Sevdelina Petrova MRICS (Bulgaria) and Maja Ostanek MRICS (Slovenia) were awarded the Chris H. Bennett Memorial Prize. The awards were handed out at the Portfolio Property Investment Forum conference in Budapest, where the achievements of several big players of the Hungarian property market were also acknowledged.
To honour his substantial contribution to the industry over many years, in 2014 RICS has created an annual prize in the name of Chris H. Bennett FRICS, to reward significant display of professionalism by successful RICS Candidates in the CEE region.
The award is given to one or more successful RICS applicants deemed to have made the most outstanding impression on an interviewing panel throughout the RICS business year (1 August - 31 July). Nominations are accepted from all countries of the CEE region. The nomination process is controlled by RICS CEE Country Manager Anna Orcsik and the determination of the merit-based award is managed by family friend John Verpeleti FRICS.
From left to right: John Verpeleti FRICS, Sevdelina Petrova MRICS, Maja Ostanek MRICS and Anna Orcsik.
Sevdelina Petrova MRICS (Bulgaria) and Maja Ostanek MRICS (Slovenia) received the award in Budapest at the 13th Property Investment Forum, organised by Portfolio. RICS has long been the number one professional partner of Portfolio and Property Forum at its property conferences in several European cities.
At this year’s largest professional event on the Hungarian real estate market Portfolio Property Awards were also handed out to recognise the activity of several big players of the Hungarian real estate scene.
Participants of the conference voted in two categories. Futureal’s Nokia Skypark office building was declared Project of The Year. Co-Founder / Chairman Gábor Futó represented the developer.
Based on the popular vote Horizon Development’s Szervita Square project became Concept of The Year. Managing Partner Attila Kovács recieved the award from Property Forum CEO Csanád Csűrös and Net Média Zrt. (Portfolio) CEO Zoltán Bán.
The Transaction Deal of The Year was closed by CPI Property Group. Country Manager Mátyás Gereben recieved the award from host Nóra Ödrög.
UDH, one of Poland’s largest distributors of premium imported beers, has leased approximately 1,400 sq m of modern warehouse and office space at the Park Rysy Kraków distribution centre. The tenant, which has chosen to expand its operations in southern Poland, was once again represented by AXI IMMO.
Golden Star Estate has secured a long-term lease agreement with global technology solutions and consulting provider C&F for nearly 1,900 sqm of office space at the Konstruktorska Business Center. Following the transaction, the property, located in Warsaw’s Mokotów business district, is now almost fully leased. The Polish branch of C&F will officially relocate to the facility at the beginning of 2027.
Natland Group has committed to its long-term presence at Prague-based Rohan Business Center through a lease extension covering 2,004 sqm of office space, together with storage facilities and dedicated parking spaces, in a deal brokered by iO Partners.
New appointments
Indotek Group has announced the appointment of Diederik Bakker as Group Chief Investment Officer and Group Head of Asset Management. In his new role, the Dutch real estate investment professional will gradually assume responsibility for the company's ITAM (investment, transaction, and asset management) activities across 12 European countries, supporting the next phase of Indotek Group’s growth. His focus includes facilitating sound investment decisions across Europe and developing a group-level portfolio management strategy that combines local market knowledge with international asset management know-how.
Peakside Capital Advisors has appointed Bogi Gabrovic to advise the board and support its investment and acquisition activities in Poland. Gabrovic brings more than 25 years of CEE real estate experience to the role, having previously held senior executive positions at CTP, Golub & Company, and White Star Real Estate, where she managed transactions exceeding €2 billion.
Katarína Brydone, Jana Vlková and Vendula Maršová have been appointed as the first Equity Partners of Colliers’ Czech business. Brydone brings more than 20 years of experience in international real estate. Vlková has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate. Maršová, Partner and Head of Valuation and Advisory Services, brings more than 16 years of experience in real estate valuation and advisory.
Hungarian construction group Bayer Construct has entered bankruptcy protection as it seeks to restructure its finances and reach an agreement with creditors, while developers behind projects where the company acts as contractor are moving to reassure homebuyers that construction will continue.
EQT Real Estate has signed a lease agreement with BESTSECRET covering 108,000 sqm at EQT Park Poznań Żerniki, one of the largest warehouse leasing transactions in Poland in 2026. The deal was concluded through EQT Exeter Europe Logistics Value Fund IV (EELV IV), operating within EQT Real Estate.
MetaWealth, a European real asset investment platform, has reached financial close on a €19 million funding package for Dumbrava, a 50 MW / 100 MWh standalone battery energy storage (BESS) project in Neamț County, Romania. The project is the first to reach financial close under MetaWealth's Romanian BESS programme, which covers approximately 850 MWh of identified and pipeline projects with an estimated total investment of approximately €160 million.
Property Forum is a leading event hub in the CEE real estate industry with over 10 years of experience. We organise conferences, business breakfasts and workshops focused on real estate, in London, Vienna, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Prague, Zagreb and Sofia, amongst other locations.
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