The real estate industry has spent years talking about smart buildings, but the next shift is already underway. In an interview with Property Forum, Delphine Clément, Global Head of Verticals at Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings, explains why autonomy, powered by AI, real-time data and integrated systems, is set to redefine how buildings are operated, valued and experienced.

Despite global uncertainty and stronger competition from other asset classes, Europe’s real estate market is proving more resilient than many expected. In an interview with Property Forum, Petra Blazkova, Head of Research & Strategy at Catella, argues that structural undersupply, index-linked income and disciplined development are keeping the sector on a solid footing, while investors increasingly shift from broad sector bets to highly selective, asset-level strategies.

CTP is pushing ahead with an ambitious growth strategy, targeting a near doubling of its portfolio by 2030 while expanding across CEE and beyond. In an interview with Property Forum, Rob Jones, Head of Investor Relations, explains how strong tenant demand, a vast land bank and a disciplined development approach continue to support one of Europe’s most active logistics platforms.

International capital is once again showing a stronger interest in Polish commercial real estate. Recent transactions completed by Echo Investment highlight how investors are reassessing pricing, income stability and long-term growth prospects in the market. In this interview, Judyta Sawicka, Head of Investment at Echo Investment, discusses what is driving buyer demand today, how the company decides when to monetise mature assets and why capital recycling into living and mixed-use developments is becoming central to Echo Group’s strategy.

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.

Institutional rental housing and student accommodation are expanding rapidly across CEE as urbanisation, housing shortages and changing lifestyle patterns reshape demand. At the same time, investors are increasingly exploring conversions, hybrid living concepts and heritage revitalisations to create resilient assets in prime locations. In this interview, Peter Noack, Founding Partner and CEO of Zeitgeist Asset Management, and Tomasz Dąbrowski, Managing Director of Zeitgeist Asset Management Poland, discuss the outlook for PRS and PBSA, the growing role of flexible living models and where they see the most promising value-add opportunities in the current market environment. 

As the Polish residential market moves from volatility toward a more balanced phase, developers are recalibrating supply, financing strategies and product positioning. In this interview, Carlos de León, General Manager at Acciona Nieruchomości, explains why 2026 could mark a period of mature stabilisation rather than rapid growth, which segments and locations are set to outperform, and how sustainability, financing discipline and regulatory reform will shape the next phase of residential development in Poland.

In a video interview recorded at CEE Property Forum 2025 in Vienna, Marek Noetzel, COO of NEPI Rockcastle and incoming CEO from April 2026, shares his outlook on retail trade across the region, the company’s growth strategy and his priorities for the next phase of leadership.

In a video interview recorded at CEE Property Forum 2025 in Vienna, Günther Artner, Head of Group Commercial Real Estate at Erste Group, reflects on the main banking challenges of 2025, the strategic acquisition of Santander Bank Polska and why he expects another active year for real estate financing across the region.

In a video interview recorded at CEE Property Forum 2025 in Vienna, Victor Constantinescu, Co-Head of Real Estate at Kinstellar, shares how investors are approaching 2026, why flexibility is becoming essential and how geopolitics is increasingly influencing capital allocation across CEE.