Ten of the best

Almost 1,000 people met at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Warsaw, on December 3rd, 2019, for the Eurobuild Awards Gala. The Eurobuild Awards themselves, which are handed out to the best projects, companies and professionals in Poland and Central Europe are widely considered recognition from the sector itself and the high repute of this competition results from the professionalism and reputation of the jurors who come from the leading real estate companies. Just as in every year, each of the 23 awards was decided by its own separate jury and this year a record 252 jurors took part. They cast their votes electronically and the voting was supervised by KPMG. One could only guess who the winners would be before they were invited up to the stage to the musical accompaniment of the Dziubek band to join editor in chief of Eurobuild magazine Ewa Andrzejewska and TV presenter Piotr Kraśko, who hosted the event.

Three of the statuettes (Retail Agency Team of the Year in Poland, Warehouse Agency Team of the Year in Poland and Building Consultancy of the Year) were picked up by JLL. CBRE also took home three awards (Office Agency Team of the Year and Investment Agency Team of the Year, Property Management Company of the Year). Elektrownia Powiśle won the title of New Office Building of the Year, Park Polkowice won the New Small Retail Format of the Year while Moxy Warsaw Praga was declared the New Hotel of the Year in Poland. Also invited up to the stage to receive awards were Crido (Tax and Financial Consultancy of the Year), Skanska (Real Estate Construction Company of the Year), Ghelamco Poland (Office Developer of the Year) and Atrium Poland Real Estate Management (Retail Developer of the Year). Warsaw took the title of the Most Investor Friendly City in Poland and Dentons won the Law Firm of the Year. Four Central European prizes were also awarded. Panattoni Europe won the Warehouse Developer of the Year. Globalworth won the award for the Investor of the Year and the purchase of the Warsaw Spire office building by Immofinanz was declared the Investment Deal of the Year while Helaba took home the award for the Financing Provider of the Year.

The audience also had its say and three of the awards at the gala were chosen by them. This year those present handed the title for Real Estate Personality of the Year to Magdalena Kowalewska, the country manager for Poland at Immofinanz. The charity beach volleyball tournament organised by JLL was chosen as the Outstanding Non-Business Achievement of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Poland went to WeWork.

When the awards were over, it was time for the artists to take to the stage – this year the main event was one-time Eurovision contestant Cleo and the backing band was the Electric Girls. The Eurobuild Warsaw Gala is also an opportunity to raise money for charity, which has become part of the annual tradition of the event. Warsaw wine merchant Robert Mielżyński joined with the Iskierka foundation charity to help children living with cancer. Including the proceeds from the charitable auction, a total of almost PLN 141,000 was raised during the night. We would like to thank everyone who helped support this worthy cause, and now we will let the winners take the floor..

New Small Retail Format of the Year, Poland

Park Polkowice

Jakub Puchalski, CEO, MGC Inwest

What added motivation does this award give you?

The award we received for the New Small Retail Format of the Year is a significant distinction for us. We are very pleased to have received this recognition from such a distinguished jury. As is usually the case with such accolades, they not only make you happy but also motivate you for further activity. Park Polkowice is a unique place in many respects – it has modern architecture, the perfect location in the very centre of the town, advanced technology and eco-friendly systems, but it is first of all about offering well-tailored facilities together with excellent relationships and communication with our tenants and clients.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to strengthen the position of the facilities we manage on their local markets and to constantly improve their quality, thus fulfilling the expectations of our tenants and clients.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

I don’t want to pick out a single event as the most important, but I am inclined to say that we are currently in the process of constant change. New technology, societal changes and e-commerce have been leaving a deep mark also on the real estate market. The point is to read the signals carefully and follow new trends.

New Warehouse of the Year, Poland

Panattoni Amazon BTS

Marek Dobrzycki, managing director, Panattoni Europe

What added motivation does this award give you?

For me personally, this award gives me the encouragement to bid for the most advanced and complex projects. The project for Amazon in Gliwice revealed the scale of Panattoni’s possibilities – and this is just the beginning, I hope.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to develop our own locations in major markets and create new ones, especially in emerging markets. The development of our City Logistics concept, i.e. parks located within city limits, is also important for us. Of course, we will not be neglecting our work on tailor-made buildings. So, as always, we will be responding and adapting to the needs of the market.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

Personally, it was of course the development of the landmark project for Amazon in Gliwice. Its area alone, 210,000 sqm, is impressive, and if we add the technical specifications to it – at least four functional floors equipped with the latest systems, including Amazon Robotics – the scale of the project increases each time. Similarly, the expansion of Panattoni Central European Logistics Hub in Łódź with ​​600,000 sqm of planned space was also important for me – we approached its halfway point in the middle of the year. The Hub has not only become a main focus and a kind of business cluster for logistics and industry, but it was also an inspiration for the creation of the New Industrial District of Łódź and the potential creation of 7,000 jobs. As a result, Łódź is becoming industrial again with the opening of a range of innovative production and storage facilities.

New Office Building of the Year, Poland

Elektrownia Powiśle

Bartosz Prytuła, Poland managing partner, White Star Real Estate

What added motivation does this award give you?

This award is a great honour for us, but we are not resting on our laurels. We are constantly improving our range, inviting brands to Poland that are currently absent and carefully selecting our tenants, in the belief that the new incarnation of Elektrownia Powiśle will be popular with both the people of Warsaw and tourists visiting the city.

In 2020 we are planning...

…the official opening of the entire Elektrownia Powiśle mixed-use project. We are looking forward to next spring, which will be an extremely busy time for us. After the opening, our customers can also look forward to unforgettable experiences at the many events to be held at Elektrownia. In the next few months, we will also be working intensively on developing a new four-star hotel for the Barceló group, which is scheduled to open in 2021.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

It’s hard to pick out a single event that had the most important impact on the real estate market. We are pleased that Poland is still at the forefront of European markets that investors perceive as attractive for future expansion and it seems that this trend will continue for the next few years. For us, the most important event in this regard were the debuts of international brands in Poland. Urban Outfitters and Weekday of the H&M group will open boutiques in Elektrownia Powiśle. As a developer, we are also happy about the clear trend for to renovate old industrial buildings – it’s extremely important to restore these to their former glory and give them new uses while keeping their character.

Matt Lunt, executive director, Tristan Capital Partners

What added motivation does this award give you?

The award for Elektrownia Powiśle the New Office of The Year shows that mixed-use projects are being noticed, appreciated and honoured. The three office buildings in Elektrownia Powiśle comprise almost 22,000 sqm of class A office space. They are almost entirely leased and fit perfectly into their historical surroundings. We are glad to be a part of this project as an investor.

Our plans for this year include…

Our Polish portfolio includes assets across the office, retail and warehouse sectors and we continue to pursue opportunities across Poland. Our biggest priority for 2020 is the opening of Elektrownia Powiśle’s retail section. This is the culmination of a unique project, where we, along with our partner White Star Real Estate, have brought together class A office space and a unique retail experience in a historic setting.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

In December this year we successfully completed the sale of the landmark Warsaw Financial Center office building to CPI Property Group. When we first acquired WFC, we carried out major refurbishment on the entrance and ground floor lobby areas and have worked steadily to increase its occupancy to 99 pct.

Retail Agency Team of the Year, Poland

JLL

Anna Wysocka, head of retail, JLL

What added motivation does this award give you?

We see the Eurobuild award primarily as a confirmation of the quality of our work. This is a very important recognition of the year-round impact of our activities, which the JLL team is very proud of. All the more so that 2019 seems to have been even more dynamic than the previous year, and this required us to be flexible as well as even more innovative and open to new trends. We are able to motivate each other on an everyday basis because it’s the teamwork that drives us the most.

In 2020 we are planning...

Many people’s answer to this question is: we plan to do even better. However, JLL’s standard of services has been the market benchmark for many years, and we do our job as well as we can. It will be no different in 2020 – professionalism and responding to the latest trends on the global retail market are our goals for the next few months.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

2019 was characterised by dynamic changes – the continuing polarisation of the sector, new gastronomic concepts, the entry of such popular and long-awaited brands as Primark to Poland, the growing role of mixed-use projects and, of course, the all-pervasive new technology. I would say that ‘diversity’ is the key word that reflects the nature of the last twelve months best.

New Hotel of the Year, Poland

Moxy Warsaw Praga

Magdalena Bartkiewicz-Podoba, CEO, Liebrecht & Wood

What added motivation does this award give you?

What motivates me is to be able to engage further with new, unexplored real estate market trends. The Liebrecht & Wood group is made up of ‘lovers of learning’ – each project we carry out gives us an injection of fresh knowledge and more experience. Moxy Warsaw Praga is the best kind of confirmation that we can operate like this.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to consistently move forward with our strategy. We are currently developing two office buildings on a plot adjacent to Centrum Praskie Koneser, which is already very popular among future tenants at this stage. We are still devoting a great deal of our attention to Koneser itself. This is a city-forming project, not only in terms of its architecture but also in its day-to-day management.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

Polish real estate last year was marked by a very clear focus on mixed-use projects, which is the dominant and universally recognised trend. This could be seen in the press, from conference agendas and by the projects adopted by Poland’s largest cities. When we started working on the Centrum Praskie Koneser project, not everyone expected us to succeed. They asked whether it was possible to combine as many as ten different uses in one location, whether they would be able to coexist and whether users would be happy. Today we know that investors as well as developers are following in our footsteps. From our point of view, the opening up of Warsaw’s Praga district to business was also crucial in shaping today’s real estate market, especially in the capital. Centrum Praskie Koneser was the first project to bring as much as 25,500 sqm of modern office space to this part of Warsaw. Our first tenants believed in the history of this place and the promise contained in its concept. Our keen perception of the trends and our preparation of the project resulted in the offices in Koneser being 98 pct leased half a year before it was awarded an occupancy permit, and now Monopol is under construction on the neighbouring plot and will add another 22,000 sqm, which is 75 pct leased before the launch of construction.

Michał Skotnicki, CEO, BBI Development

What added motivation does this award give you?

This award for the Moxy by Marriott hotel is a huge honour, not only for us at BBI Development and Liebrecht & Wood as the project’s investors, but also for the residents of Koneser and for Warsaw city council. It was only due to the commitment of all the parties involved that in 2018 we were able to deliver a project that has become the driving force behind Praga’s development; and in 2019 we were able to celebrate the opening of another unique place, the Moxy hotel. This was the culmination of more than twelve years of work. The Eurobuild Award also gives us huge motivation for us to continue working on creating top class real estate.

In 2020 we are planning...

As we have done in previous years, we will be working on demanding projects that change the face of our city. We will transfer the commitment we put into developing Centrum Praskie Koneser into our future projects. The Roma Tower development could become a symbol of modern Warsaw. We hope that our current philosophy will result in further interesting projects in the years to come.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

The most important event for the entire sector has been the unflagging demand on the residential and office markets. The vacancy rate in Warsaw was 8.7 pct at the end of 2018. This is the lowest level in six years. This bodes well for new projects such as Roma Tower.

Investment Agency of the Year, Poland

CBRE

Sean Doyle, head capital markets, CBRE

What added motivation does this award give you?

This award will motivate us to continue to deliver world class results for our clients. As our competitors continue to improve, so must we.

Our plans for this year include…

Next year we plan to… well, that’s confidential, but we have big plans.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

The sale of the Warsaw Spire was the most important deal of the year as it showed the liquidity of such large assets in Warsaw, which has truly given added momentum to the investment market.

Office Agency Team of the Year, Poland

CBRE

Mikołaj Sznajder, director, head of A&T Office, CBRE

Łukasz Kałędkiewicz, senior director, head of advisory & transaction services, head of office sector, CBRE

What added motivation does this award give you?

Mikołaj Sznajder: The Eurobuild award is very important to us because the choice of the winner is not only based on hard results but also reflects the opinion of more than 250 market experts about the company. Receiving this award motivates us to continue providing high standard services so that we can also continue to be highly rated in this respect as well as in terms of our strong results.

In 2020 we are planning...

Mikołaj Sznajder: This year, in addition to further development throughout Poland, we are mainly planning to continue furthering our PropTech acivities– developing existing applications and introducing new tools to support our work with clients. In line with this strategy, we will also continue integrating all our services for the office sector in order to offer the best possible value.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

Łukasz Kałędkiewicz: You might Instinctively think that it was one of the largest leasing deals, of more than 40,000 sqm, or maybe one of the more spectacular investment market acquisitions. However, it seems to us that perhaps the most important and certainly the most interesting phenomenon in 2019 was the rapid growth of the coworking sector in Poland. This has resulted in – after something of a turbulent ride – the coworking sector beginning the year in a very stable and healthy condition, in the eyes of everyone watching its progress.

Warehouse Agency Team of the Year, Poland

JLL

Tomasz Mika, Poland warehouse and industrial leasing director, JLL

What added motivation does this award give you?

This has been the second year in a row we have had the honour of receiving this Eurobuild award, so the motivation to repeat the achievement this year is even greater. Recognition from leading figures from the sector is very motivating and it makes us want to raise our standards even higher. However, the thing we care most about is combining excellent business results with having a great working atmosphere within our team. After all, it was JLL’s team that was responsible for this major success.

In 2020 we are planning...

…primarily to maintain the current pace of JLL’s business development and the standard of the services we provide. Analyses form an important part of ​​our activities, so we are planning to publish additional reports on the direction the market is moving in and the trends in the warehouse and industrial real estate sector. 2020 promises to be very interesting.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

A great deal has happened this year in the warehouse and industrial real estate sector, so it’s not easy to pick out one single definitive event. There has been a lot of activity from developers and tenants – but this time to a lesser extent, with spectacular deals but rather fewer contracts – while there has also been an increase in the importance of so-called emerging locations, so these are just some of the market trends that special attention should be paid to.

Office Developer of the Year

Ghelamco Poland

Jarosław Zagórski, commercial and business development director, Ghelamco Poland

What added motivation does this award give you?

The 10th Eurobuild Awards was very special for us. We are proud to have received the Developer of the Decade award, but also the Developer of the Year award because, for Ghelamco, 2019 has been a year of successes and strengthening our position as the leader and most innovative player in this segment of the market.

Our plans for this year include…

We are not resting on our laurels and we are now developing some amazing new projects. Right now we are building four skyscrapers in the very heart of Warsaw’s new business centre, a district we helped to create through the development of the Warsaw Spire,

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

Well, I might be biased, but: the area around the Warsaw Spire becoming a new business centre of the city. We were followed there by a whole bunch of developers – and today all the major players on the real estate market are investing here. An office with a Rondo Daszyńskiego address has become fashionable and prestigious. And no wonder – it’s hard to find a better place to work in Warsaw today.

Retail Developer of The Year, Poland

Atrium Poland Real Estate Management

Anna Dafna, deputy CEO and CFO, Atrium Poland Real Estate Management

What added motivation does this award give you?

The award for Retail Developer of the Year not only shows the huge recognition from the sector, but also gives us greater motivation and added responsibility. Atrium’s centres are located in the heart of Polish cities and are often in the centres of local communities. We will continue to improve them and make sure that local communities have a place to shop, relax, to be entertained, to play and to be educated.

Our plans for this year include…

In recent years we have been very busy reshaping our portfolio through redevelopment, new acquisitions and disposals. The coming year is going to be a period of intensive work on continuing our redevelopment plans and introducing innovations in our centres and for clients

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

A lot happened in 2019. We were pleased to welcome the debuts of new commercial brands in Poland. Polish customers want “new faces” and foreign networks have noticed this. It’s also impossible not to have noticed the huge activity of investors. In addition to the money flow from Asia, it’s worth taking note of the mobilisation of local and regional capital, which we hope will contribute to building a stronger position for the region on the European real estate market.

Property Management Company of the Year, Poland

CBRE

Piotr Karpiński, senior director, head of property management, CBRE

What added motivation does this award give you?

This is the third time CBRE has been recognised as the best management company in Poland by the Eurobuild Awards. Each of these awards has motivated and continues to motivate us to further develop our services, to make them stand out from those of rival property management companies, to give our clients special consideration, and to take care of our fantastic team of professionals, thanks to whom we provide services of a recognisably high standard.

In 2020 we are planning...

…not to rest on our laurels. We will continue to work on developing our range of services and adapting to the changing real estate market.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

2019 was a year filled with events and a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for us. On the one hand, I could point to the opening of the Galeria Młociny shopping centre as one example, but I get the impression that what is currently electrifying our market is the rapid development of the logistics and office segments. The entry of such investors as Mapletree and M&G into Poland confirms, without any doubt, the attractiveness of our warehouse sector. We are also pleased with the development of office properties, in Warsaw and outside the capital.

Law Firm of the Year

Dentons

Piotr Szafarz, head of Dentons Warsaw’s real estate practice

What added motivation does this award give you?

This Eurobuild award is especially important to us for two reasons. First, it is awarded by an independent jury on behalf of our clients. We are pleased that we can help investors and developers achieve their business goals, that they see real value in our work and trust us with their projects – their satisfaction is something that gives meaning to our work. Secondly, the fact that we have received this award for the ninth time is a testament to our strong market position and the quality of our advice – which would not be possible without the involvement and hard work of our lawyers.

Our plans for this year include…

We are planning to maintain our leading position in the real estate sector. In order to retain a competitive market position we have to be agile and react quickly to our clients’ needs so they can achieve their goals.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

In 2019 we observed increased interest from Asian investors, particularly from Korea, in both share and asset real estate transactions in the CEE region, with a strong focus on the Polish market. This is a great opportunity since this trend may become stronger in the future.

Tax and Financial Consultancy of the Year, Poland

Crido

Paweł Toński, managing partner, Crido

What added motivation does this award give you?

The award gives us added impetus to do more work. However, it also, and perhaps most importantly, motivates us to remember to enjoy our team’s successes, to thank them for their work on making this happen and to respect the trust our clients have put in us.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to do what we’ve always done: respect our team and clients, think openly and unconventionally about projects, and seek out new opportunities and clients. And this combination usually results in... quite simply, a lot of work.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

From a narrow, tax perspective, it was the introduction, then partial suspension, then renewed partial suspension and, finally, the partial suspension together with the promise of subsequent amendments to the new retention tax regulations. From a wider market point of view, the growing interest of Asian capital in Poland was certainly an important development as well as the acquisition of Echo by Wing.

Building Consultancy of the Year, Poland

JLL

Paweł Warda, project management department director, JLL

What added motivation does this award give you?

For the first time in the history of Eurobuild Awards, the award for Building Consultancy has gone to an agency’s team. What does this mean? It confirms that clients’ expectations are rising and companies are looking for partners that combine technical skills with knowledge from various segments of the real estate market. We are delighted that it was JLL’s team that has been able to respond to these needs best. When we set out to do that fifteen years ago, this approach was not obvious and many people doubted that we would be able to build a large, solid team that provides services for investment projects of various scales. This award confirms our belief that we are heading in the right direction and also gives the entire team some very strong added motivation.

In 2020 we are planning...

We have been watching the market closely looking for potential growth potential and – as has been the case up to now – we will continue to focus on strengthening our team’s competences and tools, in order to be able to provide services that are best suited to the needs of our clients.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

This is not an easy choice given the what happened in 2019. However, because of JLL’s involvement in the deal, I would pick out the double sale/purchase transaction for the Warsaw Spire.

Most Investor Friendly City, Poland

Warsaw

Michał Olszewski, Warsaw deputy mayor

What added motivation does this award give you?

Warsaw’s triumph at the Eurobuild Awards motivates us first of all to carry out even more extensive work on the development of the city. The advantages of the Polish capital include its wide range of top quality office, warehouse and retail properties, but above all its high standard of living and its ever-growing pool of qualified personnel. By caring for the quality of life of the city’s residents, we are going to make Warsaw even more attractive for talented people from across Poland and abroad.

In 2020 we are planning...

….more key projects, despite the budgeting difficulties resulting from the changes to personal and corporation tax. These include the continuing expansion of the second metro line (including the opening of three new stations), as well as the construction of the Southern Hospital, the Museum of Modern Art, a P+R car park in Żerań along with a number of road and renovation projects. 2020 will also mark the beginning of the transformation of the centre of Warsaw – popular and diverse activity areas around ​​ul. Marszałkowska will be joined together, and the new infrastructure should breathe new life into the key traffic routes in the city centre.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

In terms of the convenience of the everyday life of the city’s residents, the key event was undoubtedly the work that was completed on the north-eastern section of the second metro line. However, we have to mention the other projects that have been completed, such as the construction of a section of ul. Świętokrzyska and the expansion of the Warsaw Children’s Hospital.

Construction Company of the Year, Poland

Skanska

Marcin Hutyra, regional director, Skanska SA

What added motivation does this award give you?

To do even more work. We are aware that to stay at the top of this very competitive market, we need to constantly develop our products and deliver projects of an ever higher standard. Therefore, we will continue to focus on our eco-friendly approach at Skanska. We want to strengthen our image of being a general contractor that builds effectively and efficiently, but also safely, punctually and with care for the environment.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to be consistent. The goal of our ‘We Build Cities’ strategy is to concentrate on large urban conurbations, to be involved in developing comprehensive projects, and to work closely with Skanska’s development companies. Just as we are doing now, we will be concentrating on the seven major Polish cities: Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Katowice. Skanska’s goal is also to maintain our status as a leader and pioneer of innovative, eco-friendly systems in construction being known for projects that are friendly to families, children and people with disabilities.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

Regional markets ruled in 2019. Of course, Warsaw still remains the most important place on the Polish office map, but it is in other regions that the changes in the sector have been the most noticeable. The numbers also confirm this. According to Cushman & Wakefield, in the first three quarters of 2019 the investment volume in regional markets came to EUR 1.06 bln and the forecasts are that the figure for the entire year could be as much as 40 pct higher than in the previous one. The growth of these markets has meant that in the eight largest regional cities total modern office stock has already reached 5.39 mln sqm and another 930,000 sqm is under construction. The pace of new project development in the regions is at a record high and we are glad that Skanska has been responsible for a significant chunk of this.

Outstanding Non-Business Achievement of the Year, Poland

the JLL Beach Volleyball Charity Tournament

Tomasz Trzósło, managing director for Poland and the CEE region, JLL

What added motivation does this award give you?

This year’s JLL Beach Volleyball Charity Tournament, which raised a record of almost PLN 1.2 mln for children’s cancer charity Fundacja na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową, motivates not only JLL but probably also the entire sector to repeat this incredible success. However, it’s not really about breaking records – it’s the generosity of those taking part in this unique event that is the main thing. JLL will continue to contribute in this way – so see you at La Playa at the end of July or early August!

In 2020 we are planning...

…the next tournament. Organisationally it is a major undertaking and the preparations take several months. So the work has already started. We believe that the entire real estate sector will take up the gauntlet again and together we can repeat the spectacular results of recent years.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

It was, of course, the record breaking sum raised at the last volleyball tournament, as well as the great after-party that followed it.

Real Estate Personality of the Year, Poland

Magdalena Kowalewska

Magdalena Kowalewska, country manager, Immofinanz

What does winning this award mean to you?

This is a unique distinction because it is decided upon by a wide range of players on the Polish real estate market. For me it represents additional confirmation that the way I am working is the right way. Success, for me, is an integrated concept and the result of having a long-term focus on several of the most important areas in life: one’s professional career, family life, passions and taking care of yourself. This award motivates me to continue working on generating such good vibes.

Newcomer of the Year, Poland

WeWork

Mikhail Konoplev, general manager, WeWork CEE

What added motivation does this award give you?

We’re really grateful to have won this award, particularly in such a broad category and when there are so many exciting businesses coming to this country. Poland is an important market for us and this award is a major acknowledgment of how our beautiful, functional space, and the flexibility we offer, have resonated with the Polish business community. We have now opened four buildings. And we are continuing to see strong demand from both international and local businesses here.

Our plans for this year include…

We plan to continue delivering on our mission to reinvent the way people work and on ensuring an incredible experience for our members – so we are going to be even more member-focused than ever!

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

For us, the shift we have seen from enterprise companies towards demand for flexible workspaces has been profound. The office space market is very traditional and hard to disrupt, but the way organisations are thinking about their employees and their workspace is changing. It’s exciting to see the growing number of large companies, from industries like IT, banking and retail, rethinking the way they work. Large enterprises recognise the substantial benefits to them of our flexibility and global footprint, and they also benefit from being part of a community with thriving start-ups and plenty of business opportunities.

Investment Deal of the Year

The sale of Warsaw Spire

Jeroen van der Toolen, CEE managing director, Ghelamco

What added motivation does this award give you?

This award is a very nice addition to our work. At the same time, in a certain way, it represents a commitment – to motivate ourselves to work even harder. The transaction value of EUR 386 mln for Warsaw Spire was a new record on the Warsaw office real estate market. But what’s more important is that the Warsaw Spire with European Square was not only a great commercial success, but also transformed the image of the whole district in the eyes of Warsaw’s residents, tenants and other investors.

Our plans for this year include…

We have a large land bank and we are preparing several spectacular projects. We can guarantee that in 2020 we will surprise the market.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

…of course, the Eurobuild Awards. The 10th edition showed that the Eurobuild Awards have become a regular event on the real estate market. It’s a celebration for the entire real estate market and a symbolic summary of the year.

Magdalena Kowalewska, country manager, Immofinanz

What added motivation does this award give you?

It was an important year for Immofinanz in Poland in several aspects. With Warsaw Spire we managed to further strengthen our portfolio and our sustainable earning power. The building represents an optimal combination of high quality, superior infrastructure and a well-known tenant mix. Furthermore, thanks to this attractive investment, we have marked our position among the largest investors on the investment market and have grown our overall corporate portfolio to more than EUR 5 bln. The award was a great way to sum up all the hard work we dedicated to this transaction. Our next step – and preparations for this have already started – will be to introduce our Myhive office concept in Warsaw Spire, including all-inclusive office services and additional new features.

Our plans for this year include…

As I’ve already mentioned, in 2020 we will focus on the upgrade of our Myhive brand offering additional flexibility for our tenants – flexibility regarding term, size and location. Additionally, we are going to implement Myhive also in part of the Empark buildings. However 2020 will be also an important year for retail in Poland. We plan to focus on further development of the Stop Shop portfolio. Currently we are in the process of building the largest Stop Shop in Poland, in Siedlce, with a total of over 14,000 sqm - this will be opened in spring 2020. In addition, we have also purchased a plot for a Stop Shop in Zielona Góra, and further locations are under evaluation. With more than 90 locations we are the leading operator of retail parks in the region.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

The Eurobuild Awards gala, which has been an unmissable event for us for years. Because it takes place at the end of the year when the business slows down a bit, it gives us all the perfect moment and opportunity to look back at the year and all its highlights, and to meet all those people you have been working with in the months leading up to it.

Warehouse Developer of the Year, CEE

Panattoni Europe

Robert Dobrzycki, CEO, Panattoni Europe

What added motivation does this award give you?

To work even harder, especially for the promotion of the Polish logistics and industrial sector abroad.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to continue to do our job – fulfilling clients’ expectations, which involves providing the best possible industrial space in strategic locations for our partners, across Europe. This, of course, involves paying attention to individual preferences, in terms of the technological systems we provide, the use of the space as well as the location itself – in our facilities in major and emerging markets and through our City Logistics systems. That’s why we will continue our strategy in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK, while at the same time proceeding with the recently announced expansion of Panattoni into the Netherlands. However, that’s not all that we have in store. 2020 promises to be a busy year. In February we are planning to enter another European market – Spain.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

From my point of view, the most important events for Panattoni in 2019 were: Panattoni retaining the position of the largest developer in Europe in Property EU’s Top Property Developer ranking and the completion of Panattoni’s record project for Amazon in Gliwice. Furthermore, at the beginning of December we announced our entry into the Netherlands – the second largest logistics market in Europe (the biggest being Germany). And, last but not least, we have been recognised by Eurobuild as the Warehouse Developer of the Decade in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, having delivered as much as 5.1 mln sqm in the last ten years. Thank you very much for this honour!

Financing Provider of the Year, CEE

Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale

Martin Erbe, head of international real estate financing for Continental Europe, Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale

What added motivation does this award give you?

It is confirmation of the outstanding performance of the entire team last year, but also gives us an incentive to be even better next year and perhaps win the award again. However, on the evening of the gala there was no thought of yesterday or tomorrow, but simply of enjoying the moment and celebrating this great achievement.

Our plans for this year include…

This year will generally be one of huge challenges for Helaba. The bank is about to undergo a restructuring to make it even more efficient and customer orientated. All our employees will, therefore, need to show even greater motivation, especially in the CEE region, one of our core markets. And the discussions we have had with customers to date, the term sheets already signed and the transactions approved, show that 2020 should also be another successful year for our customers and the bank.

The most important event for the real estate market last year was…

There have been many important events for the Polish real estate market and the Eurobuild Gala is certainly one of them. The event is getting better every year and this can be seen in the number of participants. But it’s not only the number of people, but also who is there. You meet a lot of decision makers from different companies, which makes valuable exchanges possible. But the celebrations are often as important as these contacts sometimes.

Investor of the Year, CEE

Globalworth

Łukasz Duczkowski, head of investments, Globalworth

What added motivation does this award give you?

Winning the Investor of the Year title for the second year in a row is a huge source of pride and a confirmation of our development strategy. The award motivates us first of all to maintain the consistent growth of our property portfolio through further interesting acquisitions.

In 2020 we are planning...

…to continue our strategy of rapid portfolio growth through attractive acquisitions, taking care of our current tenants and acquiring new ones. We want to strengthen Globalworth’s position as a leader in the technological transformation of the Polish real estate sector.

What do you think was the most important real estate event of 2019? And why?

One important phenomenon has been the unflagging activity of investors, including the increasing presence of Asian capital, such as from South Korea and Singapore. The forecasts are that 2019 for the Polish commercial real estate investment market will close with a record volume of EUR 3.6 bln. Globalworth has made a significant contribution to this, so we are all the more delighted about it.