Twice a year Telsey Advisory Group, one of the nation’s most respected retail analysis firms, takes their institutional investor clients shopping. The trips are designed to showcase the hottest retail centers, and best investment opportunities, in the country. This past holiday season, the retail tour included — for the first time — a stop at Tysons Corner Center.

“[We] put that on the map as a new destination for us,” said Vera Van Ert, an analyst with the New York-based firm. “Because of the variety and the number of concept [stores] in there … I think it’s on a lot of people’s radar screens.”