Our mission is to help Committee members keep up with fast-changing office market trends, give them professional guidelines, present emerging digital technologies to them, and to remain a general go-to knowledge hub for discussion of topics in Facilities Management, Enhanced Workspace Experience, Agile Working, and Employee Satisfaction Management.
The Facility Management Working Group was established in 2009 and the Board of AmCham upgraded it to a Committee in 2012. Since then, it has become a vibrant community of soft and hard FM experts, real estate developers and providers of office interior solutions. To reflect our diverse membership, we adopted our current name in 2019.
The WFM Committee is led by Zsolt Kákosy, MBA MRICS, Property Management Director at ICON Real Estate Management Ltd.
To join, please contact the relevant Policy Officer (see contact at the bottom of the page).
Highlights of 2024
In early 2024, we continued our ESG series, we started last year. We then discussed trends such as the role of the office as an HR tool, and how AI can revolutionize WFM.
Committee Meetings:
- WMF Committee Meeting: ESG reporting in Hungary
At the first WFM Committee Meeting of the year, on February 22, we continued our ESG series with insightful guest speakers. Joël Scherrenberg MRICS, President of RICS Benelux and member of EWRB, provided international perspectives on ESG regulations. Furthermore, Dr. Balásfalvi-Kiss András, Director of ESG and Sustainability at Grant Thornton, delved into the ESG obligations of domestic companies under the 2023 Act CVIII and the detailed regulations released in December.
- Joint HR-WFM Committee Meeting: Your Office Space as an HR Tool
The joint Committee meeting with our guest expert, Valter Kalaus, MRICS, Managing Partner of Newmark VLK Hungary, highlighted how the physical and virtual office environment can be leveraged to improve HR functions, employee engagement, and overall organizational effectiveness.
- WFM Committee Meeting on using AI in Facility Management
The Committee has organized a meeting on Artificial Intelligence on June 18. Following the welcome notes by Zsolt Kákosy, AmCham WFM Committee Chair, Andrew Knight, Global AI, Data & Tech Lead, Thought Leadership & Analytics, RICS, and László Kuczogi, Managing Director, Owner of K-ép Stúdió shared thoughts on the use of AI in facility and property management including both local and international perspectives. The most significant takeaway was that AI can shift the traditionally reactive model of facility management towards proactivity, where AI can support facility managers in planning and risk analysis. The novelty of the technology, however, makes advanced planning essential.
Office visits
- Workspace & Facilities Management Committee Visit to KOSTAL BSC Office
On April 11, the WFM Committee continued its office visits’ series with a tour to KOSTAL Group's Budapest office, which was awarded the Office of the Year title in the large corporate category. Participants were given a presentation on the design, construction and operation of the office, as well as on the company's activities and objectives in the field.
Highlights of 2023
ESG Focus
Throughout the year, the Committee placed a strong emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance), engaging in discussions with various experts to examine its prevalence in office real estate and facility management.
Committee meetings
- How to effectively approach and implement the E pillar of ESG in the case of offices?
The first meeting on March 23 focused on the environmental (E) aspect, featuring Gábor Szarvas, CEO of Greenbors Consulting and Chair of the EU Taxonomy working group of the Hungarian Green Building Council, who presented on environmental sustainability and green building rankings in the context of the energy crisis and EU regulations.
- WMF Committee meeting on the social aspect of ESG
On May 25, we explored the social (S) dimension, with a specific focus on creating accessible workplaces with Tamás Méri, Co-Founder and Business Development Director of Access4you.
- WFM Committee meeting on the G pillar of ESG
The final ESG meeting on September 28 was dedicated to the governance (G) pillar, with guest speakers dr. Judit Budai and dr. Zoltán Balázs Kovács from Szecskay Attorneys-at-Law delving into the development and practical challenges related to EU regulatory governance within the ESG framework.
Office Visits
- The Committee had the opportunity to visit two 'Office of the Year 2023' award-winning buildings this year. On May 16, the M12 Office, OTP Bank's HQ, and on October 2, the MOL Campus welcomed our members, showcasing their unique features, innovative and sustainable designs, as well as operational solutions.
Office Real Estate Trends
- To conclude the year, on December 1 we invited Valter Kalaus, Managing Partner of Newmark VLK Hungary, to share insights into the latest office real estate trends and discuss expectations for the upcoming year.
