Using technology to measure the flow of visitors, reducing the furniture available in the food courts and implementing product deliveries in the parking area are part of the changes that the region's shopping centers must apply in this new reality.
Because of the threat of the spread of covid-19, since mid-March in Central America, the authorities agreed to close the shopping centers.
Grupo Poma is planning to expand its portfolio of investments in Costa Rica venturing into housing construction projects and strengthening its presence in the automotive sector.
The Salvadoran group, which has been present in Costa Rica since 1993, is analyzing the possibility of complementing the office and hotel investments it has made in the country with the construction of residential high rise blocks.
Despite the increased availability of office space, 14 new office centers are projected to be added to the 15 currently under construction.
Data from Colliers International shows that in Costa Rica, the availability of spaces has doubled from 7% in 2011 to 13% last year. Meanwhile the Association of Engineers and Architects in Costa Rica, reported an increase of 33% on the amount of square meters dedicated to new offices last year.
The Salvadoran Siman Group, a conglomerate that operates franchises for Zara, Zara Home and Massimo Dutti and the department stores Aliss, Yamuni, Carrion and Ekono has announced expansion plans.
In 2013 the Siman Group will open a new 10,000 square meter store in the new stage of Multiplaza del Este Mall which will generate 250 jobs.
Between 2016 and 2017 it expects to have four or five outlets for which it is investigating venturing into new areas such as Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela.
Located in the west side of the capital, in areas of growing demand for office space, Escazú Corporate Center will be the first and most modern multipurpose complex in Costa Rica.
The start of construction of Escazú Corporate Center (ECC), a modern corporate tower of 20.400 m2 and eleven floors, gives birth to the first and most modern multipurpose complex in Costa Rica, working under the free zone regime, which makes the proposal more attractive.
Grupo Roble will build the Escazú Corporate Center office building with eleven floors.
The center will be built in front of Multiplaza Shopping Center´s south parking lots. Start of construction is scheduled for next November.
According to LaNacion.com "The building will have 21,000 square meters (m²). It consists of five parking levels and common areas with 1,800 M2 per floor of at a value close to $ 500 per m² and six floors of offices with an area of 1,500 M2 per floor at an approximate cost of $ 800 per m²."
In 2009, the arrival of international tourists dropped 9%, while domestic ones 15%. 2010 should be better.
The recovery will only be felt in the second half of the year, even though since November 2009 most statistics are showing a trend shift from negative to positive.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com analyzes the subject, with opinions from tourism entrepreneurs and institutions.
Grupo Roble is in the last phase of its expansion project at the Costa Rican mall, which would be inaugurated on November 1st.
The project adds 27.000 square meters of area for stores, with three stories for commercial space and four for vehicle parking.
From elfinancierocr.com: "When finished, Multiplaza Escazú will boast 2.600 parking spaces, a figure above any other shopping mall in the country, stated Elisa Roble, marketing manager at Grupo Roble".
The new phase of Multiplaza Escazú in Costa Rica has already rented 90% of the available retail space.
The fifth phase of the Multiplaza Escazú shopping mall will be open to the public in November 2009, boasting 100 new stores. This mall was built and developed by Grupo Roble, the real estate division of Salvadoran conglomerate Grupo Poma.
Salvador Bolaños, Manager at Grupo Roble, was quoted by Nacion.com: "We are getting ready to deliver the stores to our tenants by the end of this month, for them to start restyling and equipment works as soon as possible".
The first Costa Rican store of the salvadoran group will open in November 2009, hiring over 300 employees.
In an interview with Nacion.com, Ricardo Simán, president of "Tiendas Simán", speaks about the new store they will open in the fifth stage of Grupo Roble's Multiplaza Escazú, in November of this year.
The executive commented: "We hope to earn the preference of the Costa Rican consumer, taking advantage of the proposal made by Grupo Roble to become the anchor store of the fifth stage of Multiplaza Escazú.
Renovation of Multiplaza in Honduras, development of Metromall in Panama and entry in the colombian market, are some of the bets for 2009.
Alberto Poma Kriete, General Manager from the company, informed to Elsalvador.com: "'In corporate centers, as part of our projects, we have over 100.000 square meters and presence in El Salvador, Costa Rica, and by the end the year we will be present in Colombia', assured Poma Kriete, who was speaking on "Investment in Commercial Centers, Residential and Touristic projects".
The Salvadoran firm inaugurated the third phase of Plaza Roble, an office complex in Escazu, San Jose.
Yesterday the construction of phase five of the Multiplaza commercial center was started. Both projects are developed by the Grupo Roble, a real estate subsidiary of Grupo Poma. Details for the inauguration of 8-floor tower connected to the Intercontinental Hotel.