Nuance has been awarded a seven-year duty-free concession contract extension for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in partnership with The DFASS Group, worth in excess of $80m.

 

As part of the new airport development programme, Nuance will unveil an expanded duty-free and luxury offer for international travellers with an estimated overall sales figure (for the duration of the concession) of $80 million.

 

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is located in Florida between the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach, about 30 km from the north of Miami. It offers nonstop service to more than 100 destinations in the US, Canada, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America, and Europe.

 

Nuance President & CEO Roberto Graziani commented: “We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Nuance has enjoyed a long-standing presence in North America, and this contract further strengthens our position in this important market.”

 

[Left: Nuance President & CEO Roberto Graziani.]

 

‘COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE’

The news will come as a welcome relief to Nuance following Nuance Watson HK’s loss of one of its key duty free concessions at Changi Airport. Alessandra Piovesana, Regional Managing Director of Nuance-Watson (HK) told TRBusiness that Nuance Watson it was both ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the outcome of the Changi Airport tender, which saw Nuance Watson lose its P&C concession to South Korean operator, Shilla duty free.

 

Nuance North America CEO Richard Rendek added: “Together with our partner DFASS, we look forward to working closely with Fort Lauderdale International Airport to expand our duty free offering, introduce exciting new stores and to delivering an outstanding retail experience that reflects our combined commitment to excellence in quality, innovation and customer service.”

 

Benny Klepach, CEO of The DFASS Group said: “As Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport pursues its dramatic expansion, we are very excited to have the opportunity with our partner, Nuance, to further develop a first class duty free offering for the international passengers travelling to and from South Florida. The fact that this is in our ‘back yard’ makes the project that much more exciting.”

 

Nuance currently operates 35 stores across eight airports in the US and Canada. The airport locations are Calgary, Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas and Orlando.