PRESS

Effective Monday, 13 December, every store at every center operated by Austria's largest shopping center operator, SES Spar European Shopping Centers, will once again be open for business at their regular opening hours. Shopping centers in Upper Austria, where the lockdown is scheduled to end on 17 December, are the only exceptions. On Sunday, 19 December, all 16 SES shopping centers in Austria will be open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The 2G regulation, which applies to retail and gastronomy operations, will be widely communicated across all channels of each center – in line with the policy that was in place prior to the lockdown.

What was once an idea, namely the establishment of an overarching means of payment at SES centers in Austria in lieu of individual center gift certificates via the “Zehner” in 2011, has become a success story and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Its name says it all: “Zehner” gift certificates are available in denominations of 10 euros, and some 28 million have been purchased since their introduction. SES attributes much of the success to the fact that the gift certificate can now be redeemed nationwide at 13 SES shopping centers across Austria. Approximately 60 percent of all “Zehner” gift certificates are purchased by companies for their employees. EUROPARK Salzburg, ATRIO Villach, VARENA Vöcklabruck, WEBERZEILE Ried, and MURPARK Graz are the leading centers in terms of the number of “Zehner” gift certificates sold. To coincide with its anniversary, the “Zehner” has been redesigned in the format of a 50-euro bill and comes with a snazzy envelope. New packaging stands have also been set up inside the centers, providing customers with creative ideas on how to package their own gift certificates. More than 50 percent of all “Zehner” gift certificates are sold in the six weeks leading up to Christmas.