The world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count is expanding its footprint in Europe. Keller Williams has officially awarded a new master franchise in Croatia. This move brings the total number of European regions for the brand to 21. Led by Boris Batelic, the firm plans to launch its first market center in the second quarter of 2026 to drive structural change in the local market.
OpenAI has secured a significant long-term lease for the entire 350-380 Ellis office campus in Mountain View. The deal involves a 450,000 square foot Class A property owned by KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. and TMG Partners. Following a major renovation to modernise the five-building site, the AI giant will move into the heart of Silicon Valley to support its rapid growth and operational scaling.
Hilton has signed an exclusive franchise deal with YOTEL to expand its lifestyle hotel portfolio. YOTEL becomes the first brand under the "Select by Hilton" banner. While YOTEL remains independently managed, it will now gain access to Hilton’s global distribution and the Hilton Honors loyalty programme. This partnership allows both brands to grow efficiently while offering guests smart, tech-led urban accommodation in key cities worldwide.
Onar Holding Corporation has acquired Scale Partner to bring AI-powered marketing to the commercial property sector. The deal introduces "human-agentic" AI, combining virtual assistants with automation to manage leads. Scale Partner founder Jason Tiger joins as VP of Corporate Development to lead future growth. The move allows Onar to deploy its digital services into a high-demand vertical while enhancing its overall marketing operating system.
ICSC has launched ICSC+PROPTECH to connect commercial property leaders with technology innovators at its flagship 2026 Las Vegas event. Featuring a keynote by Randi Zuckerberg, the programme focuses on shifting from tech experimentation to large-scale implementation. High-profile buyers from firms like Brookfield and Mall of America will meet with founders to explore AI-driven leasing and smart building tools aimed at improving asset performance.
Scaler and Optiml have launched a strategic partnership to link real estate data with institutional decision intelligence. The collaboration helps property owners move beyond static reports to a dynamic financial system. By combining Scaler’s data infrastructure with Optiml’s AI algorithms, investors can optimise capital allocation and decarbonisation pathways. This system provides auditable records for lenders and boards to protect portfolio values during volatile market conditions.
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