Orbis Hotel Group, a strategic partner of AccorHotels, continues its expansion in Romania by signing a management contract for ibis Politehnica Hotel in Bucharest with its partner and investor Novum Business Services SRL.

Victoria Ploiesti West Retail Park is planned to be opened in March 2019, according to Activ Property Services, the property’s exclusive agent. The project is a proximity retail park with 2,690 sqm of GLA, including some major tenants such as Mega Image (591 sqm), Pepco (543 sqm) and Zoomania (496 sqm).

Colliers International is extending its range of services dedicated to investors. Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra has joined the company where she will head the new Corporate Finance CEE department as a Partner. The new business line will provide advice on customers’ financial needs, including debt financing, mezzanine financing, raising capital and gaining capital partners, and also offering support in acquiring companies and entering the stock exchange.

Talent availability is the primary factor when choosing a new location, according to a survey that Cushman & Wakefield in conjunction with CoreNet Global conducted every year since 2016. C&W surveyed global corporate real estate executives across a variety of industry sectors focusing on their key office location strategies and decision drivers worldwide.

GTC’s latest development, GTC White House has achieved the highest, Platinum certification level under the LEED for Building Design and Construction rating scheme. As of today, this is the second office building which was awarded with this certification in Budapest. The certification process was advised by Colliers International Hungary’s Green Building Advisory Team.

According to Cresa, Warsaw’s total office stock has risen by more than 3.75% over the year to 5.42 million sqm and the absorption rate is down by 1.4% compared with Q3 2017. The vacancy rate is at 10%.

Even though we are currently in the late phase of the real estate cycle, no significant drop is expected in the coming period. Jos Tromp MRICS, CBRE’s Head of EMEA Research shared his projections for the European property investment market at Portfolio Property Investment Forum in Budapest. These were his key statements and predictions.

A fleeting trend or a well-thought-out strategy? Cushman & Wakefield presented a report on the use of commercial buildings’ rooftops.

Romanian developer Speedwell has launched the construction works of Record Park, a mixed-use development and urban regenerating project in Cluj-Napoca. The €42 million project is due to be completed in H2 2020. The project is being developed on a plot of 17,300 sqm and will have a total built area of 36,000 sqm.

Futureal Group has exited its €19 million mezzanine financing provided to Caelum Development for the development of ParkLake shopping centre in Bucharest, Romania. The 70,000 sqm GLA project was developed by a joint venture between Sonae Sierra and Caelum Development. Futureal Group will intensify its activity in Romania through its residential investments subsidiary, Cordia. The company has recently announced a €50 million worth of investment plan in Bucharest for the next year, part of a long-term roadmap for the local market. Cordia division plans to deliver about 500 apartments per year, designed for medium and medium high segments.