Connect Retail is our weekly column on the sector, authored by veteran CRE writer Ian Ritter.

The International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon show, billed as the largest commercial real estate convention in the world, kicks off Sunday, May 22 in Las Vegas, and continues through Thursday, May 26.

Connect Media will be there, as well as tens of thousands of other commercial real estate professionals zeroing in on retail. If you’re interested in setting up a video interview with us, let us know.

This conference is absolutely fantastic, but can also be exhausting, to say the least. There are hundreds of exhibitors, ranging from developers, retailer and service companies, and most people’s calendars are packed with appointments, especially on Monday and Tuesday. Then, there are receptions on most nights that can last until the wee hours, not to mention the several educational events that make up RECon’s agenda.

Plenty have published survival tips for making it though RECon. It’s good to take note of them. Here are a few:

• Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking a lot, and the Las Vegas Convention Center is huge.
• Drink tons of water. Though the Las Vegas forecast looks pretty nice right now, it’s still the desert. Dehydration can cause exhaustion and a short temper.
• Though this is a heavy deal-making and networking convention, try to make it to some of the educational sessions. One can learn a lot from these, and gain valuable insight.

One thing worth checking out will be the #ICSC Live events in the LVCC lobby on Monday and Tuesday, which will feature interviews with top execs. Additionally, on Monday, a session on career development might be of interest to Connect readers.

What are your expectations for RECon this year?