Duty Free Americas wins Roatan cruise contract

Tina Milton

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The travel retailer has beaten competition from Dufry Americas to win the contract to operate the main duty-free store at Carnival Corporation & plc’s new cruise terminal at Roatan in Honduras

Carnival Corporation & plc has selected Duty Free Americas (DFA) to operate its 10,000sq ft (930 sq m) duty-free at a new cruise terminal in Roatan in Honduras. DFA fought off competition from Dufry Americas to secure the contract, details of which are still being finalised.

Carnival Corporation & plc business development manager David Candib told Ravenfox.com: “The decision was based on the bids received after senior management evaluation. We are still finalising the terms of the contract and although Roatan is a duty-free island Duty Free Americas will have the exclusivity on duty-free merchandise and products. We are finalising the plans of the walkthrough store, which will be similar to our shop at Grand Turk incorporating maritime and land-based designs.”

The duty-free outlet will be part of a 35,000sq ft (3,252sq ft) Welcome Centre at Roatan, including retail shops and restaurants and bars, a 60ft lighthouse, a lagoon with cascading waterfalls and a nature trail. Candib said Carnival was still open to discussion other concession opportunities at the port complex. The retail offer will include a mix of mid-to-high end luxury stores as well as some souvenirs, local items and leathergoods.

“We are open to all enquires and have already received interest from some local retailers, " he said. "We ask any interested parties to submit bids by Spring so that we can provide them with a strong timetable of execution. We have more of a luxury with time on this project as we have a two-year window in which to work with tenants.”

Carnival signed the agreement to build and operate the cruise terminal in Roatan in March. The development of the Mahogany Bay – Roatan facility is expected to started in September and the terminal is set to open in October 2009. It will welcome about 500,000 passengers a year within the first five years of operation.