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.
M1 Poznań, managed by EPP, one of the largest family shopping centres in Wielkopolska, has just gained a new, unique tenant, CentrumRowerowe.pl, which is making its debut in Wielkopolska. In the summer, HalfPrice will also join the list of tenants of the centre, offering global brands, including fashion, home furnishings and sports goods at attractive prices. Customers can also already use the assortment of the recently opened Reporter clothing store and the Rainbow travel agency. All new contracts cover over 5,000 sqm of retail space.
Three companies from the PZU Group, one of the largest financial institutions in Poland and Central & Eastern Europe, have decided to lease space at Konstruktorska Business Center in Warsaw for another 10 years. The companies have renewed their lease for a total of over 6,500 sqm of modern office space in the building owned by Golden Star Group.
SNF, a company operating in the beauty sector, has renewed its lease for approximately 2,300 sqm of warehouse and office space at Prologis Park Poznań I. Axi Immo represented the tenant in the transaction.
New appointments
Savills Czech Republic announces new hires and promotions within its valuation team. Daniel Duchek has joined as a Senior Valuer, Alena Arnoldová has strengthened the team as a Junior Valuer, and Ivana Horáková has been promoted Valuer. Under the leadership of Marek Pohl, the team now consists of seven consultants specialising in the valuation of a wide range of assets – from commercial, residential, and hospitality properties to leisure, healthcare facilities, and land.
Ewa Nowak, a commercial property valuer, has joined the Valuation Department of international real estate advisory firm Newmark Polska as Senior Associate.
Maciej Wieczorkiewicz is joining the Avison Young Technical Advisory team in Poland. Maciej is an experienced engineer with many years of experience in managing fit-out projects and investments in the commercial property sector. During his career development, he has worked for companies such as Made In Terior, TECAS Fitout and Colliers Define.
Vilharia, the office building in Ljubljana, developed by the Slovak development company Corwin, has announced two new key tenants. The building has reached 75% occupancy.
Sixteen brands entered the Czech retail market in the first six months of this year, fashion and gastronomy being the most common segments, according to the report by Cushman & Wakefield.
Zeitgeist Asset Management is deepening its cooperation with the Reico Nemovitostní investment fund, managed by the Reico Erste Asset Management investment company. Zeitgeist is taking over the complete management of another rental housing project.
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