Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield seeks Stateside success as it launches Westfield Rise in the US

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (UWR) has launched its Westfield Rise offering in the US, helping brands to connect with consumers through dynamic media, immersive experiential, Westfield events and strategic integrations.

“With Westfield Rise, we’re giving brands a global stage across the world’s most influential cities,” says Anne-Sophie Sancerre, Chief Customer and Retailer Officer at URW. “This expansion lets them reach nearly a billion visitors at our centres through one powerful platform. From Los Angeles to New York to Paris and beyond, we’re helping our partners to show up in high impact ways - all while creating standout experiences and stronger connections.”

URW previously launched customer experience platform Goodays Connect in summer 2022 to re-establish emotional bonds with customers after the Covid-19 pandemic, eventually rolling it out to 50 shopping centres across 11 countries.

Alongside the expansion of Westfield Rise, URW has also debuted its new IXD Network platform in the US, offering experiential, immersive media displays across 11 of its flagship shopping centres.

IXD Network offers “industry disruptive” campaigns shared across nearly 300 eight-foot LED screens which claim to offer a quarter more screen space with 20 per cent more energy efficiency.

The screens also include dual cameras for real-time audience measurement and options for interactive experiences. Using audience measuring platform Quividi, the network claims to offer “privacy respectful consumer analytics” to inform consumer engagement and advertising performance.

The IXD Network is also equipped with technology allowing brands to create 3D content with further plans to launch augmented reality later this year.

Kristen Jackman, Senior Vice President at URW and Head of Westfield Rise in the US, comments: “Everything we create is designed to elevate the consumer journey, foster meaningful engagement, and turn consumers into passionate brand advocates.”

“Our new IXD Network will revolutionise and redefine DOOH by giving brands flexible buying models with guaranteed measurement and more advanced creative capabilities. And this is just the start of what we have planned for 2025 and beyond.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Immersive experiences will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which will open for entries in April, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.