Hotels are attracting growing interest from investors across CEE as strong operating performance and rising travel demand improve the sector’s fundamentals. At the same time, liquidity in prime markets and the emergence of new buyer groups are reshaping how hospitality fits within broader real estate portfolios. In an interview with Property Forum, Jakub Stanislav, Head of Investment Properties and Head of CEE Hotels at CBRE Czech Republic, discusses the outlook for hotel investment in 2026, the role of local capital in major transactions and which markets are likely to attract the most attention from investors.

Accor has announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Romanian investor MKS PROD to open a new Mercure hotel in Craiova, the second largest city in southern Romania.

Romania's hospitality industry recorded the highest number of hotel nights in three decades during 2025, according to Colliers' annual report. Despite a challenging economic backdrop in H2 2025, interest in Romanian travel remained strong, particularly among foreign tourists who generated nearly 5 million overnight stays.

Accent Hotel Management and Wing have jointly taken over the management of Hotel Yacht Wellness & Business Siófok starting this year.

Hungary-owned GESTOR Investment Ltd. has further strengthened its presence on the Iberian Peninsula at the end of 2025 by expanding its portfolio with new hotel assets in Salou, Spain, and in downtown Porto, Portugal. The transactions fit well with Gestor’s long-term growth and geographic diversification strategy.

Swissôtel has opened its first property in the Czech Republic, located in the Unesco-designated spa town of Mariánské Lázně. The hotel is situated near the Singing Fountain and spa parks in one of Europe's most renowned spa destinations.

Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has completed the sale of the Zenith Conference & Spa hotel in Mamaia to the owners of Steaua de Mare Hotels & Resorts from Eforie Nord. The property was previously controlled by the RC2 investment fund and Antares Management, owned by Dumitru Becșenescu.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Jared Kushner has abandoned plans to develop a Trump-branded hotel complex on the former Yugoslav army headquarters site in central Belgrade, following mounting political, legal and public opposition in Serbia. The project, which had become highly controversial due to its location on a NATO-bombed heritage site and the government’s efforts to strip it of protected status, ultimately stalled amid investigations, protests and growing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.

Radisson Hotel Group has opened Baltic View Resort & Spa, a member of Radisson Individuals, in Międzyzdroje on Poland's Baltic coast. Located along the seaside promenade near the town's pier, the resort features 60 rooms, a swimming pool, sauna and kids club.

Estonian hotel network Legend Hotels will take over management of the Courtyard by Marriott Gdynia Waterfront in November 2025, becoming the new operator of the property. The hotel will continue to be owned by Vastint, while Legend Hotels will be responsible for its daily operations.