ARI proposes management consultancy role at Vancouver

John Rimmer

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The group has presented the airport with several options for running duty-free as the bid deadline passes

Aer Rianta International has submitted a management consultancy proposal among its options for duty-free retail at Vancouver International airport, RavenFox.com has learned. The Nuance Group also confirmed its participation in what will be the last big airport tender in Canada for several years. The submission deadline passed on July 29 and the contract begins in June 2007.

Under the terms of the tender Vancouver airport expects bidders to submit proposals for a straight concession contract and to suggest other means of structuring a deal. Aer Rianta International-North America operations director Philip Eckles told RavenFox.com that the retailer had provided the airport with a number of options, including one for management consultancy. "The airport was quite enthusiastic to hear about the different formulas ARI uses around the world, and we've left it open for them to choose an option they're comfortable with," said Eckles. "There won't be many more opportunities to become number one in Canadian airport retail, so this bid is important to us."

The winning bidder at Vancouver will need to demonstrate its ability to cater for Asian traffic, especially travellers from the growing markets in China and the Indian sub-continent. A decision is expected in December.