoppingcentrenews.com.au/latest-news/industry-news/westfield-extends-collaboration-with-disney-to-spark-joy-in-the-everyday/

Malls of the Future Summit predicts a bright future for the retail sector. Through embracing tech and focusing on sustainability and experiences, malls can become vibrant hubs beyond the simple notion of shopping.