1. What's the biggest opportunity for CRE leaders to turn innovation into measurable business value today?
The corporate real estate landscape is experiencing a fundamental transformation that goes far deeper than most leaders realise. It's about turning bold ideas into business outcomes, faster decisions, smarter portfolios, and more resilient operations.
Our joint research with Cushman & Wakefield, What Occupiers Want 2025, reveals a striking shift: 29% of CRE teams now report to HR. That's not just an organisational chart change, that's a signal that real estate is no longer just about cost. It's about people, performance, and purpose.
Whether you're managing a data centre, a lab, or a logistics hub, the opportunity is to build shared metrics that connect space to strategy and prove the value of CRE across the enterprise. This represents the greatest value creation opportunity the industry has seen in decades.
2. How do you see AI, ESG, and workplace transformation converging, and where should leaders act vs. experiment?
These aren't separate trends, they're reshaping the entire CRE model in ways that create both unprecedented opportunities and existential threats for those who fail to adapt.
In our work with Colliers, 65% of leaders said AI will positively impact their business. Some are already seeing 40% faster lease abstraction cycles. ESG remains a top priority in EMEA, and transformation is happening across asset types, from smart warehouses to sustainable R&D campuses.
Leaders should act where the value is clear, energy, equity, efficiency, and experiment where the potential is emerging. The best leaders stay curious, grounded, and focused on what truly matters: people and performance. The convergence of these forces is creating a new competitive landscape where traditional real estate thinking becomes a liability.
3. What role does CoreNet Global play in helping CRE professionals navigate EMEA's regional complexity?
CoreNet Global is the voice of the profession across every region, every sector, and every asset type. In EMEA, we help leaders navigate complexity by connecting global insight with local realities.
Our Amsterdam Summit exemplifies this approach: a space where strategy meets execution. Our research shows EMEA occupiers prioritise ESG and talent more than other regions, reflecting the unique regulatory and cultural landscape across European markets.
Whether you're managing a manufacturing footprint or a hybrid HQ, we're here to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and community. The complexity of EMEA markets demands both a global perspective and hyperlocal expertise, which is exactly what our network provides.
4. How are occupier and employee expectations shifting in 2026, and what does that mean for workspaces?
Expectations are rising and diversifying at an unprecedented rate. As we shared in our July blog on The PULSE, "return-to-office" is out, and experience is in.
Employees want spaces that support well-being, inclusion, and connection. Occupiers want flexibility and ROI, whether in a lab, logistics hub, or HQ. What Occupiers Want 2025 shows 85% of companies now expect more from their landlords, and nearly half are willing to pay a premium for better amenities.
The best spaces today are magnets, not mandates, and are designed to earn participation, not just presence. This shift fundamentally changes how we think about space design, lease negotiations, and portfolio strategy.
5. What innovations or shifts will define the next phase of CRE, and how is CoreNet Global preparing members?
The next phase is about integration and foresight. CRE is becoming a strategic enabler, powered by AI, climate tech, and immersive digital tools.
Through our Corporate Real Estate 2030 initiative, we're helping members prepare for what's next: from ESG leadership to portfolio agility and talent strategy. And we're doing it across industries by supporting leaders in life sciences, logistics, tech, and more.
Our goal is simple: help our members not just keep up, but lead the way. The organisations that understand this transformation and act decisively will create sustainable competitive advantages, while those that wait will find themselves struggling to catch up in an increasingly sophisticated market.
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People mentioned:
- Scott Wiley, CEO, CoreNet Global
Companies mentioned:
- CoreNet Global - leading association for corporate real estate professionals
- Cushman & Wakefield - joint research partner
- Colliers- research collaborator
- ASAE - professional association
