Media OutReach
Cushman & Wakefield and Corenet Global Release New Survey Results On “What Occupiers Want”
Cost remains king, but talent, flexibility, and service are reshaping real estate strategy globally
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 July 2025 – Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), in partnership with CoreNet Global, the global professional association for corporate real estate, has released new survey results revealing how corporate real estate (CRE) priorities are evolving in response to cost pressures, shifting organizational models, a stabilizing office footprint, and the growing demand for workplace flexibility and service.
Findings from the What Occupiers Want 2025 survey—reflecting the views of CRE decision-makers across the Americas (52%), EMEA (34%) and APAC (14%)—highlight an industry at a strategic crossroads, as companies balance traditional cost control measures with new imperatives around talent, culture, and portfolio agility. The views represent approximately 8.1 million employees globally and approximately 340M square feet of floor area.
“The survey shows that while cost discipline remains essential, organizations are increasingly recognizing that real estate decisions directly impact employee experience, engagement, and overall business performance,” said Despina Katsikakis, Global Lead, Total Workplace Consulting at Cushman & Wakefield. “This marks a critical opportunity for CRE leaders to shape strategies that deliver both financial and workforce value.”
Cost Still Reigns, but Uncertainty Dominates Decision-Making
Cost control remains the top driver of corporate real estate decisions globally, as CRE leaders face continued pressure to reduce or optimize spending. Financial KPIs—particularly cost, efficiency, and space utilization—still dominate strategy.
However, uncertainty looms large. Political instability, changing workplace behaviors, and unclear ROI metrics have left many organizations hesitant to act boldly. Compounding this, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities—once on the rise—have slipped back to pre-2021 levels in global importance, though they remain a top concern in EMEA and APAC regions.
CRE Organizational Models Are Evolving—And Metrics Must Keep Pace
One of the report’s most striking findings: nearly one-third (29%) of companies that recently changed their CRE reporting structure now have real estate teams reporting to Human Resources.
“This shift highlights a growing understanding that corporate real estate is about people, culture, and experience—not just space and cost,” said Katsikakis. “But to make this evolution meaningful, organizations need new performance metrics that link workplace investments to employee experience, engagement, and productivity—not just financial outcomes.”
Despite these organizational changes, most companies continue to rely heavily on traditional financial measures. The report calls for a balanced scorecard approach that bridges the gap between cost control and workforce impact.
Downsizing Has Peaked as Occupiers Stabilize Portfolios
After several years of footprint reduction, the era of mass downsizing appears to be over. Only 32% of companies plan further space cuts, while 1 in 8 occupiers plan to expand their footprint. Meanwhile, average office lease sizes have grown by 13% since 2023.
Office utilization rates are stabilizing as well, with global occupancy levels settling between 51% and 60%—still below pre-pandemic norms but rising steadily as more firms implement structured return-to-office policies.
Landlords Must Step Up as the Office Becomes a Service
Tenants are demanding more from their landlords—85% of occupiers now expect landlords to provide enhanced amenities, services, and workplace experiences, and nearly half (46%) are willing to pay a premium for these upgrades.
Top-tier office space commands a nearly double-digit rental premium as a result. Yet there remains a gap between expectation and delivery: only 60% of employees believe their current workplace fully supports collaboration, relationships, and culture-building—the very elements that draw people back to the office.
Flexible Location Strategies Are the New Talent Imperative
Flexible hiring practices are now standard, with 61% of companies adapting their real estate strategies to access diverse talent pools across multiple geographies. Regional trends show varied approaches:
- In the Americas, hybrid and country-level hiring dominate.
- EMEA firms favor selective global hiring where presence already exists.
- APAC leads in expanding remote hiring options.
Technology talent remains in high demand, particularly in APAC, where growth outpaces that of the Americas and EMEA.
The 2025 What Occupiers Want survey reveals a CRE industry in transition: while cost pressures remain paramount, leading organizations are redefining value beyond financial savings.
“To drive meaningful impact, CRE leaders must champion new, integrated performance frameworks that reflect the true business value of the workplace,” said Katsikakis. “Real estate decisions are no longer just about the bottom line—they’re about workforce performance, culture, and competitive advantage.”
Spotlight: Chinese Mainland
On the Chinese mainland, occupier strategies are aligning with the broader Asia Pacific trends – but with distinct local drivers. Companies continue to prioritize cost optimization and footprint efficiency, but there is a growing shift toward premium office space in core business districts, especially among financial, professional services, and high-tech sectors.
Return-to-office policies are further along compared to other global markets, with hybrid models giving way to more structured, on-site work requirements. Occupiers are seeking environments that enhance collaboration, innovation, and talent retention – particularly in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, where talent competition remains intense.
“Occupiers in China are increasingly focused on quality—not just in location and amenities, but in how the workplace supports business strategy and employee wellbeing,” said Jonathan Wei, Head of Project and Occupier Services, China at Cushman & Wakefield. “Landlords who can deliver integrated, experience-driven environments with flexible, tech-enabled solutions are strongly positioned to attract and retain long-term tenants.”
Hashtag: #Cushman&Wakefield
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2024, the firm reported revenue of $9.4 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).
We sincerely thank our customers for their continued trust. AIA Hong Kong’s sustained leadership in the number of new business policies reflects that when people seek to protect their own and their loved ones’ future through insurance, AIA’s quality health and wealth solutions — together with services and experiences that go beyond traditional insurance — consistently stand out as their preferred choice.
We remain committed to protecting every moment that matters and helping people and the communities we serve to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.
Notes:
* Source: The latest provisional statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong long-term insurance business from January to September 2025.
** Based on statistics from Insurance Authority released since 2014 – Provisional statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong long-term insurance business.
Hashtag: #AIAHongKong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AIA Hong Kong & Macau
AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have about 18,000 financial planners1, as well as an extensive network of independent financial advisors, brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.6 million customers2, offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension, personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers.
1 As at 30 June 2025
2 Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau’s individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as at 30 June 2025)
All nominations will undergo a rigorous screening and evaluation process conducted by the VinFuture Pre-Screening Committee and the Prize Council, which comprise leading scientists from around the world, including laureates of prestigious international awards such as the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award, and the Millennium Technology Prize.
The evaluation process is scheduled to be completed by September 2026, with the 6th VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony slated for early December 2026. Nominations submitted after April 17, 2026 will automatically be considered for the 2027 season.
In order to provide comprehensive information and strengthen engagement with its global network of nomination partners, the VinFuture Foundation will host two international webinars in the first quarter of 2026, featuring insights and perspectives from representatives of the Prize Council, the Pre-Screening Committee, and VinFuture Laureates. The first webinar will take place at 8:00 AM on January 26, 2026 (Hanoi time).
In 2026, the VinFuture Prize will continue the implementation of its Top Nominators Recognition Program, formally acknowledging the exceptional contributions of scientists whose discernment and scholarly leadership are instrumental in identifying and nominating scientific and technological achievements of transformative significance for humanity.
Having completed five successive and highly successful award cycles, the VinFuture Prize has established itself as a globally respected distinction within the international science and technology community. To date, it has received a cumulative total of 6,132 nominations from nearly 110 countries and territories and has recognized 48 outstanding scientists whose pioneering work has delivered profound, enduring, and far-reaching benefits to humanity.
Many of the achievements recognized by the VinFuture Prize are closely aligned with major milestones in human progress, ranging from global networking technologies, PERC solar cells, lithium-ion battery energy storage, and artificial intelligence to essential fields such as sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and environmental protection. Reflecting its expanding international reach, VinFuture’s global nomination partner network now includes nearly 15,000 scientists worldwide.
Dr. Thai-Ha Le, Managing Director of the VinFuture Foundation, stated: “After five years of establishment and development, VinFuture Prize has steadily affirmed its position as one of the world’s leading global science prizes, where outstanding scientific excellence is honored in parallel with social responsibility and the long-term interests of humanity. As we enter the 2026 season, we anticipate that nominations will continue to demonstrate the pivotal role of science and technology in addressing global challenges in a comprehensive manner, thereby advancing breakthrough solutions with strong applicability and the capacity to generate positive and sustainable impacts on a global scale.”
With its established international stature and credibility, VinFuture has contributed meaningfully to positioning Viet Nam as an emerging hub for global knowledge exchange and scientific collaboration. Numerous VinFuture partners have traveled to Viet Nam to engage in academic exchanges, share professional expertise, and strengthen ties with the domestic scientific community. Notable participants include Professor Aldo Steinfeld of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), recipient of the 2024 SolarPACES Lifetime Achievement Award; Professor Kurt Kremer, Honorary Director of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany); and Professor Chuanbin Mao of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (China), ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in biomedical engineering…
Through VinFuture, many Vietnamese scientists have likewise gained access to, and established collaborations with, leading global researchers, actively engaging with the international scientific community to help shape a sustainable future for Vietnam and for humanity at large.
Hashtag: #VinFuture
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Through this collaboration, FED Fitness and the Houston Rockets aim to bridge professional training standards with the at-home fitness experience, encouraging consistent movement and healthy routines for people of all ages and fitness levels.
FED Fitness offers a wide range of high-quality home exercise equipment, competitive pricing, and a free training app—aligning seamlessly with the Rockets’ performance-driven mindset and community-focused approach to sport and wellness.
Notably, this marks the Houston Rockets’ first partnership with a dedicated home gym solutions brand, reflecting the growing importance of home-based training within the evolving sports and fitness landscape. The partnership also reinforces FED Fitness’s expertise, product quality, and long-term strategic vision, as elite sports organizations increasingly align with innovative home fitness brands.
At the heart of the partnership is a shared commitment to health, discipline, and long-term fitness habits—whether training at home or competing at the highest level on the court.
Extending Professional Training into the Home
FED Fitness operates with the belief that fitness should be accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable, providing solutions designed to support users at different stages of their home fitness journey.
FED Fitness Home Gym Solutions
Its home gym solutions are defined by several core characteristics:
- Professionalgrade equipment
- Home training content system
- Spacefriendly designs
- Scenariodriven content
- Sustainable training system
FED Fitness is more than just equipment treadmills, ellipticals, strength machines, and lightweight accessories. Instead, it goes above and beyond by providing an entire home fitness ecosystem that includes training and health data.
Partnership Benefits for Consumers and Fans
The partnership between FED Fitness and the Houston Rockets is built on a shared focus on training, health, and fitness, as well as a mutual commitment to creating engaging, family-friendly experiences around the game.
Designed to benefit both organizations, the collaboration also delivers added value for Rockets fans through a variety of interactive activations and promotions. These include a sweepstakes for a VIP game experience, home training content featuring FED Fitness products and Houston Rockets personnel, and opportunities for co-branded merchandise offerings. Fans can also follow FED Fitness on social media to access exclusive, fans-only discounts.
About FED Fitness: Brand vision and global health mission
FED Fitness is a global home gym solution brand focused on delivering professional-grade equipment and digital training tools for home use.
Trusted by more than 12 million households worldwide, the brand is committed to helping individuals and families build sustainable fitness habits through accessible, high-quality solutions.
The partnership with the Houston Rockets further reinforces FED Fitness’s long-term vision of integrating professional training standards into home-based fitness and everyday life.
For more information, visit www.fedfitness.com
Hashtag: #FEDFitness
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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