The Largest Shopping & Entertainment Centre in Europe
By the end of 2004, Ljubljana's BTC shopping district plans to become the largest shopping, entertainment and sports centre in Europe. BTC, the company running the centre, plans to invest an additional EUR 50 million for the expansion, the largest investment in the company's history.
In a little over a decade, the BTC shopping complex has become the leading Slovenian shopping centre, while the company has also opened similar shopping centres in Novo mesto and Murska Sobota. The BTC centre has developed from former public warehouses, and today the shopping and business area spreads over 250,000 square metres. The company employs some 300 people.
BTC and its strategic partners invested some EUR 100 million in renovation and development between 1993 and 2002. "BTC is currently in a period of the most significant investment cycle in its history, implementing the goals set in the company's long-term development strategy. BTC has ambitious plans and a clear vision," says its CEO Jo??e Mermal. The first four months of this year saw an increase of 14 percent in revenues year-on-year, while the company boldly predicts a jump of 35 percent in profits by the end of the year.
This autumn, BTC will start working on the construction of a new car park with 820 parking spaces. It will soon start refurbishing the oldest shopping hall, and preparations also are under way to renovate the market. The company has purchased nearby plots totalling 20,000 square metres, where it has already launched initial construction work. An additional 6,000 square metre area has been intended for the development of amusement facilities. The company says it will realize its plans by the end of the year, while next year it will start working on the construction of a water park. Gov't PR Office
BTC visitor turnout:
1993: 4,697,550
1994: 4,759,965
1995: 6,455,025
1996: 6,838,275
1997: 6,344,085
1998: 6,868,570
1999: 9,903,370
2000: 10,306,505
2001: 13,300,000
2002: 14,000,000
