Why is ICSCs annual convention in Las Vegas such a big deal?
The primary reason most folks belong to ICSC is for networking and deal making opportunities. Other conferences I’m familiar with are mostly about professional education and networking —and we do some educational sessions. But people out there are trying to get deals done. Something between 25 and 35 percent of all shopping center leases are either signed or conceived at our spring convention. You don’t work this meeting like any other conference or convention you go to. It’s business, business, business. The companies take huge contingents and they have their appointments made four to six months before they get there. Their calendars are pretty full. Why are so many local officials making the trip? The public sector is one of the fastest growing segments of our membership. We have 4,000 public sector members. One reason for that is just word of mouth among elected officials and economic development professionals — they’ve discovered there’s one place they can go and meet all these ret
