Founded in Kraków in 2004, Hamilton May has grown from a boutique agency into a fully integrated residential services platform with operations in Warsaw, Wrocław, and beyond. In this interview, Robert Watkins, CEO & Founder of Hamilton May, reflects on two decades of growth, the company's unique one-stop model, and the opportunities shaping Poland’s residential market.
This interview was originally published in Property Forum's annual "The 50 Most Influential People in Polish Real Estate" publication.
Hamilton May started as a premium residential real estate agency. How has the company evolved over the years, and what were the key milestones in its development?
Founded in Krakow in 2004, Hamilton May was built on a simple idea: real estate could be done differently. From the very beginning, we set out to challenge convention, guided by a commitment to innovation and a vision to elevate industry standards in Poland. Over two decades later, that spirit still defines us. Today, with 21 years of experience, we stand as a trusted name in the premium residential market—our core passion and the foundation of the business.
Our journey has always been about growth with purpose. From our beginnings, we’ve expanded thoughtfully, creating a strong presence across Poland’s three cornerstone cities—Krakow, Warsaw, and Wroclaw. Technology has fuelled our ability to scale, but our true strength lies in the way we’ve grown: organically, with care, and always in partnership with the customers who have stood by us over the years. Remaining boutique is a conscious choice—curating small, exceptional teams that move with agility, adapt with ease, and embrace every new opportunity with confidence.
A significant milestone in our journey was being recognised by Otodom as the number one real estate agency in Poland in 2024 - a distinction that reflects both our strong market presence and the trust we’ve built with clients.
Hamilton May set out to beyond agency services, you now cover areas like developer sales, asset management, investor sales, marketing, and PRS operator services. What drove this expansion, and how do these services complement each other?
Our growth has always been shaped by the people we serve. What began as a response to our clients’ needs soon became a reflection of our own entrepreneurial spirit and desire to evolve. As a privately owned company, we enjoy the freedom to choose our own direction—guided not by outside investors, but by the opportunities we see and the value we can create.
With every milestone—such as delivering landmark transactions like residential building sales to PRS funds—our clients challenged us to go further. Each time, we answered by building new teams, new expertise, and new capabilities to meet their needs.
The result is a company unlike any other in the Polish residential market: one able to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for investors, developers, and private individuals while maintaining the agility and vision that set us apart.
Hamilton May offers a uniquely broad scope of services within residential real estate. How does this integrated approach create value for clients compared to working with multiple providers?
At Hamilton May, we believe simplicity is powerful. By bringing a wide range of services under one roof, we make outsourcing seamless for our clients. With just one or two points of contact, they gain access to an extensive pool of expertise—specialised skills originally developed for our own needs, now refined and tailored to serve external partners. Our teams work as one, taking full accountability for every step of the process and aligning closely to deliver results.
Take, for example, a developer looking to outsource sales and marketing. We can craft the entire journey: from building the brand identity and designing key visuals, to launching a website and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy—digital and beyond. On top of that, we provide seasoned sales professionals, the kind of talent that would be exceptionally hard to recruit independently.
The Polish residential market is becoming increasingly competitive. What makes Hamilton May stand out, and how do you maintain your premium positioning?
The Polish residential market is highly competitive, yet several factors set Hamilton May apart.
At the heart of our success is people. We focus on recruiting and retaining the very best talent in the industry—building teams defined by their high standards and shared values. Our selection process is meticulous, and once people join us, they tend to stay for the long term—something rare in a sales-driven environment. Today, our agency team includes some of the most respected and recognized professionals in every city where we operate. With exceptional people, exceptional service naturally follows.
Our positioning within the premium sector also distinguishes us. While many competitors emphasise lifestyle and glamour, our approach is business-oriented, results-driven, and international in outlook. With strong visibility among expatriates and English-speaking clients, we offer a trusted, globally minded experience—one that combines local expertise with an international perspective.
Could you share an example of a project where Hamilton May’s comprehensive service offering – from strategy to execution – delivered outstanding results?
This year has marked a true breakthrough for both Hamilton May and Hamilton Asset Management, as we have demonstrated the strength of our fully integrated service model—delivering seamless end-to-end solutions, from lettings and management at Lea Tower to building a rental team for NREP/Lett.
One standout example is our collaboration with Ciril Developer on their flagship project, Wiedeńska Residence. We created the complete brand identity and marketing strategy, and thanks to this holistic approach, the project exceeded expectations—achieving sales of 30% of the villas even before construction began.
We are also a partner of Heimstaden in the sale process of their portfolio across seven projects in Warsaw and Kraków, and we are proud to support Van der Vorm with exclusive investor sales at Szwedzka 4. For this same development, we represented the investor in acquiring the property and went on to oversee both the letting and management processes—proving the value of a partner who can manage every stage of the journey.
These successes showcase how our comprehensive, strategy-to-execution model consistently delivers measurable results and lasting value for our clients.
Looking ahead, in which service lines do you see the biggest growth opportunities, and how do you plan to leverage your expertise to capture them?
Looking ahead, we see our greatest opportunities in developer sales, PRS operations, and investor services—sectors experiencing rapid growth in Poland, fueled by international capital and increasing domestic demand.
What sets us apart is our ability to unite premium agency expertise with asset management, marketing, and brand creation. Our marketing division, now one of the most experienced in the market, delivers bespoke 360° services that are professional, creative, and results-driven. This capability enables us to position projects with precision, connect with the right audiences, and cultivate lasting brand value.
We also anticipate significant expansion through long-term partnerships with institutional clients. Here, our integrated model—seamlessly spanning sales, operations, and tenant management—creates tangible, measurable value that few can match.
By continuing to invest in our people, technology, and international reach, we are poised not only to capture these opportunities but also to reinforce our position as a leader in Poland’s premium residential market
