The retail market is facing major challenges with e-commerce and rapidly changing consumer needs disrupting the traditional shopping centre model. Retailers that want to stay in the race are already embracing new concepts and formats. The future of retail will be one of the key topics to be discussed at the upcoming CEE Property Forum 2018 in Vienna.

The accelerated economic development of the major regional cities in Romania is beginning to influence their real estate market as well. According to Colliers International, there are strong arguments to support the increased interest in office leasing and the strong investment potential, so cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi or Brasov can offer an alternative to Bucharest.

According to Cushman & Wakefield, total investment volumes in Poland in H1 2018 surpassed €3 billion reaching €3,246 million, up 113% on H1 2017.

An entire section will be dedicated to the future of Southeastern European markets at the upcoming CEE Property Forum 2018 in Vienna. International experts and top local players will provide an overview of the Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian and Croatian markets, among others. To check out the list of confirmed speakers, click here.

On 20 September 2018, CEE Property Forum, a conference and networking event for real estate professionals from all over the CEE region will be held for the sixth time in Vienna. The event is organised by Property Forum, in close cooperation with RICS.

In its latest Global Sustainability Report, JLL reported exceeding its goals for carbon emission reductions within its corporate offices and committing to set a Science Based Target by 2020. Reductions achieved on a per corporate office employee basis included a drop in building-related greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), building-related energy consumption by 12 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), and rented area by 10 percent (vs. a target of 8 percent).

Hong Kong Central remained the most expensive office market in the world, according to CBRE’s annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs report.

PropTech influencers James Dearsley and Eddie Holmes have raised £150,000 of pre-seed funding from a raft of significant strategic investors to build the first global PropTech information and data platform. The new platform, called Unissu, provides the richest dataset of PropTech companies, information and research. Currently in closed beta, it will formally launch later this year.

Governments worldwide have been gradually forging greater transparency in real estate markets, addressing growing demands from investors and the public to deliver significant change. JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index reports slow but steady progress driven by increased regulations and new technology.

From July onwards, entrepreneurs in Poland will decide whether to apply the split payment mechanism (SPM). As announced by the Polish Ministry of Finance, entities making split payments will be considered to be entrepreneurs of strong commercial integrity and business professionalism. Experts of Cresa Poland and tax specialists of Crido Taxand say whether it advisable to make use of the new regulations in their joint review “Commercial Real Estate Tax & Business Digest”.