“2022 will reconfirm the role of workspaces in maintaining an optimal emotional balance in people’s lives”

“The biggest challenge brought on by the pandemic, apart from the risks for people’s health, was the loss of confidence. 2020 was marked by global uncertainty, and 2021 was the year everyone worked to regain what they had lost in the previous year. The organizations that achieved this goal this year were those that built strong teams over time, based on transparent and honest relationships,” Gavin Bonner, Vice president Genesis Property told The Diplomat-Bucharest.

“We have an extensive FM team working around the clock, so we have always been keen on using digital tools and applications that create an efficient experience in our buildings for both the FM team and our tenants. We also use technologies to create healthier workspaces, as part of the extensive set of measures and criteria promoted by the IMMUNE™ standard.”

How would you describe the evolution of your company in 2021?

“2021 was a challenging year for the whole economy, with two very different halves of the year. In the first months, the main concern for everybody was kickstarting the vaccination campaign to mitigate the effects of the pandemic as much as possible. Then, in the second half of the year, despite the ongoing impact of the coronavirus on people’s health, the economy showed signs of recovery and consumption increased. As we all learned to cope with the context, everyone’s focus is shifting more and more towards returning as much as possible to a pre-pandemic normal, both in business and in people’s day to day lives.

Looking at real estate and at Genesis Property’s evolution this year, we have the advantage to operate in a stable Class A office sector which has been more resilient to the transformations in companies’ way of working and office space needs. Our clients are large companies that are guided by long-term strategies and, although a large part of their teams has worked remote or in a hybrid system, the overall plans regarding offices remained stable. Even more, some tenants in our office buildings extended their contracts for the following years, confirming their forward-looking approach to their workspaces and contributing to a solid evolution of our partnerships.”

What were your company’s business achievements in 2021?

“Our most important achievement this year was our contribution to creating healthier built environments for a healthier future by further developing and implementing the IMMUNE Building Standard™ in Romania and in other parts of the world. The standard, initiated by Genesis Property in April 2020, is a blueprint for the healthy buildings of the future, leading to healthier people, businesses, and economies. A great achievement for us in 2021 is that the H3 building in the West Gate Business District, occupied entirely by Ericsson, was the first in the world to be certified to the highest level of the standard, IMMUNE™ – Resilient. In addition, we are proud that the standard was expanded beyond offices to cover other types of buildings as well, such as industrial or residential, confirming IMMUNE™’s versatility and adaptability to any space where people live and work.

The implementation of this standard is a clear sign that globally relevant companies understand the importance of clear and effective measures to increase people’s confidence in their workplaces. It is also clear that the office has remained an essential element both in the eyes of employees and in the future strategy of companies.”

What challenges have you faced as a CEO/leader during 2021?

“The biggest challenge brought on by the pandemic, apart from the risks for people’s health, was the loss of confidence. 2020 was marked by global uncertainty, and 2021 was the year everyone worked to regain what they had lost in the previous year. The organizations that achieved this goal this year were those that built strong teams over time, based on transparent and honest relationships, and I am proud to say that I am part of such a team, and Genesis Property has managed to consolidate its partnerships built on trust with its tenants.”

What priorities and business strategy focus do you have in 2022?

“Our great qualities are stability and consistency, both essential in the field in which we are active. At the same time, we are also innovative and always want to be one step ahead, which is why in 2022 we will continue to offer the best services to our partners, and the priority will be to support the business environment’s endeavours to transform offices and to create healthier indoor spaces. Therefore, the further development of the IMMUNE Building Standard™ is paramount in our business strategy for the future.”

What initiatives & projects did the company run in 2021 in CSR and social projects? Name and describe the most outstanding.

“IMMUNE Building Standard™ is a project with great social impact and it is Genesis Property’s way to help businesses and people return to healthier and more sustainable buildings. Sustainability has become a key part of our initiatives for a better society, so in 2021 we also joined the UN Global Compact initiative, being the first Romanian property owner and developer to join the United Nations global community for sustainable development. In doing so, we decided to align our business strategy and operations with the United Nations’ sustainable development principles.”

Which were the major directions in your company in 2021 where digital & tech made a major difference? Name shortly the projects and the tech / digital- innovation or application.

“We have an extensive FM team working around the clock, so we have always been keen on using digital tools and applications that create an efficient experience in our buildings for both the FM team and our tenants. We also use technologies to create healthier workspaces, as part of the extensive set of measures and criteria promoted by the IMMUNE™ standard. Some of the innovative technologies used are air and water filtration and purification systems, disinfection and cleaning systems and touchless technologies limiting people’s interaction with surfaces in their office. At the same time, IMMUNE™ also includes digital units placed in receptions to display immunity-boosting indicators such as daily improvement of indoor air quality and water parameters and offering relevant information about the functioning of IMMUNE™ equipment across the building.”

What trends do you anticipate for next year?

“Next year will reconfirm the role of workspaces in maintaining an optimal emotional balance in people’s lives, a role proven as early as 2020. As the vaccination campaign continues and the number of those immunized increases, the activity of society as a whole will return to a “new normal”. Of course, safety measures will remain and it is good that this is the case, because new coronavirus mutations or even new epidemics or pandemics are always possible in the future.

But new challenges will arise about what people want from their offices. Demands are increasing and it is natural that this should be the case. Companies and office building owners who understand the new needs and will adapt will have the most to gain. The global economy will continue to grow and the need for talented people will increase. Workplaces are already a major attraction in the labour market, and this trend will increase next year.”

2021 IN  3 KEY WORDS

“Health. Transformation. Recovery”

2022 IN  3 KEY WORDS

“Unity. Optimism. Growth”