Retail is among the real estate sectors most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. As most stores have been ordered to close across Europe, retail landlords face an unprecedented challenge. Duarte Cabral, Deputy Managing Director EMEA at Sonae Sierra shared with us his initial impressions on this rapidly evolving situation.

In the third instalment of a series of articles on COVID-19 and its implications for logistics real estate, Prologis identifies concrete learnings from its operations in China and its proprietary data globally.

Nicklas Lindberg, CEO of Echo Investment, and Maciej Drozd, the company’s CFO, have bought over 1400 of the company’s bonds on the secondary market. The Management has confidence in Echo Investment and further development of the business consistent with the Strategy of Profitable Growth.

A modern office building, which is being built in the centre of Katowice, .KTW II was awarded the BREEAM Interim Design Stage certificate at the Excellent level.

Airbnb has announced further actions to support users through the COVID-19 crisis. Guests who have reservations made before March 14 that begins anytime on or before May 31, can cancel the reservation and get a full refund or a travel credit if they are impacted by COVID-19 and can’t travel. The accommodation platform will also pay $250 million to hosts to help cover the cost of COVID-19 cancellations.

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting the global economy hard, with all real estate sectors in the Czech Republic affected to varying degrees. But in the subsequent low interest rate environment, Czech real estate as an asset class should continue to offer superior returns, according to the latest research from Savills.

Bence Balázs is the new Head of Real Estate at Diófa Asset Management. Bence Balázs has gained 13 years professional experience on domestic, regional and international commercial real estate markets. He joined Diófa Asset Management in 2019 as portfolio manager responsible for real estate investment funds. As head of real estate at Diófa Asset Management, his responsibilities include the coordination of the asset management, fund management, leasing and investment management operations of the company. Bence aims to further expand the core real estate portfolios of Diófa, to refine the asset and fund management systems of the company and intends to ensure stable and predictable return levels towards the retail and institutional investors of the funds. In addition, he intends to launch new funds and investment products together with the Diófa team

Governments continue to come up with measures to help stabilize the economy. Property Forum collected the latest efforts by CEE governments to rescue businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Many market players, especially those working in industrial and office, expect a swift return to business as usual in the third quarter. Andy Thompson, Director of Czech & Slovak Capital Markets and Tewfik Sabongui, Managing Partner for the Czech Republic shared Colliers International’s expectations for the coming months.

Panattoni will deliver another project for K-FLEX, a manufacturer of thermal and acoustic insulation materials. Next to the company’s existing factory near Uniejów, the developer will build a 9,300-square-metre warehouse facility. The investment will commence in mid-2020.