Houston Airports System (HAS) has recommended the World Duty Free Group and ATU Americas for its two new ten-year duty free contracts, when existing contracts expire in July 2015.

WDFG won the most points in the evaluation process for the William P. Hobby Airport, while ATU Americas was selected ahead of other bidders for the duty free contract at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Sales at both locations generated around $35m in 2014.

 

[Nuance has been working on a month-to-month duty free contract at Houston since it ran out in October 2014-Ed].

 

 

HEINEMANN JV’S LATEST FOOTPRINT

Presuming the recommendation formalities are approved by Houston City Council, this result is a good strategic win for ATU Americas, which is a joint venture between Gebr. Heinemann, TAV Airports Holding and Unifree Duty Free.

 

While dominated by domestic passenger numbers, Houston’s two airports nevertheless returned record international traffic to and from 70 international destinations of 9.8m last year, an increase of +9.2%.

 

 

At the same time as tendering these duty free contracts, Houston also awarded a duty paid retail package to Paradies, plus several food and beverage businesses. For all of these RFP processes and evaluations, the airport employed the services of global consulting company Airprojects.

 

HAS says that today all of the units that have recently been tendered generated around $111m a year, while the new contracts covering the new concessions (including several F&B units) are expected to generate an annual total of $172m, with one major feature across outlets being a doubling of rentals.

 

For more information on this entire tender process, click here: http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3922402/0/83280D83283/