INTERNATIONAL. Lagardère Travel Retail today published a wide-ranging survey of industry partners titled ‘Travel Experience Voices: Pathways to Growth’. Conducted in January and February, it captures the views of executives at 66 airport companies and 144 brands across 29 countries.
Themes covered include Environment & Social Governance (ESG), notably on the impact of climate change and of employee engagement, innovation – focusing on the airport of the future – and on local authenticity.
The report follows last year’s inaugural ‘Travel Retail Voices’ report, which polled management at many airports and brands about the COVID-19 crisis and recovery.
Introducing the report, Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman & CEO Dag Rasmussen said: “My takeaway from this report is that our industry is changing for the better. Never have we seen stronger commitment from all parties to be a force for good for the communities we serve, for travellers and for the planet. The road may be bumpy but by working closely together we can find solutions to the challenges we face and realise our mutual ambitions.”
Tackling Climate Challenges: Key findings in this segment are that 83% of airports and 70% of brands have specific carbon reduction targets in their CSR strategy. For airports, recycling and waste management lead the agenda in actions to reduce emissions. Over 40% of airports plan to reach net zero emissions before 2040.
For employees, both brands and airports said they are setting priorities around staff physical and mental wellbeing and investing in skills development.
Innovating to Elevate the Travel Experience: Here, airports and brands stated Experience and retailtainment as the consumer trend most likely to influence the future of airport retail and F&B. Airports highlighted the importance of the seamless journey while brands homed in on the potential of health & wellbeing as a key consumer trends.
Celebrating Culture and Communities: Across airports and brands, 74% of respondents said that ‘Sense of Place’ should be regarded as a category in its own right and should benefit from a specific operating model.
The top three actions developed by brands and airports to support communities include promoting employment, local sourcing and donations/fundraising.
In its conclusion, the travel retailer said: “The travel retail & dining industry is experiencing a significant shift in its mindset towards positive change. In recent years, stakeholders in the industry have come together to tackle environmental challenges, improve the traveller’s experience, and drive local authenticity, demonstrating a highly collaborative approach towards success in a fast-changing environment.
“An important pillar of this transformation journey has been the collective desire to make a positive difference to the planet and the lives of the people in the community. Companies are increasingly seeking ways to bring together profit with purpose, developing solutions that benefit society at large.
“This journey towards positive change has led to companies becoming more people-centric than ever before, with a focus on future-proofing their businesses for a stronger future. By embracing a collaborative and innovative approach, stakeholders are working towards creating an ecosystem that overcomes barriers, generates greater value for society, and creates unrivalled travel experiences.
“The silo mentality is slowly being replaced by a mindset that values cooperation, recognising that stakeholders can only succeed by working together towards a shared goal. This approach will be key to ensuring the industry remains competitive and sustainable in the long run.”
Click here for more from the report and to access video snapshots discussing the key findings. ✈