Uncertainty and volatility have been the two dominant trends shaping the commercial real estate market and buyer sentiment in recent months. However, according to the latest report from Cushman & Wakefield, the Polish market, whose fundamentals remain strong, is broadly expected to regain equilibrium. Change is being seen in the number and types of real estate transactions taking place – due to the constrained availability of safe prime assets for sale on the office market and high financing costs, investors seeking higher returns are turning their focus to higher-risk transactions. With retail footfall figures for large schemes back at satisfactory levels after the pandemic and attractive asset pricing, the retail market has become an interesting sector for bargain hunting. The warehouse and logistics sector continues to feature prominently on investors’ radars.

A record number of new brands entered the Czech retail market last year. In the past ten years, since Cushman & Wakefield has been closely monitoring this activity, none equalled the 2023 list of 39 new retail brands.

According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report, the Polish hotel market is seeing a steady increase in demand and key performance indicators. These positive trends are expected to continue into 2024, with a recovery in the number of international guest nights in Polish hotels. In the long term, the market will increasingly focus on hotel retrofitting and implementing modern technological and ESG solutions.

UX (user experience) has in recent years been a buzzword in discussions about attracting retail customers. However, nothing puts consumers’ emotions and well-being to the test more than the pre-Christmas frenzy and visits to shopping centres. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s retail customer experience survey, 42% of Polish respondents say that their shopping experience is impacted by sound and music, with 41% and 38% citing the interior design and lighting in a shopping centre respectively. Over 40% of the surveyed respondents say that they are irritated by crowds and noise when shopping. These are important insights for property landlords and managers responsible for creating optimal conditions that will drive positive shopping experiences.

In this year's 33rd edition of the Cushman & Wakefield Main Streets Across the World ranking, the Czech Republic ranked 19th. The survey compares nearly 50 countries around the world by the level of retail rents on the most expensive shopping street in each country, and for the second time the Czech Republic is represented by Paris Street. It ranks 19th among the world's most expensive shopping streets, 11th in Europe and first in the CEE region. The highest rent achieved in Pařížská, as of the third quarter of this year, is €2,700 per sqm per annum, i.e. approximately €225 per sqm per month. 

According to Cushman & Wakefield, leasing activity bounced back strongly on the Polish industrial market in Q3 2023. Meanwhile, development activity was largely driven by pre-lets and BTS projects, with rental rates remaining flat in most regions.

Cushman & Wakefield has released a new report on the student housing market in Poland. Supply of public and private halls of residence fails to keep pace with growing demand. In addition, halls of residence remain very popular among students in Poland despite rising rental rates, which in turn is making the PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) sector attractive to international investors.

Cushman & Wakefield has summarized the third quarter of 2023 on the Polish office market. Office development activity continues to slow down both in Warsaw and in Poland’s regional city markets. Nominal leasing activity remains high in the largest regional cities, with Warsaw reporting a record number of leases.

CEE's modern industrial and warehouse space exceeded 59 million sqm in H1 2023. In twelve months, over 7,6 million sqm was completed, expanding the market by 16%, and currently, an additional 5 million sqm is under construction. With a 19% share of the total size, the Czech Republic is the second largest market in the region, the first is Poland with 52%. The demand is decreasing, but the nearshoring trend presents new opportunities. Cushman & Wakefield presents its latest findings. 

Cushman & Wakefield has appointed Magsud Rahmanov as the new Head of Hotel Transactions CEE & SEE and named him as a Partner.