The largest privately owned hostel-chain in Europe a&o Group will open its first quarters in Budapest in 2019. The German group creates a modern hostel by simultaneously restoring and transforming a historic property into a 108-room hostel. ConvergenCE is to lead the complete reconstruction of the selected property in Csengery Street.

Just before the end of 2018, GTC S.A. signed €94.6 million new loan agreements certifying the financial solidity of the company. The refinancing was granted to three prime projects of the developer and asset manager – GTC White House in Budapest, FortyOne in Belgrade, and Artico in Warsaw.

Wing has sold the Angyal (Angel) office building, set adjacent to Boráros Square in Central Budapest, to French economy hotel chain B&B Hotels. The building will be converted to a hotel based on the two companies’ strategic agreement, and become B&B Hotels’ first hotel in Hungary, with Wing taking on development tasks. The first B&B Hotels location in Hungary set to open on 7,700 sqm.

During 2018 the total commercial real estate investment transaction volume passed the €1.8 billion level in Hungary, marking the third consecutive year of stable and strong investor appetite and the highest annual transaction volume since 200, according to JLL Hungary's latest numbers. Hungarian funds were the most active purchasers with a market share above 50%.

Wing has acquired Siemens’ office complex on Gizella Road in Budapest. The complex offers a total GLA of 40,000 sqm in eight buildings, most of which is office space, in addition to areas with industrial and educations functions. The property also has the potential for further development.

The final group of tenants has moved in to the first phase of Advance Tower, Futureal Group’s new office building on the Váci Road office corridor in Budapest, Hungary. The building, designed to support the health and comfort of over 1,400 employees, offers a GLA of 12,000 sqm. The second phase of the development is now structurally complete with handover expected in H2 2019.

Representing Magyar Posta Takarék Real Estate Investment Fund (MPTIA), Diófa Asset Management has signed a sales and purchase agreement with Portico Investment for a 27,500 sqm retail portfolio in Budapest and its agglomeration. Once regulatory approval is obtained, the size of the portfolio managed by Diófa will exceed 330,000 sqm.

Redwood Real Estate Holding has sold its recently delivered Ecodome office building in Budapest. The name of the buyer and the transaction price has not been disclosed.

Futureal Group has sold its portfolio of Corvin office buildings to real estate funds managed by OTP Real Estate Investment Fund Management. The recently closed transaction involves all of the operating office buildings built as part of Corvin Promenade, as well as two currently being constructed. The total of eight Class A buildings offer a combined GLA of nearly 80,000 square meters.

The Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of a new property to Radisson Collection in Budapest, Hungary. With 71 guest rooms and suites, a first-class fitness center, restaurant, lobby bar and a further rooftop bar the hotel will open in mid-2020.