HKIA launches luxury tenders

Nicole Mezzasalma

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Luxury brands are invited to register their interest for spaces in the airport’s high-end retail boulevard

Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) has launched tenders for new retail spaces at terminal one’s East Hall luxury brand boutique boulevard. Companies are invited to register their interest from April 2, and the airport will send the official tender document to selected luxury brand operators from April 22.

The airside boulevard houses 28 top luxury boutiques and has been recently expanded, increasing its capacity to up to 40 stores spread over 3,360sq m (36,166sq ft). The shop sizes range from about 30sq m levels six and seven in order to create more retail space for luxury shops.

According to HKIA, passengers stay in T1 for three hours and 87% of them shop or dine at the airport. Over half of outbound travellers going through the terminal are described as “high-spending professionals, managers, executives or businessmen”. More than 70% of passenger traffic at HKIA comes from Asian countries.

A passenger study conducted by The Nielsen Company in March 2008 revealed that 83% of passengers agree that HKIA “has the best luxury brand boutiques”, 75% concur that HKIA “has the most centralised location for its luxury brand boutiques” and 73% agree HKIA “has the best environment for luxury brand boutiques”. One tenth of passengers said they will definitely purchase luxury brand items at HKIA in the future, while 43% said they might do so.

Since it opened in 1998, the airport has increased the number of luxury brands in its terminals from eight to 33 today. HKIA also said that average sales at luxury brand boutiques located in the airport grew 24% in 2007, surpassing the overall average retail sales increase of 13.5%.

To request a registration form, interested companies should email retailtender@hkairport.com. The form is also available for download on the Business Opportunities section of HKIA’s website.