Pro-invest Group Highlights Operational Expertise as Future of Real Estate Investment

Pro-invest Group, an investment, development, and asset management firm established in 2010, posits that the real estate industry is shifting from a focus solely on property ownership and valuation to one where operational capability is equally vital for investment success. According to co-founder and managing partner Dr. Sabine Schaffer, the coming decade will see returns driven by the operational platforms behind buildings, rather than just the assets themselves.

Shifting Market Dynamics

The firm identifies several market pressures — including population growth, constrained accommodation supply, affordability strain, and evolving mobility patterns, as factors reshaping urban living. Pro-invest distinguishes between traditional build-to-rent and what it terms "urban accommodation": flexible, hospitality-backed stays centred on guest experience and operational efficiency.

Institutional investors are increasingly seeking sectors with long-term demand and visible income streams, a description that housing and accommodation align with. The core argument is that investors are now backing integrated operating platforms that combine development, investment, asset management, and operational capabilities, rather than just individual properties.

Pro-invest's Operational Track Record

Pro-invest Group's own growth illustrates this model. The firm initially built its first fund around a national rollout of Holiday Inn Express hotels under a master agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). It later closed the Australian Hospitality Opportunity Fund II at A$300 million ($211 million) in October 2020, expanding to include IHG’s voco brand and securing equity from Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Currently, Pro-invest Group manages over A$3 billion across more than 30 hotels, flex-living, build-to-rent, and commercial properties in approximately 15 markets spanning Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. This growth is attributed to its extensive experience in the management-intensive hospitality sector, operating brands such as Holiday Inn Express, voco, Hotel Indigo, and Kimpton in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland.

Urban Accommodation Strategy and Sustainability

An example of their urban accommodation strategy is the Coogee Sands Hotel & Apartments in Sydney, acquired in partnership with MEC Global Partners Asia. This project involves the adaptive reuse of an existing building, converting it into 80 design-led studios. Bookings are expected to open in Q3 2026, with the property opening in Q4 2026. The firm is raising capital for an ANZ Urban Accommodation fund based on this strategy.

Pro-invest also highlights its sustainability performance, achieving GRESB scores of 81 out of 100 for standing investments and 88 out of 100 for developments in 2025, more than double its 2017 scores, under its "One Earth, Countless Experiences" framework.