Victor Căpitanu, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of One United Properties spoke with Property Forum at Mipim in Cannes about the company’s residential development pipeline valued north of €1 billion and Bucharest’s capacity to provide high yields for real estate investors.

Marriott International, Inc., announced its plans to expand its portfolio in Poland with the expected addition of more than 10 properties in the next few years, including the debut of two brands - Le Méridien and Element Hotels by Westin - in the market. The anticipated openings will further enhance the company’s footprint in the country, where it currently has a portfolio of 24 properties and over 4,500 rooms across 12 brands and eight cities - Warsaw, Sopot, Kraków, Poznań, Katowice, Wrocław, Gdynia and Szczecin. 

Hungarian property developer and investor Wing has completed a €37 million bond issue. With an aggregate principal amount of €37 million, the bonds have a maturity of 3 years and a fixed interest rate of 8.90 per cent. The company has accepted all offers received, intending to use the funds raised from the successful issue to pursue new investment opportunities and launch new real estate development projects.

Businessman Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, is now venturing into the Balkans with ambitious plans for transformative property developments across Albania and Serbia. Through his Miami-based private equity firm, Affinity Partners, Kushner is engaged in advanced discussions for investments exceeding $1 billion, aiming to reshape the landscape of tourism and real estate in Southeast Europe, the New York Post reports.

Real estate development is a long-term venture where the end results (including profitability) are often unpredictable, especially in the current challenging global environment. Property Forum talked to Norbert Schőmer MRICS, Country Director at Atenor Hungary and the recently appointed Chairman of RICS in Hungary, covering the topics of ESG, changes in the office market, affordable housing and education, among others. He also provided an update on Atenor’s ongoing projects in Hungary and shared his priorities as RICS Chairman.

The expansion of Arete Park Dunajská Streda has received a building permit. It will offer an additional 13,000 sqm of modern space for storage, logistics or light manufacturing, within driving distance of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.

Corwin has submitted an intention to revitalize and transform the southern, larger part of the brownfield after the former industrial plant Palma on Račianská Street in Bratislava for the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Some of the historic heritage buildings are crying for conversion for commercial use in many cities across the CEE region. Property Forum asked Mihály Schrancz, CEO and founding partner of newly-founded development company Realis Development Plc., about the risks and special preparation for such projects.

LCube enters 2024 with projects planned on purchased plots with a potential of 100,000 sqm and has secured additional land of about 65 hectares, which will enable the construction of another 300,000 sqm of warehouse space. Negotiations are also underway regarding another 20 hectares, which the company intends to reserve by mid-year. This provides a cumulative potential for the realization of over half a million square meters.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested a record €1.3 billion in Poland in 2023. This beats the previous record of €990 million invested in 2022 and made Poland the EBRD’s third largest market last year.