Megaworld Malls elevate shopping with experience and innovation

Experiential retail, sustainability, and omnichannel strategies drive the future of Philippine malls.

The Philippine retail landscape is evolving, with shopping malls shifting beyond traditional retail to provide immersive experiences. According to Graham Coates, First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, three key trends are shaping consumer behaviour: experiential shopping, increased environmental consciousness, and omnichannel retail.  

"Malls must offer more than just shopping," Coates said. "We really believe that beyond shopping, a mall must be relevant in terms of providing a complete experience for our customers."  

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is responding to these shifts by reinventing its retail spaces. "We’ve re-engineered the way we do our merchandising and tenant mix to incorporate more excitement in our malls," Coates explained. One example is luxury cinema experiences, such as the Tempur bed cinema, which enhances movie viewing with added comfort.

Entertainment and interactive experiences also play a significant role in attracting visitors. "We've brought in SuperPark, a concept from Finland, which is very much a play-active concept," Coates noted. The company also continues to expand its pet-friendly mall initiatives. "We were the pioneers in that," he added.  

Art and culture have become central to Megaworld’s retail strategy, with in-mall museums offering unique experiences for shoppers. "We have museums in our malls where our consumers can explore the arts—like the ILOMOCA Art Museum in Iloilo or the Chinese Binondo Museum in Lucky Chinatown," Coates said.  

Despite the rise of digital commerce, Coates believes physical retail remains strong. "Foot traffic has surpassed pre-pandemic levels," he said. "In fact, last year was a historic year for us in terms of foot traffic and revenue. We believe that brick-and-mortar retail is here to stay."  

However, the future of retail lies in blending physical and digital experiences. "Omnichannel is one of the key drivers of our malls," Coates explained. "We strongly believe that physical stores are vital, but they must be complemented with digital integration."  

As consumer habits continue to evolve, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls remains focused on innovation. By merging experiential shopping, sustainability, and omnichannel strategies, the company is shaping the future of mall-based retail in the Philippines.