The Houston Airport System (HAS) has issued a request for proposals for a non-exclusive duty free concession at Houston George Bush International Airport.

A pre-proposal conference will take place on 8 January and the deadline for submissions is 29 January. The awarding of the contract covering terminals A, B and D is scheduled to take place on 22 February.

The evaluation process is based on a points system with criteria including the proposed transition plan, background and experience, Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBEs) participation and customer service/management and operations plans.

ATÜ AMERICAS TO EXIT CONTRACT

As reported, ATÜ Americas is to exit its Houston George Bush International Airport duty free concession when the Terminal D stores close on 31 March 2019 (at the earliest) due to continued operating losses among other elements.

The winning concessionaire must pay ATÜ Americas $2.5m for the ‘unarmortized’ value of the investment made in the investment covered by this request for proposals.

Duty Free/duty paid products under the new contract are likely to include fragrances, cosmetics, liquor, tobacco, jewellery, watches, name brand fashion accessories, gourmet foods and electronics.

According to the tender documents, the aim of the concession programme is to provide provide a ‘first class’ service and a variety of ‘quality’ duty free merchandise.

Other objectives are to provide innovative facility designs that complement the design of the terminal, business opportunities for ACDBE’s, to optimise concession sales and airport revenues and to provide ‘uninterrupted service’ to the traveling public during all phases of the renovation and expansion programme.

Total duty free sales amounted to $23m in FY2018. Duty free sales in the first four months of FY2019 reached $7.8m.