The Big Challenge is Understanding the New Consumer»: Borja Sierra Unpacks the Future of Real Estate and Flexible Accommodation

The real estate sector is at a crossroads, a turning point where technology, new business models and changing social demands are redefining the rules of the game. To navigate this new paradigm, it is essential to listen to expert voices such as that of Borja Sierra, The European chairman of consultancy Savills, who recently shared his views in an in-depth interview with EjePrime.

Sierra, with a track record that has allowed him to witness several market transformations, is blunt in pointing out what the biggest challenge is today: «understanding the new consumer». Far from being a passive actor, today's customer is hyper-informed, technologically savvy and demands personalised, high quality experiences, whether in the retail, in the office or in the residential area.

One of the areas where this transformation is most evident is in the Flexible Accommodation. Sierra highlights how this segment, which spans from the branded residences until coliving or student residences, has emerged to respond to these new needs. It is not just about providing a roof over your head, but about creating communities, providing value-added services and ensuring flexibility that traditional renting often cannot offer.

The artificial intelligence is another major catalyst for change that Sierra identifies. Its impact will be felt at every level, from optimising asset management and personalising the customer experience, to transforming design and construction. The ability to analyse large volumes of data will enable more informed decisions and anticipate market trends.

In the interview, Borja Sierra also reflects on the importance of the sustainability (ESG), The need for more efficient and environmentally friendly buildings is no longer an option, but an imperative. Investors and consumers are demanding more efficient and environmentally friendly buildings, and this factor has become a key element in the assessment and viability of projects.

Borja Sierra's vision is a call for adaptation and innovation. His analysis reminds us that success in the real estate of the future will depend not only on the quality of the brick, but on the ability to understand and serve a consumer that has changed forever.

To deepen his reflections on market developments, the impact of technology and the opportunities that lie ahead in the Flexible Accommodation, We invite you to read the full interview in its original source.

Read the full interview with Borja Sierra in EjePrime here: Borja Sierra (Savills): “The great challenge is to understand the new consumer, who has all the information”.”

The next edition Vitur Summit 2026 will take place in Malaga on Thursdays 13 and 14 May and will once again be the meeting point for operators, investors and companies in the sector to boost their business, establish strategic alliances with the different agents involved and gain access to all the latest news, trends and opportunities in the sector from leading speakers and companies.

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