5 Things We Learned at ICSC Las Vegas 2026
Kiemle Hagood recently attended ICSC Las Vegas 2026, one of the commercial real estate industry’s largest annual gatherings for retail, development, investment, brokerage, property management, and property technology professionals.
Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the event brought together thousands of decisionmakers from across the country for several days of meetings, market conversations, dealmaking, networking, and industry insight. For our team, ICSC provided a valuable opportunity to connect with national brands, developers, owners, investors, service providers, and industry peers while representing the Inland Northwest on a national stage.
Here are five key takeaways from ICSC Las Vegas 2026.
1. Retail real estate is still a relationship-driven business.
Technology, data, and market analytics continue to evolve, but the value of in-person connection remains central to commercial real estate. ICSC reinforced how much still happens through face-to-face conversations, long-standing relationships, and direct market dialogue.
For brokers, owners, tenants, and developers, these conversations help move deals forward, clarify expansion strategies, and create new opportunities. Whether discussing a new location, evaluating a market, or reconnecting with an existing contact, relationship-building remains one of the strongest drivers of activity in retail real estate.
2. Property technology is becoming part of the everyday conversation.
One of the biggest themes at ICSC was the growing role of technology across the commercial real estate lifecycle. From site selection and tenant analytics to asset management, operations, mapping tools, and market intelligence, property technology is no longer a separate conversation from real estate strategy.
The introduction of ICSC+PROPTECH highlighted how owners, brokers, managers, and tenants are looking for smarter ways to evaluate properties, understand customer behavior, streamline operations, and make more informed decisions.
For Kiemle Hagood, this reinforces the importance of pairing strong local knowledge with modern tools that help clients better understand their assets and opportunitie
3. Location still matters, but strategy matters just as much.
Across the show floor, one thing was clear: well-located retail continues to perform, but successful retail strategy depends on more than visibility alone. Tenant mix, access, parking, co-tenancy, demographics, surrounding growth, and long-term market positioning all play a role in how a property performs.
Retailers and owners are looking closely at how each site fits into a larger business strategy. A strong location must also support operational needs, customer convenience, brand visibility, and long-term adaptability.
This is where local market expertise becomes especially valuable. Understanding the nuances of Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, the Tri-Cities, Missoula, and surrounding communities helps translate national retail trends into practical, market-specific strategy.
4. Flexibility is increasingly important for tenants and owners.
Retail users continue to evaluate spaces through the lens of efficiency, adaptability, and speed to market. Tenants are looking for spaces that support their operations, reduce unnecessary friction, and allow them to serve customers effectively.
For owners, this means thoughtful leasing strategy, proactive property management, and a clear understanding of what today’s tenants need. Flexible thinking around space planning, use types, service retail, food and beverage, medical, experiential concepts, and mixed-use environments will continue to shape retail activity.
ICSC made it clear that the strongest opportunities are often created when owners, brokers, and tenants work collaboratively to align property potential with real market demand.
5. Regional markets continue to have a strong story to tell.
While ICSC is national in scale, many of the most valuable conversations come back to local opportunity. Regional markets like the Inland Northwest continue to attract interest from retailers, investors, and service providers looking for growth outside of larger metropolitan areas.
Our region offers a compelling mix of quality of life, population growth, cross-border activity, strong community identity, and evolving commercial corridors. For Kiemle Hagood, attending ICSC is an important way to keep those conversations active and ensure our markets remain visible to national and regional decisionmakers.
Looking Ahead
ICSC Las Vegas 2026 reinforced what we see every day in our work: commercial real estate is evolving, but the fundamentals still matter. Strong relationships, informed strategy, local expertise, and responsive service continue to drive results.
As retail, mixed-use, and marketplace environments continue to change, Kiemle Hagood remains committed to helping clients navigate opportunities with clarity, experience, and practical market knowledge.
Kiemle Hagood. Creating Real Estate Solutions.
