Top twelve investments and investment ideas in first half of 2011 in opinion of eKapija users

This year again, as it is already a tradition, the real estate expo REBEC 2011 (www.rebec.rs) was closed by a retrospective of investments and investment ideas that, in the opinion of eKapija users, marked the first half of the year.

Out of twelve projects, six are from the fields of hotel management and tourism, and what is encouraging is that most projects are not only an idea on a piece of paper any more.

Some facilities are still under construction, while others have already opened their door. One of them is grandiose Izvor hotel, which is officially open after seven years of reconstruction and it has immediately "won" five stars, which is a real curiosity in Serbia. Construction of a four-star hotel of the famous hotel chain Falkensteiner commenced in May in New Belgrade's Block 11a, while the works on Stara Planina mountain and on Pasina Cesma (Pasha's Fountain) in Leskovac defy the crisis in the construction industry.

Judging by this year's retrospective, investment ideas are getting their final shapes and starting a real life. Take a look at the list and see for yourself.

IZVOR HOTEL IN ARANDJELOVAC

After seven years of reconstruction, the hotel and congress center Izvor in Arandjelovac has become a synonym for a luxury vacation and business meetings. The investor states that it was risky to invest about EUR 35 million in the reconstruction of a tourist facility outside Belgrade and well-known tourist centers such as mountains Kopaonik and Zlatibor, but he also says that the arrangement sales have already reached a satisfying level.

Izvor hotel has 550 beds and 165 rooms with about 500 beds. This brand new building has three luxuriously equipped congress rooms, six swimming pools, wellness and spa centers, which can be used by approximately 3,500 people at the same time.

Check these links : 1 , 2, 3

FALKENSTEINER HOTEL IN NEW BELGRADE

Construction of a four-star hotel of the famous hotel chain Falkensteiner in New Belgrade's Block 11a commenced in May.

A 6,000-square-meter building comprising a 12-floor tower facility with offices and office space will be built within the complex Maxima Center.

Investors Falkensteiner Michaeler (FTMG) and the shareholding company M.O.F. Beta Nekretnine intend to invest EUR 40 million in a city hotel and commercial facilities.

The hotel, designed by world-famous architect Boris Podrecca, will include 171 rooms of modern design, suites, top-equipped conference hall with a ballroom, and a spa center and "executive lounge" on the ground floor.

Check these links : 1, 2

RETAIL PARK PANCEVO – AVIV PARK

The second section of Aviv Park, the first real retail park in Serbia, was opened in Pancevo in late May, quietly and without much pomp. After the official opening of that phase, the investors plan to start the construction works from the third phase, which should be completed in May 2012.

A shopping oasis in Pancevo will span 30,000 square meters, and the trademarks of renowned foreign and domestic manufacturers have already found their place within that complex.

In addition to boutiques and outlets, the shopping center, worth a total of 28 million euros, will also include various entertainment contents.

Check these links : 1, 2, 3

SORAVIA HOTEL – STARI MLIN BELGRADE

The Austrian group Soravia has announced that it will start the construction of a luxury hotel in the location of Stari Mlin (Old Mill) in Belgrade. The project is worth EUR 55 million and the works should be completed in 14 to 16 months, while the hotel is planned to be opened in spring 2013.

The lot in the location of the facility Stari Mlin in Vojvode Misica boulevard, between the Mostarska cloverleaf interchange and BIGZ building, which is in the possession of this company, is fenced off, and Soravia has obtained all the necessary permits from the city for the commencement of works.

According to the project, Stari Mlin will be completely renovated. The building will be turned into a modern hotel with 240 rooms, conference halls and restaurants. It will span a total of 15,000 square meters. An additional, so-called office tower, spanning 3,900 square meters, will be built in the vicinity. The complex will also comprise an underground garage with 150 parking spaces.

Check these links : 1, 2, 3, 4

LOZNI KAMEN TOURIST AND RECREATION CENTER IN NISKA BANJA

Construction of an aqua park in Niska Banja spa resort can start because Italnis Group has officially become the owner of land in the location of Lozni Kalem.

This Serbian-Italian company bought the lot Lozni Kalem from the city at an auction in late 2010. This 15-hectare lot is situated on the right side of the entrance to Niska Banja. Aforementioned aqua park will occupy about 5.5 hectares, while two luxury hotels, sports courts and other facilities of the sports and business center will be constructed on the rest of the land.

Over EUR 100 million will be invested in the construction of that center, resulting in the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs.

Check these links : 1, 2

JABUCKO RAVNISTE HOTEL COMPLEX ON STARA PLANINA MOUNTAIN

Works on the construction of a hotel complex on Stara Planina mountain go as planned and, if everything continues that way, Jabucko Ravniste will be open for guests for the New Year's Eve.

The first four hotels withing a modern ski center, which will be run by the leading Spanish hotel chains HG Hotels and Sol Melia, will be built on Stara Planina by the end of 2011. For investments in the tourist complex on Jabucko Ravniste, the Republic of Serbia and the international investment fund Sigma Capital will set aside between 50 and 60 million euros in the first phase, when 500 beds will be made available.

The plan is that the all-season complex on Stara Planina comprises 6 hotels with 900 beds for start, while the construction of facilities will run parallel to the investment in ski infrastructure. By the end of 2011, in addition to the two existing ski lifts, there will be another two four-seat lifts and the first gondola in Serbia.

Check these links : 1, 2, 3

PASINA CESMA SPORTS AND RECREATION CENTER NEAR LESKOVAC

The citizens of Leskovac are no longer able to recognize their favorite picnic grounds until recently - Pasina Cesma (Pasha's Fountain), which is situated about ten kilometers away from the city. It is said that the sports center that is being built in that location by the United Arab Emirates and is expected to be finished in less than one year will be one of the most beautiful centers of the kind, not only in Serbia.

According to the plan, the hotel complex in Pasina Cesma will comprise a five-star luxury hotel and a sports hotel, while special attention will be paid to the variety of contents within these facilities and the quality of services.

The project designed by the Leskovac-based company Energosistem Coguric envisages construction of a sports hall with an indoor swimming pool. The complex will also comprise two football pitches with stands and accompanying contents.

Check these links : 1, 2,

GOLF 8 RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS COMPLEX, ACROSS THE ROAD FROM ADA CIGANLIJA – PETEG

For those who would like to have an apartment or office space with the view of Ada Ciganlija, in an urban part of the capital city surrounded by greenery, the company Peteg is building the residential and business complex Golf 8, worth 20 million euros. A total of 153 apartments of various structures - from studios to penthouses with a big balcony - will be located on a lot on Banovo Brdo.

The complex is comprised of 7 residential and 3 business buildings, construction works will be carried out in four phases, all of which should be completed by the end of 2013. Buildings 6 and 7 are expected to be 80 percent finished in September 2011 and to receive the first tenants in January 2012. There is also a garage, which occupies most of the space underneath the complex and includes 235 parking places.

Check the link : 1,

BAUHAUS IN SERBIA

Companies Delta Real Estate and Germany's Bauhaus signed in March an agreement on the construction of the first Bauhaus retail store in Serbia, in Block 53 in New Belgrade.

This Bauhaus retail store will be part of future Delta Park, the biggest retail park in this region, which will be spanning a total of 70,000 square meters.

It will be a do-it–yourself store, spanning over 20,000 square meters, and it will comprise a parking lot for 400 visitors. Customers will be offered more than 120,000 products in the following categories: building materials, sanitary elements, lighting systems, gardening equipment, home products...

Check these links : 1, 2

FMP COMMERCIAL-BUSINESS-RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX IN CUKARICA

Factory of Metal Packaging (FMP) on Cukaricka Padina, also known as the basketball "Factory of Talents" will be turned into a commercial-residential-business complex with the gross surface of nearly 130,000 square meters.

Nebojsa Covic, president of FMP Group, left the position of the mayor of Belgrade a long time ago, but he will, if everything goes as planned, have his own "city within the city" built on Cukaricka Padina within the next two years.

The company has already obtained a location permit for the construction of a residential and business complex on a 2.8-hectare lot, located between streets Marsala Tolbuhina and Milorada Jovanovica, which is currently occupied by the FMP factory of metal packaging and two mini basketball training centers. The main project design will be finished soon, the project value is estimated at EUR 95 million, while the price of residential space within the complex is currently set at EUR 1,600 per square meter.

Check the link: 1,

PLAZA CENTER IN KRAGUJEVAC

The Israeli company Plaza will finish the construction of the first shopping mall in the Balkans, worth 60 million euros, in the first quarter of 2012.

This facility is under construction in Kragujevac's housing estate Stara Radnicka Kolonija, on an area of 80,000 square meters.

The future exclusive trade and business center will comprise a cinema multiplex with 900 seats, a fantasy park spanning 2,000 square meters, coffee shops, fast food restaurant with 350 seats, a bawling room, sports courts, and an underground garage.

Check these links : 1, 2, 3

AVIV ARLON CENTER IN ZVEZDARA

Another residential complex in the capital city, and the second investment of Aviv Arlon Group, has found its place on this list. This complex will be located in Zvezdara, near so-called Eastern Gate of Belgrade.

The Israeli company Aviv Arlon will start the construction of a 32,000-square-meter residential complex in Zvezdara in June 2011. A total of 280 apartments, ranging in size between 30 and 100 square meters, will be built in Zivka Davidovica street. The expected value of the investment in this complex in Zvezdara is EUR 25 million.

Check the link : 1