Nuance aims for major US airport contract in 2004

Print Article E-Mail Article

The group is likely to bid in forthcoming tenders at Miami International and Chicago O'Hare airports, although winning both will stretch its north American budget

The Nuance Group has ambitious plans for its north American business in 2004, and has confirmed it is interested in tenders for duty-free space at Chicago O'Hare and Miami International airports due later this year. But while the company admitted it would be assessing other tender opportunities in the region as they appeared, it acknowledged that winning more than one major airport contract would seriously stretch the group's resources.

The company, which recently celebrated a crucial extension to its retail contract at Toronto Lester B Pearson airport, is hoping to add one major airport to its north American portfolio over the next year. Ceo North America Roger Dunbar told DFNI eXTRA sister publication Travel Retailer International that with the cost of preparing a tender application ranging from $250,000 to $500,000, the company must scrutinise opportunities before deciding on a bid.

?We have already passed on the Minneapolis tender,? Dunbar told TRI, ?as the duty-free aspect was too small. But we are certainly interested in Chicago and Miami, although winning both would limit our budget for renovations and redevelopment across our north American business. But we certainly hope to win one of the year's major airport contracts.?

Dunbar expressed the hope that the two airports would offer rental terms based on a per-passenger basis, and said that a number of Nuance's north American landlords had decided to structure retail agreements in such a way since September 11 2001.