The investment volume achieved in 2016 totalled almost €1.2 billion with 46 transactions recorded in core CEE hotel investment markets. In comparison, 2015 reached just over €700 million with 45 transactions. Austria was the star performer with almost €800 million transacted, which made up 67% of the total investment volume. In other CEE markets volume was lower than in 2015 with a particular decline in Poland which more than halved in volume. The Czech Republic accounted for 18% of total CEE investment share; most of the investment took place in Prague which saw 7 transactions including the Hilton Old Town, Park Hotel and Chopin Hotel.
The CEE hotel industry reported growth across all key performance metrics. Increasing number of tourists have chosen CEE destinations, thus occupancy rates returned or even surpassed the pre-crisis levels, reaching 72% on average up from 69%. As the cost of visiting CEE has gone up along with the increasing hotel room rates, profits have been soaring. The average price per room reached €76.6 up from €73.6 in 2015. While the Eastern markets achieved double digit growth in terms of revenue per available room, the more mature markets of Central Europe including Prague and Warsaw saw growth of around 6%.
Performance change over 2016
Money has been flowing in from Far East Asia, the Middle East, America as well as Europe. Hence the region has become truly international.
“In the last few years the region has seen important inflows of capital as wider groups of investors try to take advantage of the strong performance of the local hotel industry. Among the key factors driving performance are the continued strength of inbound international tourism into the CEE region, supported by Asian travellers as well as the re-focus of North African and Western European tourism. Moreover the willingness of banks to finance hotel acquisitions has significantly enticed high investor demand,” says David Nath, Head of CEE Hospitality Team at Cushman & Wakefield.
Banks’ appetite for lending is reflected in the return in hotel development activity with 2017 expected to deliver an additional 4,000 rooms across Central and Eastern European capital cities. The markets with the greatest development prospects are Warsaw and Budapest. Prague is an exception with a limited pipeline due to planning constraints and only a few sites suitable for hotel development.
“Although we expect growth to slow down slightly, during 2017, the investment market will remain robust compared to other more established markets in Western Europe. We will also see increasing capital invested in less mature hotel investment markets such as Bucharest and Sofia” says Frederic Le Fichoux, Head of Hotel Transactions - Continental Europe and adds “Average daily rate is expected to rise further, generating higher income returns for investors especially in more mature CEE markets, where the development pipeline is limited.”
In 2017, investors’ activity will be notable especially in Hungarian, Austrian and Romanian hotel investment markets, where significant assets are set to be put up for sale or about to be transacted.
The Media Expert electromarket chain has joined the ranks of tenants at the Big Łubna park. A 700 sqm outlet has opened in the shopping complex near Warsaw.
EPP-managed Power Park Kielce has strengthened its offer in the DIY and hobby segment. A multimarket of the Swedish Jula chain has opened in the facility with a total area of more than 1,700 sqm.
JLL and its company Tétris, which specialises in the design and arrangement of commercial interiors, have decided to relocate their Kraków office to the Unity Centre complex. The new office comprises 300 sqm and is located on the 16th floor of the building.
New appointments
CPI Property Group announced the appointment of Agnieszka Baczyńska, the current Head of Leasing Retail, to the newly created position of Business Excellence Director in Poland. She will be responsible for implementing the operational efficiency strategy and monitoring its progress, as well as supervising projects related to business transformation.
Marta Busłajew joined the 7R team as Head of Marketing and Communications, where she will oversee the development and execution of marketing and communication strategies aligned with 7R's growth plans.
Savills announced that Wojciech Mazur has joined the Office Agency - Landlord Representation. He will support commercial property owners in the processes of leasing.
The new development on the site of Istropolis in Bratislava on the Trnavsky Mýte by Immocap is rapidly approaching construction. The proof is not only the progress in the permitting processes, but also the confirmation of the first key tenant who will occupy one of the office buildings, reports Yimba.sk.
Investment groups SPM and SCF have become the new owners of the Prague office centre Palác Křižík. Both entities have acquired it from the previous owner, the Generali group.
Property Forum is a leading event hub in the CEE real estate industry with over 10 years of experience. We organise conferences, business breakfasts and workshops focused on real estate, in London, Vienna, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Prague, Zagreb and Sofia, amongst other locations.
I have read the Privacy Policy of International Property Network Inc. and I consent to International Property Network Inc. sending me newsletters and managing my personal data provided for this purpose.
