Sonae Sierra will be responsible for managing Prishtina Mall, the largest shopping centre in Southeastern Europe, which is scheduled to open today. With a GLA of 115,000 sqm, Prishtina Mall is positioned as a regional centre intended to serve the surrounding area of the Balkans.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate is moving ahead with its Europe-wide expansion, benefiting from the persistently strong demand for logistics space. For the 203 assets under its management with around 5.7 million square metres of lettable area (including open space), the company achieved rent increases averaging 11.7 percent through indexation provisions and by negotiating new lease agreements. The occupancy rate of the portfolio equals 98 percent. Moreover, the company responded to demand across Europe by delivering new sustainably designed logistics properties.

Marriott Hotels, the signature flag of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, has opened Tirana Marriott Hotel, the first Marriott Hotel in Albania. The hotel is located next to the multi-purpose complex of the National Arena and within walking distance to governmental offices, international institutions as well as key historical and cultural sites.

The Polish warehousing market in 2022 remained in good condition. By the end of December 2022, more than 4.4 million sqm (+42% y/y) of new space was completed, corresponding with strong activity by tenants, who leased nearly 6.7 million sqm (-9 y/y). Another 3.4 million sqm is under construction (-25% y/y), which promises to surpass the 30 million sqm mark in 2023. The high absorption rate did not significantly affect the increase in the vacancy rate, keeping it at 4.1% (+0.2 bps y/y). The event of the year was undoubtedly the rising rental rates, which increased on average by 15-20% compared to previous years, according to Axi Immo's recent report.

Żabka Polska is preparing to open a new logistics centre in Małopole by Radzymin near Warsaw. It will be one of the largest and most innovative logistics centres in Europe. The launch of the new facility with an area of approximately 60,000 sqm is planned for the second quarter of 2023. Thanks to this investment, more than 600 people will find work in the region - employed directly by Żabka or in companies cooperating with it. 

GLP has been operating in Central Eastern Europe for nearly three years. In that time, it has doubled its portfolio in the region, with a total of nearly 2.5 million sqm of building assets currently under management in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The company is planning new ventures that will reinforce its position among the region’s leading logistics real estate investors, developers and managers.

Titanx Engine Cooling, a supplier of cooling systems for commercial vehicle manufacturers, is ramping up its production and distribution capacity at CTPark Opole in the Silesian region of southwest Poland by leasing an additional 27,000 sqm of space. The new capacity will help meet strong demand from customers in its key German, Polish and Czech markets.

Romanian developer Redport Capital is planning a residential complex with more than 1,000 homes on the land plot of 44,000 sqm that was recently purchased in northern Bucharest alongside local furniture market Mobexpert.

Rustler Romania, the supplier of facility, property and project management services, has launched its brokerage division under Rustler Properties offering real estate consulting services in the office, land and industrial-logistics segments.

The rising share of domestic investors has kept volumes high in CEE property markets in the last year and this trend will continue. The overall market outlook is quite optimistic as further declines are expected for inflation and construction costs, concluded panellists of Property Forum's recent online event.