Seminar to Examine Trends, Next Generation of Retail

Retail industry experts and guest speakers will examine economic, financial, political and technological changes affecting the industry at the 26th annual “Retail Game,” a daylong seminar Thursday at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City.

The event, formerly known as the Shopping Center Game, will be presented by the International Council of Shopping Centers in cooperation with Steve Soboroff and James S. Rosenfield. Soboroff is a commercial real estate developer and an advisor to Mayor Richard Riordan. Rosenfield is president of Santa Monica-based J.S. Rosenfield & Co., a retail real estate industry consultant.

The seminar will include four sessions and panel discussions on trends in the retail industry as well as summaries of the outlook for retail developments in 10 California geographic sub-markets. Panelists, moderators and speakers will include prominent real estate developers, investors, banking and financial executives, brokers and consultants. Riordan is among those scheduled to speak.

The sessions will include “Politics in the New Millennium,” which will explore political issues affecting the industry; “Retailing in the Next Century,” which will focus on the effects of Internet retailing and other new trends; “The Next Generation of Real Estate Finance,” a look at the impact of Wall Street and other financial forces; and “Developers for a New Era,” which will assess the outlook for development.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the opening session at 9. Cost is $225. Information is available at (949) 224-3830.