Rob Langrell

Friday, May 14, 2010 | 10:18 a.m.

Dear readers,

The largest retail real estate conference in the world is coming to town next week.

Shopping center professionals from around the world will converge on Las Vegas next week for RECon — The Global Retail Real Estate Convention. The International Council of Shopping Centers holds its spring convention here annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and this year, it runs May 23-25.

The ICSC, which was founded in 1957, is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. It boasts 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 90 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academics and public officials. ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world as the global industry trade association.

RECon gives the world’s top owners, developers, product suppliers, financial institutions, brokers, retailers and public sector companies the opportunity to network, discuss strategies and, simply, do business. More than 1,000 exhibitors will set up across more than 1 million square feet in the trade exposition and leasing mall.

Attendees will have plenty of dealmaking opportunities, as well as the chance to shop for the latest products and services and attend educational sessions taught by industry experts. It is estimated that more than 25 percent of the industry’s transactions occur over this three-day event.

For more information on the convention, visit www.icsc.org.

This edition of CRE places a focus on the state of the retail industry in Southern Nevada. You’ll get updates on projects that have opened during the past year, such as at Town Square, Fashion Show Mall, The District and the plans for The Shoppes at Harmon Square.

Check out our popular “Realty Check” columns, too. This is where we showcase the viewpoints of some of the top real estate experts in the city. If you are looking for insight from some of the industry’s top local names, you can find it here.

Enjoy learning about the future of the retail market in the Las Vegas Valley. We have some of the world’s greatest shopping centers right here in our backyard. Join the people worldwide who already know it’s a great place to shop.

Rob Langrell

Special Publications Editor

[email protected]

(702) 990-2490