TheWrap: Going, going, Gala

Two weeks from today, ThePrime Gala will still be fresh in the memories of 430 people. The demand from new corporate partners is really encouraging for me, but so is the ongoing support from traditional partners. The change of venue brings new challenges, but I assure you that the views in Obecní dům do not disappoint.

That’s important, because this iconic Art Nouveau building will serve as the backdrop to our most ambitious charity auction yet. I’m very excited to be able to announce this year’s line-up of artists who have donated four paintings and one sculpture to ThePrime Foster Fund.

The Live Auction On stage for the public auction, we are featuring Laura Limbourg, a phenomenal talent based in Czechia. Since winning the Prize of Art Critique for Young Painting in 2020, Laura has seen a meteoric rise, exhibiting in Vienna, Brussels, New York, and Taipei. Represented by SUPPAN contemporary in Vienna, she is undeniably an artist to watch—and one we are deeply honored to feature.

The Silent Auction For our silent auction, we have secured works from four equally accomplished contemporary figures:

Patrik Kriššák: Known for his "brushless" technique of pouring paint, his Extinction series confronts climate change through the haunting beauty of coral reefs.

Pavlína Kvita: Her sculptures bridge the gap between the personal and the archetypal, utilizing ritualistic masks and "guardian" figures as protective shields.

Julius Reichel: Recently appointed Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts (AVU), Reichel’s visually saturated works layer digital and physical perspectives into something truly urgent.

Martin Salajka: His monumental works explore our complex link to nature; his recent involvement in Congo conservation expeditions reflects a deep commitment to environmental protection.

What strikes me most about this group is that they are clearly moved by the world around them. In this, they set a fine example for developers, investors, and the wider property sector. My hope is that on January 28, the guests in Smetana Hall will be inspired by these artists' generosity to make a lasting impact of their own.

There are now just a few seats still available for ThePrime Gala on the 28th. Sales will end at the latest next Wednesday, but I suspect I’ll run out of space by then anyway. It’s a first-come, first-served situation. So, if you don’t want to miss out, your only real guarantee is to order now at this link.

Please remember the event takes place this year at Obecní dům beginning at 7pm, but we’ll open the doors a few minutes early for those who want to beat the rush. Tickets will start going out today by email.

As in past years, the dress code is Business Elegant, but rather than a buffet, the dinner will be served. A vegetarian option is available, but in order to guarantee availability, we need to know in writing by Jan. 19.

Jaroslav Svoboda's Czech Inn Hotels group has purchased the Cosmopolitan Hotel, part of Brno's Bobycentrum landmark. The group, which operates 28 hotels across Czechia, has already taken over operations. Svoboda plans to invest "tens of millions of crowns" this spring to upgrade rooms, the restaurant, and the technology stack. This follows the group's 2024 acquisition of the Grand Palace in Brno.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing the InterContinental brand back to Prague, selecting Jeruzalémská 1 for a new 137-key hotel. This represents a major vote of confidence in the city's plans to revitalize the zone around the main train station (Hlavní nádraží), which includes a station redevelopment and a new tram line. IHG will partner with Generali Real Estate on the building, which has previously served as both a theater and an office complex. Completion is slated for mid-2029. Public records suggest the deal was complex, as the building owner, Hotels Gestion CZ, is currently navigating court execution proceedings.

Residential developer FINEP completed 1,200 much-needed Prague apartments in 2025, but its biggest impact will likely come from its new project, Nový Opatov. The development aims to resolve a paradoxical situation: a busy transportation hub currently lacking flats, jobs, and services. Modern urban planners view the current state of the site as a significant waste of potential. FINEP’s plan to build thousands of flats, offices, and stores will finally create a cohesive neighborhood in a location that should have been developed years ago. FINEP is working with Studio Acht on the project.

Fond Českého Bydlení closed 2025 with a strategic pivot into Germany, acquiring 198 apartments across Saxony and Bavaria. The move pushes the fund toward €100 million in total assets. The fund now manages 1,060 residential and commercial units spanning nearly 62,000 sqm. German holdings represent 22.5% of the portfolio, concentrated in the Dresden and Leipzig catchment areas. It is targeting towns like Freiberg, Oschatz, and Riesa where rental housing dominates. To improve margins, the company intends to deploy Czech contractors where possible.

Europe’s student accommodation market is worth roughly €18.8 billion, a portfolio encompassing 136,000 beds. According to a study by The Class Foundation and Savills, PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) is now more popular than multifamily assets among investors. 62% of companies surveyed for the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Investment Barometer expect to invest €20 billion to increase their bed capacity by 72% over the next two to five years. In Prague, despite 75,000 students seeking accommodation annually, there were only 22 privately owned student residences with a total capacity of just under 3,000 beds as of 2024.

The Czech government will pursue a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the final 35-kilometer section of the D35 motorway between Svitavy and Mohelnice. Three consortiums submitted final bids: Vinci Highways, Strabag-Budimex, and Metrostav. The private investor will construct, finance, and maintain the road for 25 years in exchange for annual government availability payments—estimated at approximately CZK 3 billion per year.

Coca-Cola abandoned the sale process for Costa Coffee in December 2025 after bids failed to meet its roughly GBP 2 billion valuation. The decision highlights a significant valuation gap, considering Coca-Cola paid nearly GBP 5 billion for the chain in 2018. There are currently 49 Costa locations in the Czech Republic.

Arcona Capital closed a €160 million refinancing agreement for a Czech retail portfolio on behalf of a Prague-based private client. The 13 fully-leased hypermarkets spread across Prague and regional cities convinced two international banks to provide the credit via a 7-year, fixed-rate loan. Strong covenants along with high BREEAM certifications helped Arcona close the deal, which includes provisions for portfolio expansion if suitable investment opportunities emerge.

Luxent Exclusive Properties reports that limited supply is creating upward price pressure for exceptional projects. Rezidence Rubin Palace in Karlovy Vary exemplifies the trend, apparently. All six of the project’s exclusive apartments in this reconstructed 1897 building are sold. In the mountain property segment, premium assets in attractive locations are holding or increasing in value. Older, energy-intensive properties in need of reconstruction are in decline.

CBRE writes that it took part in nearly 20 real estate acquisitions totaling €2.32 billion during 2025. Its biggest transactions included Palladium Praha, Hilton Prague (above €250 million) Kavčí Hory Office Park (+€100 million) and the industrial sale-leaseback Yanfeng Žatec.

-User-First Development: Demaco’s DMC Paskov and the Power of Long-Term Industrial Vision
-Spire Capital Partners agrees strategic capital for BONARD
-Manova sells Amazon Returns Center in Sereď
-Prague Matches London for Retail Openings; US Brands Surge
-Dr. Max extends lease at Prologis Park Prague-Rudná
-Butovice Offices bought by Investika
-Generali buys GARBE Progresus Park Klášterec I
-SPM Invest acquires Campus Science Park in Brno
-UBM Warns Labor Shortage Reshaping Prague Development
-CTP begins construction on ABB’s newest facility
-David Mazáček (Upvest): We’re not trying to replace banks
-GARTAL ramps up output, beginning with City Lofts
-Signal Space raises the entertainment bar in central Prague
-Marketa Vrbasová (Knight Frank): Auto Suppliers Face Indirect Hit from Trade Wars
-Pavel Sovička (Panattoni): Productivity is the problem. Not developers
-David Sajner joins Savills
-Energy efficiency still low in Prague office sector
-Crestyl achieves planning breakthrough on Savarin
-Michal Sotak (Cushman & Wakefield): Emotions drive investment
-Michal Bilý (108 Real Estate): Q2 new industrial leases strengthen
-Robert Ides (ARETE): We’ll recycle our equity abroad