With the surge in online shopping, malls have faced a significant downturn. However, the story doesn’t end there. Some malls are embracing a new era of excitement with ‘eatertainment’ concepts and more, sparking intrigue and curiosity. Goodbye, Fast-Food Restaurants. Mall food courts are packed with several places to eat, all typical pizza, Chinese or burger joints. Since the pandemic, many have closed their mall locations because drive-thru stores steal traffic. Chick-fil-A closed its original location at Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta last year after 56 years. Chick-fil-A restaurants were only located in mall food courts for the company’s first 20 years of operation. Property managers now count on emerging restaurant brands like Lazy Dog, Gen Korean BBQ and wine cafés to draw customers back into the malls. Strong restaurants and entertainment options draw steady food traffic. They can increase consumers’ time in the mall, making them valuable to property owners and other mall tenants. Places such as TopGolf or other virtual golf venues serve as “eatertainment” concepts to appeal to families and teens, and they can extend the amount of time people spend in the mall. Eataly debuted at NorthPark Center in Dallas amid the pandemic. However, its eating, shopping, and learning concepts have made it known, and the numbers are soaring. This gigantic Italian market, with fresh pasta, luxe Italian ingredients, and plenty of local goodies, also serves as a cooking school. Another cooking concept, Gen Korean BBQ, is growing mainly due to being in malls and smaller strip malls and plans to expand to at least 250 more restaurants. Customers order meat to their tables and cook it themselves, offering many Instagram opts! Gen Korean BBQ appeals to the younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, for its modern décor and vibrant Korean pop music. “There are so many burgers, chicken and pizza places. People want to experience something different,” said Gen Korean BBQ co-CEO David Kim. Aside from eating, many are gripping on experience and creating these experiential environments. Malls offer individuals a place to connect over shared interests in fun and engaging experiences to support local businesses and build relationships. In New Jersey, the Garden Social lawn and greenhouse at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus hosts a variety of classes, such as yoga and candle making. Participants can also choose from themed experiences like Mommy and Me, Girls Night Out, Family Fun and Date Night. “We’re excited about the opening of Garden Social because it expands the possibilities for social engagement with a host of immersive DIY class offerings where the community can come to explore new interests and further pursue existing hobbies,” said Wesley Rebisz, senior general manager at Westfield Garden State Plaza. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. retail sales are projected to grow 4.5% to $3.7 billion by 2027. While E-commerce will continue to expand in that period, shoppers will persist in their shift back to physical stores and eventually, sales will be about evenly split, NRF predicts. AI and retail shopping. Artificial intelligence has made an impact in today’s world. Most individuals say that the shopping experience could be better, and AI can enhance those experiences. The older generation may want AI technology for convenience, whereas the younger generation would use AI to shop and engage with brands. IBM says three in five consumers want to use AI applications as they shop. From using AI to get product information, look for deals and promotions, get service, ask questions, and resolve issues. However, these experiences must be seamless, dynamic, and contextual, from being able to shop for products from multiple brands on a marketplace with a single checkout to proving sustainability in brands. Many consumers who care about sustainability are willing to pay more for sustainable products. So, whether AI will bring malls back or “eatertainment” concepts, developers of future malls will have to understand the community and its particular...

Meet Sachin Yenurkar, senior technical consultant from our Dubai office. Yenurkar recently conquered Everest Base Camp and waved a Yardi flag on the legendary mountain. Meet Sachin Yenurkar Sachin Yenurkar has been working at Yardi for 13 years. He supports clients in implementing Voyager with standard and custom functionalities to meet their business needs. His role involves troubleshooting and resolving issues with Yardi products, ensuring a smooth user experience. In addition, he plays a crucial mentorship role in guiding technical teams in Dubai and Pune. “I enjoy the challenges I face while interacting with the clients, understanding their needs, and helping them achieve their business goals by delivering the best solutions. This process not only helps in achieving the client’s business objectives but also contributes to my personal growth and job satisfaction,” explained Yenurkar. Inclusive Culture Since Yenurkar has been with Yardi for 13 years, he feels like Yardi is family. Celebrating diverse festivals and events enhances his team bonding and reflects a culture of inclusivity and respect for different traditions. Yenurkar feels that Yardi is the best place to work, with daily challenges and the opportunity to enjoy the organization’s fun, loving, diverse and inclusive people. Oksana Goliak, Yardi Dubai office manager, shares some proud words for Yenurkar: “Sachin is an avid adventurer with a passion for conquering new heights, both professionally and personally. With 13 years of dedication to Yardi, he has demonstrated a relentless drive for success in his career. Beyond the office walls, Sachin has tackled all UAE’s Mountain peaks, showcasing his determination and love for outdoor challenges. Always seeking new opportunities to explore and hike, Sachin embodies the spirit of adventure and continuous growth. We are very proud of Sachin and his achievements!” Yardi is hiring globally! Interested prospective employees can explore opportunities on the Careers site. Spirit of Adventure Yenurkar’s time spent outside the office is for social gatherings and yoga classes in the evening. He organizes hiking day trips for his family and friends on the weekends. In addition to hiking the peaks of UAE, Yenurkar is a culinary enthusiast. “I enjoy exploring and cooking dishes from various cuisines. It’s a delight to bring these creations to our Dubai office for my colleagues to taste. It’s my way of adding some flavor to our workdays! And I often do that,” expressed Yenurkar. Learn more about the dynamic members of #TeamYardi on the People...

Yardi strives to illuminate the efforts and results of philanthropic organizations that drive positive change in communities worldwide. Each of our offices selects several non-profits or NGOs to receive financial contributions each year. Yuppi Camping Motion Association is a local organization dedicated to offering effective recreational therapy to children with chronic illnesses in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, since 2011. This Yardi-supported nonprofit offers free-of-charge camps that are aimed at children and teenagers with cancer, diabetes or other autoimmune diseases and their families. “We are the first camp in Romania to use the revolutionary method of therapeutic recreation, which has a positive impact on many aspects, including children’s self-confidence and independence,” said Horváth Enikő, coordinator of the corporate fundraising department for Yuppi Camping Motion Association. The success of therapeutic recreation lies in the beneficiaries participating in activities where they can discover their skills and talents (rather than their limitations) to improve their self-confidence. Thus far, 1,722 children and parents from all over the country have participated in Yuppi Camps. Yuppi Camp offers three summer camps: Family Camp, Sibilings’ Camp, and Teenager Camp. In addition, Yuppi Camp offers a Family Weekend, which is provided for children with rarer chronic diseases. Yuppi Camp will also aim to increase the number of its inter-year events yearly to reach chronically ill children who cannot make the camps mainly due to the severity of their disease or because they are hospitalized. Yuppi Camp is there for those families to provide unforgettable memories filled with days without worrying about the illness so they can enjoy life and their childhood. Funding from Yardi helps the families of Yuppi Camp enjoy the camps freely since 50% of the children it hosts come from underserved communities. Every contribution is significant to Yuppi Camp so that its hosting, food and therapeutic services can be of the highest quality, brought together and coordinated by professionally trained volunteers and medical staff. “As we have learned during the years of our partnership, Yardi promises to take care of three major components: customers, colleagues and their community. These elements certainly form a great motto, but the support Yardi has given us—and continues to give us—backs up the promises with concrete actions, too,” said Enikő. He continued, “In 2023, before the camps, they not only answered our call for help with openness, but they have also become one of the main sponsors of our camp for teenagers with diabetes held in Șăulia between 28 August- 2 September 2023. As a result, together, we have managed to offer days without the worry of disease to over 50 young people with diabetes. On this occasion, we want to thank Yardi for all the support for making it possible!” Răzvan’s Story Răzvan had cancer for a long time, and he could not talk about it with anyone except his family. Recently, he shared very openly and honestly in a video what that period meant to him and how he had gained the courage to accept and talk about his illness. “Before, only my parents knew about my illness. But after my first camp, I started being more open about what has happened to me, as at Yuppi I met other children like me, whom I could talk to,” shared Răzvan. “And that is what happens at Yuppi Camps. For a week, you feel like you are capable of anything!” Now, Răzvan is a very proud member of the Yuppi family, returning year after year to the camps as a volunteer. As he claims, “Having an illness is not a shame, and if you have a community that encourages you, everything becomes easier!” Volunteer Opportunities “We warmly invite everyone to gather their colleagues, friends and family members and sign up for Yuppi summer camps as volunteers to experience the magic and healing aspect of our camps first-handily,” shared Enikő. Camp volunteers, AKA “Elves,” undergo professional training before the camps to be...

Fusing sustainability and creativity is a dynamic duo in modern real estate practices. Let’s explore various aspects. Green Building Designs. Creative architects and developers incorporate sustainable practices into their designs. Many are using energy-efficient structures to reduce operational costs and utility bills using eco-friendly materials. Green building materials primarily use natural materials and renewable resources. The more unconventional the building is, the more risky insurers could find it. So, be prepared to negotiate and defend building methods and materials to show why they are durable and safe. Renewable energy integrations. Renewable energy is the best flex. Get creative with real estate projects that creatively incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems to reduce the carbon footprint. Renewable energy has rapidly grown over the past decade and is critical in clean energy transitions. Solar panels worldwide are reimagined in unique patterns. Google’s Bay View campus in Silicon Valley has “dragonscale” solar skins, which generate 40 percent of its office energy needs. Smart Home Tech. Integrating creative, tech-savvy solutions makes homes more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, promoting sustainable living. If the budget allows, switch out all lighting fixtures for LED lighting and switch to energy-efficient appliances. Green Marketing. Once the switch to a greener and more sustainable building is made, use those renovations as strategies to market properties. Emphasize the unique features that will appeal to environmentally conscious renters. Few will know that stone countertops or tiles are eco-friendly and low maintenance or that adobe bricks provide natural noise protection, especially appealing to those on busy highways or interstates. Landscaping Innovations. Creative landscaping enhances the aesthetic appeal and contributes to environmental conservation. Explore various rain gardens and native plant installations. A rain garden is a garden of native plants planted in a slight depression, generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to hold and soak rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. Rain gardens effectively remove up to 90 percent of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80 percent of sediments from rainwater runoff. Rain gardens are not ponds because they only hold water during and after rainfall, preventing mosquitoes from breeding. Native plants provide habitats for native wildlife and pollinators, making the urban landscape more wildlife-friendly and sheltering them from predators. Community Events. Creative thinking extends beyond properties to community-level projects prioritizing sustainability, fostering a sense of eco-conscious living among residents. Hold an Earth Day or Earth Week event at the property. Invite residents to a clean-up event at a local park, partner with local charities, and host a donation drive. Host a “lights out” event in the clubhouse and encourage residents to turn off electronics inside their units. Provide organic paper-made utensils and plates with organic fruits, vegetables, green juices, and teas. Get social and seek further information to raise awareness for sustainable living. Government Regulations and incentives. Creative collaborations between real estate professionals and policymakers can lead to effective regulations and incentives that promote sustainable development. Geothermal energy may be more common in the western half of the country. Still, with advocacy and developments, large portions of the country can potentially replace old heating and cooling systems in many commercial buildings. We hope these facets highlight creativity’s pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future for the real estate...

We love speaking with our clients to learn about their journey with the Yardi Senior Living Suite. Not only does it allow for evolving our solutions based on feedback, but it also offers the chance to share our clients’ experiences — and successes — with industry professionals.   That brings us to our expansive library of client testimonials which includes quick, engaging video interviews. We’ve compiled three videos to share below, featuring positive experiences from leading operators Shannex Incorporated, Watercrest Senior Living and Vitality Living. Ready to watch? See how Shannex boosts efficiency With insights coming from Director Heidi Leavitt-Hornmoen, the Shannex Incorporated video shares how with help from Yardi, the organization is saving time, increasing efficiency and optimizing resident services like never before. That’s because the Yardi Senior Living Suite allowed Shannex to eliminate manual workflows and centralize their data, streamlining operations and enabling staff to best serve their 5,000 residents. “The time efficiencies we found were significant,” notes Heidi in the video. “We were able to reduce our [accounts payable] processes by 76%. We also found a 54% reduction in accounts receivable.” Heidi also describes how since making the switch to Yardi, satisfaction among residents and families has increased. She notes how with RentCafe Senior Living Portal in particular, “the ability to send communication to every single contact that’s in our system was a big win.”   Watch Heidi speak more to the power of Yardi senior living software. Explore how Watercrest enhances care services   Hearing from Principal & CFO Joanie Williams, the Watercrest Senior Living video covers the importance of integration — with Joanie noting how with Yardi software, “there’s huge value because everything talks to one another, everything’s integrated.” Since swapping disparate systems with our single connected solution — designed for the unique needs of senior living — Watercrest has generated significant time savings which in turn, helps them devote more energy to resident care. “The benefit is very significant to our residents,” shares Joanie in the video. She elaborates by explaining how when you remove the need to manually input data and build reports, you equip your teams to focus on helping residents. Watch Joanie share more on the value of the Yardi Senior Living Suite.   Learn how Vitality makes data-driven decisions Featuring VP of Wellness Syndell Lawhon, the Vitality Living video focuses on the value of making data-driven decisions. For Vitality, using data to inform decisions is achievable with Yardi Senior IQ, our comprehensive business intelligence (BI) solution. Since implementing a fully integrated BI solution, Vitality now captures impactful, community-specific insights at the click of a button. That includes insights regarding occupancy, falls and more. With that real-time data at their fingertips — presented in a visual format — Vitality teams can make decisions that improve resident care, staffing levels and revenue. “With Yardi Senior IQ, you can get any kind of data slice any way you want,” says Syndell in the video. By having actionable insights ready to go in one secure place, Vitality also saves time across their communities. Teams no longer need to hand-key data or sort through spreadsheets to find the necessary answers. Watch Syndell offer more detail on success with Senior IQ. Learn more and get in touch Did you enjoy hearing from operators finding success with Yardi senior living software? Check out our library of success stories and case studies! Contact team Yardi if you’d like to inquire further or get a personalized demo....

#TeamYardi of the Atlanta Relief Team hit the grounds at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, GA, last week and did some good for the environment. CNC believes the natural environment should be preserved and protected for future generations by connecting people with nature. CNC provides a safe and welcoming space for community members to connect with nature through education, interpretation, recreation, volunteerism and community events. CNC Horticultural manager Jacqueline McRae leads volunteers in multiple greenhouse projects, including clean-up, plant potting, seedling stepping, and propagation of plants native to Georgia and the Southeast. CNC prides itself on being a leader in Georgia for plant conservation, especially for native pollinator plants. #TeamYardi worked in the Unity Garden, a quarter-acre area developed in 2010. Here, fresh fruits and vegetables are grown from seed, harvested and donated to the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry. Way to go, Yardi! Find future non-profit profiles...

Did you know we offer a comprehensive community wellness solution for senior living? Meet RentCafe Wellness — which enables you to support your residents’ wellbeing with online activity calendars, attendance tracking, real-time information sharing and more. What makes RentCafe Wellness a differentiator? Integrated with key elements in the Yardi Senior Living Suite, RentCafe Wellness is a single connected solution that helps you manage your community wellness initiatives. From activity scheduling to creating custom event calendars, the dynamic online platform makes it easy to support residents’ health and wellbeing. Functionality in RentCafe Wellness equips you to:    Schedule activities. Maximize efficiency by scheduling and marketing wellness activities with the ability to flag registration as required or optional, create recurring activities and set registration fees. Need to make changes such as adding new activities or updating the location? Staff can make modifications directly in the platform, with updates automatically flowing into the RentCafe Senior Living Portal (when licensed) for residents and family members to see. Keep families connected. Help family members see which activities residents are attending directly in RentCafe Senior Living Portal. Information populates in the portal in real time, allowing families to monitor the wellbeing of their loved ones continuously. Want to set parameters on who can view resident data? Staff can securely control which family members may view and register for wellness activities on a resident’s behalf. Create digital calendars. Create and display customized, resident-facing calendars to announce upcoming wellness opportunities. Offer a single calendar per community or multiple calendars per community by care. Easily designate which details remain consistent and which vary month to month. For added convenience, you can publish your digital calendars for residents and families to see in RentCafe Senior Living Portal. Prefer to use paper? Quickly export calendars to Word or PDF documents to print and share across your community. Enable online payments. Allow residents and responsible parties to pay for wellness activities directly in RentCafe Wellness. When you license Yardi Payment Processing, activity charges are paid just like other community charges with a one-time monthly ACH, debit or credit card payment, or by setting up autopay. Reduce errors and save time by automating activity charge batches. Empower staff. Boost productivity among community staff by enabling the management of calendar content, design and publication, as well as activity registration and attendance tracking — all from a single platform. RentCafe Wellness simplifies staff workflows, saves time and presents an efficient method for sharing upcoming wellness opportunities. Intuitive dashboards and KPIs help staff track RSVPs and attendance, identify changes in resident behavior and forecast staffing needs. Ready to see more? If you’re looking for more information on RentCafe Wellness, check out our quick infographic. Have questions or ready to book a demo? Reach out to team...

Student housing remains a resilient sector with promising long-term growth prospects, attracting significant capital despite ongoing challenges, according to the latest Yardi Matrix webinar held Thursday. Find the full recording here and find the presentation slides here. However, investors navigating the student housing market require a nuanced understanding of its unique dynamics and the ability to identify opportunities amid volatility. As of March, the average rent reached $895 per bedroom, marking an all-time high for the sector. A total of 41 universities tracked for the Yardi Matrix National Student Housing Report had double-digit rent growth. “Long term sector growth is good. This is going to continue to attract capital, particularly in light of what we expect to be ongoing struggles in many of the markets in multifamily. And you’ve got to really kind of pick the winners,” said Jeff Adler, vice president of Yardi Matrix. Student housing can offer savvy investors higher returns but comes with inherent volatility, characterized by fluctuating performance among different schools. Examples include colleges like Ole Miss and Mizzou, which showcase how poorly performing schools can experience a strong rebound, while previously successful institutions like the University of Nevada, Reno, may face challenges due to oversupply. “There’s inherent lumpiness, or volatility, in the financial performance because supply tends to come in not evenly, but in large chunks and needs to get absorbed,” said Adler. “As you think about performance at a school, you need to see through those cycles, and/or you can actually use those points as opportunities to buy or sell if you know where the timing is going to hit.” Success in student housing hinges on a diversified portfolio across markets and strategies, not solely reliant on enrollment or rent growth metrics. Data-driven insights from Yardi Matrix help set realistic expectations and navigate short-term volatility while focusing on long-term fundamentals. The student housing sector is relatively young, with ample opportunities for development, rehabilitation, and value-added strategies. “One of the things I have taken away is just how young this industry is. (Around) 80 percent of the inventory is less than 25 years old, which means that there are still opportunities to develop a rehabbed value-added sector and an acquisition strategy,” Adler said. “The primary strategy in the sector has been new development, and that makes a lot of sense, but there are other strategies emerging as this industry begins to age.” Such strategies involve developing or acquiring properties near flagship state schools, emphasizing demographic trends and acceptance rates. Value-add strategies target slower-growth schools with potential for improvements or strong barriers to new supply. Opportunistic approaches involve timing markets based on supply and demand waves, with considerations for market characteristics and regulatory risks. With careful planning and informed decision-making, investors can unlock the full potential of this dynamic and resilient sector. View the full event recording with many more student housing investment insights, and get even more data from the latest Yardi® Matrix National Student Housing...

Yardi is energized for good! Our corporate motto is to take care of our clients, take care of our employees, take care of our communities, stay focused and grow. In honor of Earth Month, we would like to showcase a few Yardi-supported nonprofits that focus on keeping the planet green and healthy and teaching younger generations to care for it, its animals and its community. Along with ongoing projects, Yardi has significantly contributed to making the world a better place.   Environmental Stewards: These grassroots nonprofits aim to create a more sustainable environment through advocacy and community engagement. Each has a unique, discerning way of focusing on the planet. Community Environmental Council: Santa Barbara, Calif.: For over 50 years, CEC has strategically catalyzed change on the Central Coast of California, specializing in real-life solutions for environmental problems. Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful: Reno, Nevada, founded in 1989, works to reduce waste and hosts several community clean-up events, overseeing hundreds of volunteers. With thousands of volunteers contributing to clean-ups, KTMB has gathered over 100K pounds of trash and green waste. Chattahoochee Nature Center: Roswell, Georgia, founded in 1976, preserves and protects the Chattahoochee Forest and river and offers various educational and conservation opportunities, such as guided hikes and canoeing. This is the only organization providing direct access to the Chattahoochee River in the Atlanta metroplex.   Texas Conservation Alliance: Dallas, Texas, founded in 1972, works to protect wildlife, state forests, prairies and rivers. Along with various trash pick-ups, TCA performs annual tagging of Monarch butterflies. During bird migration, Dallas turns off the lights downtown to decrease light pollution so the birds have a safe route. Explore Ecology: Santa Barbara, Calif., founded in 1990, promotes environmental education and artistic expression. With its unique approach to turning beach scrap into art, Explore Ecology offers outdoor classrooms on school campuses and provides a “Makerspace” for community creative collaborations. The Los Padres Forest Association: Goleta, Calif., founded in 1979—ensures that the second largest forest in California, Los Padres Forest, thrives and remains safe for all to enjoy. Thanks to this organization’s efforts, the popular Red Reef Trail, nearly non-useable in 2020, is restored and in great shape for everyone. Animals and the Environment: The following nonprofits work to rehabilitate, conserve and preserve amazing creatures, both in the wild and in captivity. NY Marine Rescue Center: Riverhead, New York, founded in 1996, is the only permitted organization in the state of New York to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles. The Wild Animal Sanctuary: Keensburge, Colo., founded in 1980, rescues captive-bred carnivores from abuse and neglect. With their large acreage habitats, this organization travels worldwide to rescue animals suffering with state-of-the-art medical care and top-quality food. Cleveland Zoological Society: Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 1957, partners with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to create compelling experiences for people to connect with wildlife through conservation efforts, education, and program opportunities. Kids and the Environment: Though adults and corporations are there to fund many of these nonprofits, children are the real champions for change. When children learn the responsibility of sustainable efforts from a young age, future generations will make the magic happen. The following nonprofit organizations work with younger people through education, advocacy and events. Candlelight Ranch: Marble, Falls, Texas, founded in 1999, provides nature-based camps for children with special needs. Activities include several outdoor excursions such as ziplining, hiking, and suspended ropes courses. Wilderness Youth Project: Santa Barbara, Calif., founded in 1999, connects children to nature with guided, inspired, skilled mentors and volunteers for more green time than screen time. Children gain confidence, a heart for adventure and care for others. Instead of just taking notes, they are out exploring, climbing trees, looking at animal tracks and watching the waves on the West Coast as the sun sets. Major Scale Environmental Projects: Protecting and preserving land and reducing the carbon footprint are essential to changing the...