Experts participating at Portfolio's recent FM & Hybrid Office conference in Budapest discussed the present and future of the office market. The past 18 months have started a multitude of changes as WFH, the sub-leasing of office space, the change in internal configurations, the return to offices, sustainable management and changing tenant requirements have led to a substantial transformation in the lives of office market players. Experts agree that hybrid office use is currently the most likely outcome, as only a few businesses have adopted WFH full-time.

For nearly 1.5 years, since the beginning of the pandemic, the hybrid work model has permanently established itself in the labour market. According to the report, "Back to the office - an opportunity and a challenge. The office market and coronavirus", prepared by Colliers, the vast majority of companies would like to stick to this model also in the post-pandemic reality. 

Savills has examined both employee-driven and occupier/employer-driven factors to assess which global cities may see a faster transition to hybrid working post-COVID-19. From an office occupier perspective, New York, Paris, London, Berlin and Frankfurt may be primed for a faster transition to hybrid working, given comparatively high office costs, already flexible working practices and extended lockdowns, while less flexible working cultures in Mumbai, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City mean that any transition to hybrid working may be slower.

Close to half of employees in Romania would like to return full-time to offices, while more than one third would opt for the hybrid model that combines remote and in-office activities, according to a new survey by Genesis Property. 

Romanian real estate developer Forte Partners has rolled out SpotUS.Space, a digital solution that ensures the optimized and efficient use of resources for the hybrid work mode.