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What Happened in Vegas: Arlin Markowitz’ ICSC Conference Takeaways

June 22, 2026 4 Minute Read

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Arlin Makowitz at ICSC conference 2026

CBRE’s Arlin Markowitz was in Las Vegas for the buzzy annual retail conference, where retail industry leaders and world-leading brands gather to network, talk trends and make deals.

“This year’s ICSC felt like one of the busiest, most well-attended events I’ve ever seen,” Markowitz says. “And we had a really international crowd, with CBRE retail people from South Korea, Japan, Italy and the UK working together to secure major deals.”

Here are some of the key takeaways and trends he noted during his time in Vegas.

Flight To Experience

Markowitz notes that there is growing demand for immersive, experiential and interactive shopping experiences.

For instance, certain Canada Goose locations offer shoppers in-store Cold Rooms to test the mettle of their down-filled parkas amid ice, snow and freezing temperatures.

And some smoothie bars in the U.S. have IV drip lounges, enabling guests to sip on a shake while receiving intravenous therapy to optimize the body or recover from Vegas nights out.  

“It’s a cool experience,” Markowitz says, “though my method of taking an Advil and eating an In-N-Out burger works just as well.”

The experience trend is gaining momentum in the food and beverage industry. COTE Korean Steakhouse – America’s first Michelin-starred Korean Steakhouse – has servers cook steak in front of you on a barbecue embedded in a table.

In Toronto, Linny’s on Ossington Avenue does a tableside Caesar salad, letting guests see a dish that typically gets prepared in the kitchen come together in front of them.

“People love the showmanship,” says Markowitz. “When they go out to eat they want to have a memorable experience they wouldn’t be able to have at home.”

Athleisure and Wellness

Toronto’s retail landscape is being redefined by the rise of contemporary fashion and athleisure brands. “Both categories are poised to have a lasting impact on the city’s retail sector,” Markowitz previously told Advantage Insights.

Walking around the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, he noticed many business people wearing ON and HOKA running shoes with their suits.

Canadian athleisure brands like Arc’teryx, Lululemon and Aritzia have been aggressively expanding into the U.S. market, Markowitz notes, and even in Vegas’s scorching temperatures, Canada Goose jackets are selling well.

“It’s really cool to see these Canadian success stories,” he says, adding that JOEY Restaurant Group – a CBRE client – has also started to open new locations across the U.S. “Now we just need to find a way to bring In-N-Out Burger to Canada,” he says.

Collector’s Items

“Baseball cards are back,” says Markowitz. “Same goes with Pokémon cards and other collector items that used to be trendy in the 90s.”

American sports card brand CardVault by Tom Brady has been opening stores in major malls and sporting venues across the U.S., offering everything from cards to vintage action figures.

LABUBUs – highly sought-after elf-like monster figurines – exploded into a global phenomenon in 2024, and are still trending, along with a newer fad, NeeDoh, a squishy stress toy that has become a social media sensation.

“NeeDoh is the hottest thing in Canada and the world right now,” says Markowitz. “They’re almost impossible to keep in stock at Indigo, and people have started to sell them on eBay and Craigslist for a profit.”

“And it’s not just kids that are buying them – adults are, too.”

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