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.
108 Agency Slovakia has secured a lease of 5,300 sqm for RajHračiek in ANTRACIT Park Senec, a built-to-suit project by HSF. RajHračiek is a fast-growing online store offering a wide selection of toy brands for children.
Contract Administration as a result of the renegotiation of the lease agreement, remains in the premises of the West Forum complex in Wrocław. The Lessor, represented by TFG Asset Management, was supported in the process by the consulting agency Corees Polska.
Uni-logistics, which specializes in sea, rail and air freight forwarding and road transport, has leased 5,825 sqm of warehouse and office space in Panattoni Park Tricity East VI in Poland. Real estate advisory firm Cresa Poland assisted the tenant during negotiations.
New appointments
Paweł Suracki joined Colliers as the Investment Services Director. He will be responsible for managing sales and purchasing processes on behalf of Colliers' clients and for establishing and maintaining relationships with potential and current Colliers' partners in Poland.
Avison Young has announced a key change to its directors’ team in Budapest with the arrival of Martina Cifer at the helm of its Office Leasing department. In her new capacity, she shall oversee both the company's Landlord and Tenant Representation divisions.
Łukasz Czajkowski joins the team of JLL Poland as Business Services Lead in Tenant Representation Department. He will be responsible for enhancing relations with the BSS sector.
German bicycle manufacturer CUBE is expanding its operations by launching its first production facility at CTPark Cheb in the Czech Republic, in a new building with 10,000 sqm of space. The new assembly line for bicycles is planned to start in February 2022.
The White Stone Capital Group has purchased the second part of the land in Bielany in the vicinity of Huta Warszawa, at the Młociny metro station. In total, the developer owns a plot of land with an area of 200,000 sqm in its portfolio. Work is underway on the concept of creating a multi-stage multi-functional investment with a rich green area preserved.
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