- Colliers and CoreNet Global surveyed more than 140 corporate real estate professionals, who ranked talent and education quality (61%) and commute access (60%) as top location factors.
- Asia Pacific is the region most likely to see net new portfolio growth over three to five years (52%), ahead of North America (30%), while 15% expect no expansion.
- Reducing operating costs is the top expected contribution of portfolios (64%), showing location decisions now serve broader enterprise goals like AI adoption and revenue growth.
Corporate location strategy is becoming a business-wide decision, according to a Colliers survey published Nov. 5.
Colliers and CoreNet Global polled over 140 corporate real estate leaders worldwide.
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Talent Still Leads
Talent quality and nearby universities topped the list at 61%, just ahead of commute and accessibility at 60%. Living costs, lifestyle and a market’s reputation followed.
Colliers says the idea of a talent market is broadening, with worker experience, cost and lifestyle weighing alongside access to skills.
Growth Looks to Asia Pacific
About half of respondents (52%) expect most net new space to be added in Asia Pacific within three to five years. Another 30% pointed to North America, and 15% have no expansion planned.
An Enterprise Decision
Asked what will shape decisions over the next two years, leaders cited revenue growth, adopting AI and automation, trimming costs and hiring or keeping staff. Cutting operating costs was the top thing they want portfolios to deliver, picked by 64%.
Over two-thirds said they feel confident making long-term location calls. Their open-ended worries were cost pressure, volatility, finding talent and geopolitics.
Why It Matters
Andrew Hallissey, Colliers’ CEO of Occupier Services, said organizations are weighing people, operations, money and strategy together instead of chasing one variable.
That matches early occupier sentiment in Newmark’s survey, where 60% of tenants plan to add staff within two years.
What’s Next
Brokers and landlords pitching markets will need to speak to talent, cost and resilience together. Watch how AI adoption reshapes space needs in the next 24 months.
