HKIA reports record year for SkyMart

Gavin Lipsith

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Sales at Hong Kong International airport's airside retail complex surpassed $1bn in 2005

Retail and catering sales at Hong Kong International airport's airside retail complex SkyMart grew by more than 20% last year, surpassing $1bn for the first time according to Airport Authority Hong Kong. Passenger traffic at the location rose by 10% while spend per passenger increased by 9.2%.

Sales of packaged foods recorded the strongest growth, with sales increasing by 29.4% and spend per passenger up 17.6%. Beauty sales grew by 27.7% while luxury and speciality goods sales increased by 22.8%. Other categories achieved growth of between 13.5% and 20.6%.

AAHK commercial director Hans Bakker said: "This achievement could not be made possible without our operators going broad and deep in their product offerings to serve different segments of the market. Their efforts and our support in terms of regular promotions, marketing activities and product launches, also played a vital role."

Bakker added that the use of sales exhibition booths for testing new retail concepts in the East Hall had worked well, allowing operators to test different brands' appeal and to maximize revenue potential.

"Looking to 2006, we are confident that the increase in passenger flow will still be strong. With a booming economy and the completion of SkyPlaza, retail and catering sales will reach new heights," said Bakker.