King Power embraces new look for the future

Gavin Lipsith

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Airports of Thailand and King Power International Group have unveiled their stunning vision for airport shopping at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi airport, which opens in September 2005

They gave a sneak preview of the new operation to guests at a special lunch in Cannes last week.

King Power is the exclusive duty- and tax-free concessionaire at the new airport and will manage shops along the entire length of the 700m terminal. The terminal will be the world's largest building, at 563,000sq m (sq ft) and will have capacity for 45m passengers.

Speaking at the event, airport chairman Srisook Chandrangsu told ravenfox.com there would be a big emphasis on driving revenues from commercial activities including retail, through the airport's new profit-sharing agreement with King Power. "Our policy is to be price-compatible with the other key airports in the region," he said, "and we'll have an emphasis on driving volume sales. We also need to market the airport and its services to travellers around the region. We want to show the world what we can do."

In another radical new development revealed at the same event, King Power unveiled plans for its new downtown duty-free complex, which opens in October 2006. Under a $75m investment, the complex will be the future site for King Power headquarters. It will contain a 400-room hotel and an entertainment and restaurant complex, plus a 12,000sq m (sq ft) duty-free shopping area.

The shopping complex will have a strong emphasis on Thai products, luxury boutiques as well as the traditional duty-free staples.

A full report on both developments appears in DFNI November 1, out next week.