Alternatives challenge established sectors
Welcome to the latest issue of Real Asset Insight. Our aim is to bring you strategy, research, and market insight direct from senior leaders in the industry. We deliberately don’t focus on news. Our commentary is based on direct discussions with the industry, including our thought leader video interviews.
In this issue James Wallace looks at two key themes: emerging asset classes, and late cycle investing. The market focus on alternative assets has been growing significantly and we also highlight this theme with a focus on both healthcare and senior living.
Student housing has been a major trend in the UK and it is interesting to see thegrowth of interest in the asset class across Europe. This was brought into clear focus at our CEE Student Housing Investment Briefing, held in London and which had more than 250 registrations. You can read all the commentary and some of the key research takeaways from a new research report co-authored by Colliers International and CMS.
The trend for flexible working has significantly influenced the office market and Mahdi Mokrane of LaSalle Investment Management highlights some of the challenges for landlords in responding to the needs of modern occupiers.
At Mipim this year, I was struck by the increased focus on wellbeing as a growing part of all our discussions and interviews and was very pleased to be able to include Rachel Gutter, president of the International WELL Building Institute based in New York, in one of our sessions on cities and investment. We are beginning to see more WELL certified buildings and it was interesting to see Skanska’s Visionary project in Prague as the first office building to be awarded with a WELL certification in the CEE market. The DC5 project at Prologis Park Tilburg in the Netherlands also picks up this theme and highlights the growing focus on wellbeing in the logistics sector.
Logistics and industrial has been high on the wishlist for investors and Real Asset Insight joined more than 60,000 attendees be at Transport Logistic in Munich this month. I visited the event in Munich two years ago and could see a growing focus on the provision of real estate and so we partnered with Transport Logistic to create the first event as part of the official programme focused on future of logistic real estate.
We will bring you all the highlights from this important global fair, as well as all our events, in both The Real Estate Day and the next issue of Real Asset Insight.
We also pick up on innovation in this issue and I’m pleased that at EXPO Real 2019 we will expand the International Investors Lounge and move to a new home in the new NOVA A3 Hall which is has a focus on innovation and investment. We look forward to seeing you in October!
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