Nice Airport projects that commercial sales will have doubled by 2019

FRANCE. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport expects to have doubled its commercial turnover in the period from 2015 to 2019 due to strong sales following a major investment in the commercial offer across its two terminals.

The June opening of two restaurants – L’Estivale by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagrecoand La Paillote (both airside, Terminal 2) – marked the completion of the almost four-year commercial overhaul and expansion at France’s third-busiest airport (13.3 million passengers in 2017).

“We have opened almost 80 shops and restaurants, with more or less double what we had before on airside. It was part of our vision to have the most surprising commercial experience in a European airport. The stores go from entry level to upscale,” said Chief Commercial Office Filip Soete during Nice Airport’s annual lunch at TFWA World Exhibition last week.

On a roll: Chief Commercial Officer Filip Soete says that after the airport’s big recent investments, revenue is growing by between +20% and +30% every year.

Over the period, the number of sales outlets has increased by +71% to 77: six duty free shops, 33 stores (including four pop-ups), 26 restaurants or takeaways, and 12 service areas.

“The upselling of the airport is demonstrated by some achievements of which we can be proud,” said Head of Shopping and Services Development Valérie Chuong, “The Versace store is the first one on the French Riviera, and we boast the first ever Fragonard and The Kooples shops in an airport.

“We have also attracted the talents of Thierry Marx, with his two Michelin stars, who opened La Plage in T1, and of Mauro Colagreco, the world’s third-ranking chef, who created the menu of L’Estivale.”

Commenting on commercial sales, Soete said: “Our revenue is growing by between +20% and +30% every year (on average) so we will have doubled our revenue between 2015 and 2019.”

Total shops turnover in 2017 grew by +40% and restaurants by +12.2%, helped by an increase in the shopping area of +162% across the two terminals.

The final two pieces of the commercial transformation were put in place in June: La Paillote (above) and L’Estivale by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco (below).

The next step will be to enhance passenger service and the passenger pathway. The Mediterranean gateway has increased its ASQ (Airport Service Quality) rating from seven “which is average” according to Soete, to eight. “This puts us among the 20 best airports in Europe,” he said.

In the coming two years the focus on service will continue – through mystery shoppers and meetings with the brands and operators – aimed at maximising penetration.

Last week, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport won Airport Operator of the Year at the Frontier Awards against heavyweights Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and London Heathrow airports.

In 2017, the airport along with Lagardère Travel Retail also won Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’ at the Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and The Foodie Report.

Nice Airport management celebrated their Frontier Award last Wednesday with design partner Robbie Gill from The Design Solution (second left) and The Moodie Davitt Report’s Dermot Davitt (right).
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