Colliers CRE was formed by the merger, in 2000, of Conrad Ritblat and Colliers Erdman Lewis. Conrad Ritblat was founded in 1959 by John Ritblat, the current chairman of Colliers CRE. The company’s specialist hotels division, formerly Robert Barry, was acquired in 1998, and now trades as Colliers Robert Barry.

In 2003, Colliers CRE acquired the surveying practices of Gooch Webster and Fisher Wilson (Scotland), whilst in 2004 it acquired Fletcher King (Manchester) and Campbell & Co (Scotland) and in 2005; Lipfriend Dawson (Bristol).

In 2006 Colliers CRE set up its Madrid office and acquired destination consultancy Locum (Haywards Heath), leisure company Paul and Co (Bristol, Wetherby) and logistics and industrial specialist Jansons (Uxbridge). In 2007 the firm also acquired Huthwaite (Bristol) and bio-technology specialists Dodson Jones (Cambridge). It acquired Godfrey Vaughn, a West End of London office specialist in April 2008.

These acquisitions have broadened the company's national coverage and further strengthened its range of services and business sectors. Colliers CRE currently has offices in both the West End and City of London, as well as in 16 regional centres throughout the UK and overseas businesses in Madrid and Dublin.

Colliers CRE plc trades on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: COL).