RICS has recently appointed a new Chair to represent the Polish Advisory Board. Seweryna Afanasjew MRICS is a real estate executive focused on commercial portfolio asset management, corporate strategic facilities management and digital transformation in real estate.

The Q1 2021 results of the RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor indicate a slightly less negative market sentiment across Europe compared to the previous quarter. Rental growth expectations remain negative within the office and retail sectors across all European nations covered, while the outlook for industrial markets has never been more positive.

Public transport expert Dávid Vitézy, CEO of the governmental organisation Budapest Development Agency (BFK), was recently invited by RICS to join its ranks as a Fellow Member, recognizing his unique professional knowledge. On the occasion of this new appointment, he talked to Property Forum about the future he imagines for Budapest.

The Q4 2020 results of the RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor continue to point to a challenging backdrop across Europe. Both the office and retail sectors remain under significant pressure, with demand still falling sharply amid the difficult economic climate induced by the pandemic. On a brighter note, supported by structural tailwinds, the industrial sector continues to defy this downbeat overall assessment, prompting respondents to upgrade expectations for rental and capital value growth.

The MBARE programme (MBA – Real Estate Investment, Development and Valuation) taught at the Prague University of Economics and Business, after only three years of operation, has been accredited by the international organization RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) for the field of commercial real estate and real estate valuation. It is the only accredited MBA programme of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe.

The latest Property Talks event, organised virtually by RICS Hungary, focused on renewable and alternative energy sources and their role in the built environment. Eight real estate experts shared their insight on this topic in the form of six presentations and one panel discussion.

While in Poland over 20% of investors are favouring projects that have high ESG-related ratings (which is fourth highest figure globally), Hungary and the Czech Republic are the two countries with the highest share (over 40%) of respondents saying that ESG considerations play no role when they evaluate projects, according to the latest results of the RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor.

Eight regionally renowned experts discussed real estate investment strategies for the post-COVID-19 world at the online edition of CEE Property Forum 2020, organised by Property Forum and RICS. We summarised the highlights of the discussion, moderated by Luke Dawson, Managing Director & Head of Capital Markets CEE at Colliers International.

Virtual Property Forum, Europe's first comprehensive online property conference was held last week. We summarised some key insights of the panel discussion about investment strategies for the post-lockdown world, moderated by Otis Spencer (P3).

72 speakers and several hundred attendees will be joining the next online event organised by Property Forum and RICS, Virtual Property Forum 2020. With three speeches and eleven panel discussions, this event will provide a comprehensive overview of the trends currently driving real estate markets in the CEE region and beyond.