Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has issued an open tender today covering 12 specialty shops, with ten located at the SkyMart Avenue (non-restricted area) and two at the Departures North Concourse in Terminal 1(restricted area)

at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

AAHK says that the ten specialty shops located at SkyMart Avenue vary in sizes ranging from 22 to 31sq m. In a statement related to the opportunity this location offers, AAHK said: ‘Situated in the non-restricted area between the check-in counters and the Departures Immigration Halls, SkyMart Avenue is the main artery of the Departure Level where many departing passengers pass through.

‘Nearly 10m meeters and greeters per year, over 60,000 airport staff, guests from nearby hotels, as well as AsiaWorld Expo exhibitors and visitors pass through HKIA. With such a diverse and large volume of traffic, these ten shops present excellent opportunities for fashion and fashion accessories, casual wear, health concepts, telecommunications and other specialty concept retailers.’

It adds: ‘The two shops in the Departures North Concourse are located at the newly opened retail space near Gates 15-19, neighbouring popular perfumes and cosmetics, Liquor & tobacco and audio visual shops. Around 40% of mainland-bound passengers board their flights at Gates 15-19.

‘Chinese Mainlanders are the top spenders at HKIA with an average spending of over HK$1,300/$167.31,’ [=according to an HKIA Retail Tracking Survey October 2009-Ed]. AAHK says that the two shops of 396sq m and 604sq m are ideally sized for a single ready-to-wear fashion brand or a fashion designer brand.

The tender closes on March 16, 2010 at 11am, Hong Kong time. Readers can find more details at the following link: www.hongkongairport.com’ under the 'Business Opportunities' section, or by contacting the airport at (852) 2183 3200, (852) 2183 3296, or (852) 2183 3208.

AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE
Airport Authority says that HKIA has been recognised as the world's best airport more than 25 times in the last ten years. Located within five hours' flying from half of the population, HKIA is one of the busiest airports in the world, recording a passenger throughput of 46.1m in 2009.

Departing passengers' dwell time is around four hours at HKIA, with an average of over three hours being spent within the restricted area. It adds that 'these positive factors' are reflected in a double-digit compound annual sales growth of HKIA's retail businesses between 1999 and 2008.

AAHK concluded: ‘AA will continue to bring more quality local and international brands to HKIA. HKIA is now home to a dynamic cluster of over 100 international and local famous brands, including 38 top-tier luxury brand boutiques.

HKIA and its business partners are committed to a downtown pricing policy to ensure that visitors are able to enjoy all of the products and services at HKIA [that] are offered at an equivalent price level with downtown outlets.’