News
March 31, 2026
The Hozah team headed to Manchester for Retail Destination Live 2026, one of the UK retail property sector’s key annual events. Held at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on 4 March, the conference brought together landlords, operators, managing agents and service providers for a packed day of insight, debate and networking.
Organised by Retail Destination in association with Revo, this year’s programme explored some of the most pressing themes in the sector right now. Sessions covered the role of technology in transforming retail destinations, the growing importance of data-led decision making, and how customer experience strategy is becoming central to long-term performance. Speakers from the likes of Savills, JLL and Manchester Metropolitan University offered perspectives on everything from consumer trust to the commercial value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.
For us, it was a valuable opportunity to be in the room with the people who are actively shaping the future of retail destinations across the UK. Many of the conversations we had throughout the day touched on parking as part of that bigger picture, not as a standalone operational concern, but as something that directly influences how visitors experience a site from the moment they arrive.
That shift in thinking is exactly where Hozah sits. Frictionless, intelligent parking is increasingly part of the conversation when landlords and operators talk about improving customer journeys, reducing operational complexity and making smarter use of data across their estates.
It was great to connect with both familiar faces and new ones, and to hear firsthand how the sector is evolving. Events like Retail Destination Live remind us why staying close to the industry matters, and we are looking forward to building on the connections made in Manchester.
Many of the themes discussed at Retail Destination Live 2026 are ones we’ve been exploring in depth on our blog. Our article on where retail growth really hides looks at how operational execution is becoming the biggest differentiator for retail properties, while our piece on what the strongest UK retail parks are doing differently in 2026 digs into why convenience and smart asset management are driving outperformance. For a broader look at how parking fits into the retail picture, our guide to automated parking for shopping centres is worth a read, and case studies like Eagles Meadow show what these ideas look like in practice.
Want to find out how Hozah can support your retail destination? Get in touch with our team at sales@hozah.com or book a meeting to learn more.
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