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.

Tanya Kosseva-Boshova, Managing Partner, Lion’s Head Romania and Bulgaria, spoke to Property Forum about the leasing environment for offices and new investments made by the developer in the co-working space.

Latvia-based Mogotel Hotel Group is the largest hotel operator in the Baltics and it continues to expand outside the region, having recently entered the Hungarian market. Development Director Ivans Dokicians unveiled the company’s ambitions and plans in Hungary and the whole of Europe in an interview for Property Forum.

Marcin Krasoń, a residential property expert at Obido.pl and Otodom.pl talked to Property Forum about the incoming slowdown in the residential market in Poland, the development of the PRS sector and the effects of rising inflation.

With total investments exceeding €500 million in Romania’s real estate market in the past 25 years, Anchor Grup is looking for new funding and recently kicked off a new residential project. Affan Yildirim, General Manager, Board Member of Anchor Grup and Board Member of Shopping MallDova, spoke to Property Forum about the way in which the developer adapted its malls and offices to the post-pandemic trends but also about the investment context in the country.

Andrei Duță, Country Manager Romania at Realpad spoke to Property Forum about the openness of local residential developers to digitization solutions, but also about the company's expansion into other cities in Romania. Realpad will add digital solutions for the commercial and rental sector as part of an ambitious growth plan in the region.