Peter Zabierek, senior portfolio manager at Easterly Ranger, joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss some of the complexities of the current real estate market in which “the easy answers are gone,” but where more opportunities exist for investors who can be selective.

“It's less about broad sector calls and more about understanding where demand is actually showing up and how capital is being allocated and who can execute. So that's what's driving outcomes right now and that's where the opportunity is,” Zabierek said.

During the interview, Zabierek noted that real estate has become a “much more operational business and outcomes are increasingly driven by how well companies execute.” As a result, now is really the time to focus on management teams and how they're executing their business plans, not just the assets that they own, he said.

Michael Bellisario, senior research analyst at Baird, joined the REIT Report to review the outlook for the lodging and hotel REIT sector in 2026, focusing on demand trends, the impact of major events like the World Cup, and strategies for maintaining occupancy and navigating market challenges.

Bellisario said the overall outlook for the sector for 2026 is “positive but muted,” following a tough 2025. The World Cup is expected to boost revenue this year, with Baird estimating it will contribute 75 basis points or more to REVpar for the year. “It’s going to be a tailwind. It's just a matter of how much and when do we see those bookings start to pick up,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bellisario pointed out that wealthy travelers are currently driving growth within the leisure sector, with high-end hotels performing better than economy and mid-scale segments. Higher-end establishments can charge more for additional services, he noted, such as dining and experiences, beyond room rates. This trend indicates a potential strategy for hotels to focus on non-room revenue streams.

CenterSquare Investment Management CEO Todd Briddell joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss the evolution of the firm’s REIT strategy during the past 30 years, the impact of market volatility and adjustments, AI and data assimilation in real estate, public versus private real estate market dynamics, sector-specific IPO opportunities, and more.

“Over the past 30 years, our team has done an absolutely spectacular job underwriting companies, assessing market conditions, knowing what we don't know in periods of high volatility and uncertainty, positioning the portfolio defensively at the right time periods, (and) not getting over our skis,” Briddell said.

Briddell highlighted some of the benefits of public real estate, noting that volatility should be “embraced, not feared” in the REIT market. “What we have done at CenterSquare is really try to educate our investors that volatility is actually a source of alpha. And it is as true today as it has ever been,” he added.

Sam Sahn, managing partner and portfolio manager at Hazelview Investments, joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss the opportunity set within public real estate. He pointed to an uptick in investor interest in REITs after a number of years of negative sentiment, and noted that fundamentals are strong across most property types.

“We are seeing today more inbound phone calls from potential investors that are interested in increasing exposure to REITs and real estate in general…they've been out of the sector for the past five to six years, or they've been underweight, and they're looking to increase that allocation,” Sahn said. “They're looking for asset classes that give them cash flow stability. They're looking for income. They're looking for diversification, liquidity, all of which REITs provide,” he added.

As for performance, Sahn noted that U.S. REITs are “starting to regain their footing” in 2026, while Japan and Hong Kong continue to show strength in global markets. “As we look at the world today and over the next 12 months, we're seeing more opportunities in the U.S. than we have over the last several years,” he added.

Diane Hoskins, global co-chair at international architecture and design firm Gensler, joined the REIT Report podcast to review themes from Gensler’s 2026 design forecast. The impact of AI on design processes, the importance of human experience in architecture, and the evolving needs of workplace design in a post-pandemic world were among topics covered.

Hoskins also looked at adaptive reuse as a strategy for urban vibrancy and the critical need for climate resilience in future designs. She emphasized the importance of investing in human experiences.

“It's about creating value, being ahead of some of these curves,” Hoskins said, while also focusing on investing in humans and in places “where experiences matter, because that's really where value is going to be.”

Michael Knott, head of U.S. REIT research at Green Street, told the REIT Report podcast that REITs have enjoyed a number of tailwinds so far this year, including an AI-driven selloff across broader markets, lower interest rates, and strong access to debt capital. He described it as “a little bit of a nice comeback for the industry on a relative basis.”

At the same time, Knott notes that these positive tailwinds are set against a cross current of a weaker outlook on the employment side.

During the interview, Knott also commented that one of the newer trends that many larger REITs are gravitating to is fund management and gathering private pools of capital as an alternative to public equity to fund their business.

Jussi Askola, president of Leonberg and author of the recently published book The REIT Advantage, joined the REIT Report podcast to share why he believes REITs typically offer a better investment option than private real estate.

While acknowledging the benefits of a mix of public and private real estate, “in most cases, REITs make more sense for the majority of investors,” Askola said. Higher returns, liquidity, diversification, significant economies of scale, and access to the best talent are among the key reasons investors should consider REITs, he added.

In addition to highlighting what he sees as the elements of a strong REIT management strategy, Askola discussed options for how to navigate the diverse set of REIT property sectors according to an investor’s risk tolerance and need for income. He also touched on how the sector might evolve and diversify going forward.

“I'm very optimistic about the long-term prospects of REITs,” Askola said. Typically, “REITs offer better returns with lower risk and less required effort… than private real estate,” he concluded.

Jeremy Porter, chief economist at First Street, joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of climate risk and its significant impact on corporate operations and financial performance.

Porter explained how physical climate risk now propagates through assets, suppliers, commodities, customers, and transportation networks. “Prior to this, we were thinking about all of these independently, or we were thinking about a supply chain independent of physical climate risk, and the ability to sort of pull all of those things together really helps to price in the downside and to protect facilities through adaptation and mitigation in a way that we weren't thinking about previously,” he said.

Porter shared how corporate attitudes towards climate risk have shifted from it being a peripheral concern to a core financial risk indicator. The conversation highlighted the quantifiable effects of climate risk on corporate revenues, the investment community's response, and the challenges posed by rising insurance costs.