AUSTRALIA. Bulgari will make its Australian airport debut when it joins Sydney Airport’s suite of global luxury brands at the T1 International terminal.
The new store, to be opened in the fourth quarter of 2018, will showcase the Italian luxury house’s Serpenti and B. Zero1 jewellery lines among other jewellery, accessories, leathergoods, scarves, eyewear and watches.
Bulgari will join Sydney Airport’s powerful line-up of luxury brands that includes Tiffany & Co., Hermès, Gucci, Rolex, Burberry, Max Mara, Michael Kors, Tumi, Emporio Armani, Coach and Hugo Boss.
The opulent store interior will feature marble columns, walnut parquet flooring and Murano crystal chandeliers. To celebrating Italian designers of the 50s and 60s, the space will also house furniture carefully selected to showcase the Bulgari creative spirit.
Sydney Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams said that welcoming Bulgari to the luxury fashion precinct reinforces Sydney Airport’s focus on continually evolving the retail offer. He said that the airport company continually seeks new concepts and brands that propel a “one-of-a-kind “shopping experience with the added benefit of tax-free prices.
“We’re thrilled to announce Bulgari will soon open at T1,” he said. “The brand is exceptional in terms of luxury. Their unique product creativity and ability to develop collections that have strong appeal across a range of customer demographics means it’s the perfect fit for our diverse T1 passenger mix.”
Bulgari South Asian Operations Managing Director Jenny Cheah said, “The new Bulgari boutique to open at Sydney Airport marks our seventh store open in Australia and further supports the market’s potential in luxury retailing. Similar to our recently refurbished Castlereagh Street flagship [in downtown Sydney -Ed], the boutique at T1 will express the new design concept executed by Peter Marino who has reimagined some of the most iconic Bulgari boutiques around the world,” she said.
“The new boutique at Sydney Airport will grant travellers the opportunity to shop Bulgari at its only airport location in Australia.”
*Peter Marino is the principal of Peter Marino Architect, a New York firm that has carved out a strong reputation in the luxury sector for its innovation in architecture and interior design. He is renowned for integrating art within his architectural designs. In 2017 he was tasked with renovating the Bulgari flagship on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Marino’s design concept is featured in numerous other Bulgari stores, including the brand’s Italian flagship shop in Rome.
NOTE: As reported, Sydney Airport’s first-half retail revenue grew by +8.9% year-on-year to A$177.1 million (US$130.2 million), easily outstripping total passenger growth of +3.3% and a +5.2% international traffic hike.