In a significant boost to the retail real estate industry, the 8th edition of the annual EuropaProperty CEE Retail Awards, welcomed a record number of attendees, including over 100 retailers actively operating in the region.
The awards, held at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw, brought together some 450 top real estate professionals from the major retail market sectors in the CEE region, and were selected by an international academy of jurors, comprised of senior industry professionals, who presided and deliberated over the eventual winners, representing some of the best commercial retail real estate companies operating in the CEE region for 2015.
Apsys Group almost pulled off a clean sweep of development awards, adding momentum to their success at last year’s ceremony, with an equal haul of prizes. The developer won Property Management Firm, Developer and Overall Company of the Year.
Similarly 4F collected wins for Fashion Retailer - under 500 sqm, Newcomer and Overall Retailer of the Year. The company was recognised by the jury for its continued expansion, and confidence in the CEE region throughout 2015.
Accentuating the strength and interest in the region’s retail sector, many key retailers were also awarded on the night. Other major winners for the retailer specific awards included: Food & Beverages Retailer Costa Coffee, Fitness & Leisure Retailer CityFit, Fashion Retailer H&M, Cosmetics Retailer Rossman, Big Box Retailer Carrefour and Speciality Retailer Smyk.
Putting his achievements firmly in the spotlight, Property Solution’s Stefan Juszczak claimed the Professional of the Year award, confirming his status as one of the region’s top real estate professionals.
In the much coveted and highly contested Shopping Center Director of the Year award Mayland Real Estate's Marek Ciszewski shone the brightest out of all the short-listed nominees, by receiving high praise and recognition for his work on Riviera Shopping Centre, currently one of Poland’s largest retail developments, and subject of one of 2015's biggest investment deals.
2015 was a big year for retail development and the project award winners reflected the changing dynamics of the region’s retail development markets. Prolific retail developer Multi won two prizes for its regional development success in 2015. Forum Poprad in Slovakia won Retail Project in the medium category and, in an encouraging sign for the country's changing fortunes, Forum Lviv in Ukraine won Large Retail Project of the Year. 
Many of this year’s project nominees formed extensions and refurbishments. This year the winning projects were from Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. CBRE Global Investors won the highly contested category Extended/Refurbished Project of the Year for their successful extension of the Ogrody Shopping Centre in Elbląg, Poland. The highly appreciated Ferio Wawer in Warsaw, by RE project development, walked away with the Small Retail Project of the Year award.
Other major accolades were given to Griffin Real Estate, which won Investor of the Year, and was recognised by the jurors for its investment success in 2015. A highlight being that is was responsible for one of the largest transactions on Poland's commercial real estate market in recent years with the acquisition of a majority stake in Echo Investment.
International consultants JLL once again picked up the Agency of the Year award. Additional company awards were presented to K|P|R|F Law Office, one of the region's best retail real estate law firms, which received the Law Firm of the Year award. TPA Horwath won Tax and Financial Adviser of the Year and Professional Service Provider of the Year went to First Title Insurance.
Gleeds again followed up last year’s success by collecting the Project Management Firm of the Year award. Chapman Taylor once again picked up Architectural Firm of the Year, and Berlin Hyp was voted Bank of the Year.

CEE Retail Real Estate