Colliers reveals that 57% of EMEA investors (and 60% of global investors) chose quality office assets in major markets as their top strategy picks. European cities like London, Paris, Berlin and Munich have retained their allure and will be in high demand next year.

Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra, Senior Partner, Head of Corporate Finance and Living Services for Central and Eastern Europe at Colliers talked to Property Forum about the rapid development of the PRS market and the current state of affairs on the residential market in Poland.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic most companies switched to remote work and reduced the demand for office space, which is reflected in Colliers “Warsaw Office Zones Guide” report’s data. Thanks to vaccinations and a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases, in Q2 and Q3 2021 we have seen a gradual return of employees to offices and an increase in tenant activity in the Polish capital.

Despite almost all European office employees working from home last year, the empty workplaces did not lead to a reduction in the expenditure that companies had to fulfil had the workforce been in the office. The average costs per FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) fell by only 2% and amounted to €9,468. These findings have been published by Colliers, Occupier Cost Index (OCI), which comprises data from 29 countries, 3,990 buildings, 26.1 million square meters of office space and 1.96 million FTEs.

The appearance and functionality of a building’s reception area is in many cases the first impression of a company that potential clients and business partners will see. Do you remember the lobbies that truly impressed you? In the same way, you probably haven't forgotten those that did exactly the opposite. Smart systems in the reception area can enhance a positive experience, solve several problems and improve collaboration across departments. Can your receptionist do that too? Katarína Karmažinová, PR Manager at Colliers in the Czech Republic asks the question.

Analysis of 44 key office markets in EMEA showed a 155,000 sqm increase in the total amount of flex workspace, according to Colliers. This increase equates to 25,000 extra desks. Contributing to this increase was the addition of 285,000 sqm of newly opened space, but this was offset by 130,000 sqm of space that closed and a further 23,000 sqm that was abandoned. However, nearly a third of the space that closed was due to WeWork streamlining its business in key European locations such as Barcelona, Copenhagen, London and Oslo.

Working from anywhere and social distancing recommendations have led to a population migration trend towards quieter areas in the suburbs or in localities around big Romanian cities on the back of the ongoing health crisis, according to a report of real estate consultancy Colliers. 

Despite the ongoing disruption of the pandemic, investment volumes for the first three quarters of 2021, totalling €7.3 billion, are down just 10% year-on-year and ca. 20% lower than the same period of 2019.  Colliers estimates that 2021 year-end volumes will reach similar levels as in 2020 of between €10.0 and €11.0 billion.

Colliers has just launched a new report titled Commercial Real Estate – our industry today, tomorrow, and beyond: Engage, Evolve, Accelerate. By publishing this report, Colliers is providing a comprehensive guide for corporate occupiers and industry stakeholders on how to approach the commercial real estate and workplace landscape as we emerge post-pandemic. This will enable the adaption of occupational strategies, rethinking of organisational operating models and the delivery of enhanced growth in the next cycle.

Investment transactions in Romania exceeded €540 million in the first nine months of 2021, with around half being closed only in the third quarter, according to property consultancy Colliers Romania.