Propetch is far more than buying a gadget to replace humans. It is a disruptive tool to think over the whole value chain in managing commercial properties. No players in this chain can avoid using it properly, says István Rézsó, Head of Business Development at Cushman & Wakefield Hungary.

Emma Toma, Head of the Office Leasing Division at AFI Europe Romania, spoke to Property Forum about the developer’s expansion plans in the residential segment and the trend of rising rents in Class A office buildings.

Property Forum talked to Andrew Sim, Managing Director for Europe and Horațiu Florescu, Chairman & CEO Knight Frank Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece & Serbia, about the segments driving property investments in CEE and the impact of rising inflation and interest rates on transactions.

Bogdan Doicescu, Development Director & Executive Board Member at Bog’Art, spoke to Property Forum about the cost forecast for the construction market in 2022 and the company’s plans to diversify their activity with their own residential developments in Bucharest.

As of May 2022, Alena Liškay Králíková is the new ESG Manager of Czech development company Crestyl. According to her, while thinking about ESG in real estate businesses, it is important that buildings are not only serving the company´s ESG goals but also their residents, tenants and the entire neighbourhood too.

Classical shopping centres should adapt to the latest trends in retail to survive. That includes establishing strong ties between the digital and physical world and defining the tenant mix more accurately. Entertainment is also a must as these centres will have to become beloved community centres as well, says Márk Balástyai, Project Director of the recently opened Etele Plaza, built by Hungarian developer Futureal.

Costin Nistor, Managing Director of Fortim Trusted Advisors, member of the BNP Paribas Real Estate Alliance, detailed for Property Forum the real estate consultancy’s development plans for this year, also talking about the segments that will propel the investment market to over €1 billion in 2022.

Monia Dobrescu, Partner, Mușat & Asociații spoke to Property Forum about the financing environment for the real estate sector in the context of the crisis in Ukraine and the law firm’s development plans for this year. The uniform application of the regulatory acts in the field is an issue that has an impact on players in the real estate market, and progress is being made in this area, Monia adds.

Vlad Drăgoescu, President of the Board of Directors – Nemo (Radisson Blu / Park Inn Complex) and Head of Portfolio Management at Revetas spoke with Property Forum about the growth engines for the Romanian hotel market and the €24 million overhaul of Radisson Blu that will make it one of the biggest 5-star hotels in CEE.

Małgorzata Cieślak-Belgy, Chief Investment Officer at MNK Partners talked to Property Forum about the current attractiveness of Polish the property market among investors and the growing popularity of ESG-compliant buildings.