The investment volume achieved in 2016 totalled almost €1.2 billion with 46 transactions recorded in core CEE hotel investment markets. In comparison, 2015 reached just over €700 million with 45 transactions. Austria was the star performer with almost €800 million transacted, which made up 67% of the total investment volume. In other CEE markets volume was lower than in 2015 with a particular decline in Poland which more than halved in volume. The Czech Republic accounted for 18% of total CEE investment share; most of the investment took place in Prague which saw 7 transactions including the Hilton Old Town, Park Hotel and Chopin Hotel.
The CEE hotel industry reported growth across all key performance metrics. Increasing number of tourists have chosen CEE destinations, thus occupancy rates returned or even surpassed the pre-crisis levels, reaching 72% on average up from 69%. As the cost of visiting CEE has gone up along with the increasing hotel room rates, profits have been soaring. The average price per room reached €76.6 up from €73.6 in 2015. While the Eastern markets achieved double digit growth in terms of revenue per available room, the more mature markets of Central Europe including Prague and Warsaw saw growth of around 6%.
Performance change over 2016
Money has been flowing in from Far East Asia, the Middle East, America as well as Europe. Hence the region has become truly international.
“In the last few years the region has seen important inflows of capital as wider groups of investors try to take advantage of the strong performance of the local hotel industry. Among the key factors driving performance are the continued strength of inbound international tourism into the CEE region, supported by Asian travellers as well as the re-focus of North African and Western European tourism. Moreover the willingness of banks to finance hotel acquisitions has significantly enticed high investor demand,” says David Nath, Head of CEE Hospitality Team at Cushman & Wakefield.
Banks’ appetite for lending is reflected in the return in hotel development activity with 2017 expected to deliver an additional 4,000 rooms across Central and Eastern European capital cities. The markets with the greatest development prospects are Warsaw and Budapest. Prague is an exception with a limited pipeline due to planning constraints and only a few sites suitable for hotel development.
“Although we expect growth to slow down slightly, during 2017, the investment market will remain robust compared to other more established markets in Western Europe. We will also see increasing capital invested in less mature hotel investment markets such as Bucharest and Sofia” says Frederic Le Fichoux, Head of Hotel Transactions - Continental Europe and adds “Average daily rate is expected to rise further, generating higher income returns for investors especially in more mature CEE markets, where the development pipeline is limited.”
In 2017, investors’ activity will be notable especially in Hungarian, Austrian and Romanian hotel investment markets, where significant assets are set to be put up for sale or about to be transacted.
MLP Group has bolstered the tenant mix at MLP Poznań West by welcoming Stockly, a 3D printing specialist. The company has leased 2,400 sqm of warehouse and office space, with operations already underway via early access. A full handover is expected in December 2026. Stockly was represented by Rock Estate during the transaction.
Echo Investment has signed a lease agreement with Auchan Polska for 1,200 sqm of retail space within Fuzja, a flagship multifunctional complex in Łódź. The retailer is scheduled to open the outlet during the summer of 2026.
Froo Romania, a subsidiary of the Żabka Group, has relocated its HQ to the Bucharest-based Hermes Business Campus. The retailer secured around 2,900 sqm of office space in a transaction facilitated by Colliers.
New appointments
iO Partners has appointed Constantin Banu as Business Development Director for its Industrial and Land segments. With over 25 years of experience in the Romanian real estate sector, Banu is widely credited with helping shape the local logistics market. In his new role, he will oversee expansion strategies for the two segments.
Avison Young has promoted Bartłomiej Krzyżak and Marcin Purgal to the roles of Co-Heads of the Investment Department in Poland. Krzyżak, previously Senior Director, brings 18 years of commercial real estate experience, having joined Avison Young in 2017. Purgal, also a former Senior Director and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), transitions into the co-head role with 23 years of experience in the CEE commercial markets.
Avison Young has strengthened its Polish leadership with three senior promotions. Patryk Błach ascends to Associate Director within the Investment Advisory Department. Kamil Głowienka has been named Senior Project Manager. Furthermore, Katarzyna Uzar becomes a Valuation and Innovation Specialist, tasked with integrating technological solutions and coordinating global departmental projects.
Industrial developer CTP announced that Moody's Ratings has upgraded CTP's long-term issuer rating and senior unsecured rating to Baa2 with a stable outlook from Baa3 with a positive outlook.
From macro trends and investment strategy to housing affordability, operational efficiency and lender appetite, Prague Property Forum 2026 will bring together many of the market’s most active investors, developers, lenders and advisers on May 18th at the Cubex Centre Prague.
Leasing transactions for modern office space in Bucharest increased by 14% in Q1 2026 compared to the same period last year, while new demand rose by 24%. However, the market remains below pre-pandemic levels, according to Colliers data.
Property Forum is a leading event hub in the CEE real estate industry with over 10 years of experience. We organise conferences, business breakfasts and workshops focused on real estate, in London, Vienna, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Prague, Zagreb and Sofia, amongst other locations.
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