USA. 3Sixty Duty Free has announced a major strategic partnership with Inflyter to expand its travel retail offer, enabling domestic travellers to shop online and having their order delivered to any US address.
The move was flagged by Inflyter at an innovation session during TFWA World Exhibition earlier this month, as reported via our online rolling news feed.
It blends 3Sixty’s operational footprint and omnichannel travel retail reach with Inflyter’s travel retail platform, with a potential audience of 900 million US domestic travellers, according to the retailer.
With technology playing an increasingly critical role in the industry, 3Sixty said it “recognises the need to accelerate the development of digital solutions to make travel retail core categories more accessible and convenient to all passengers and to capitalise on a largely untapped US domestic traveller market”.
Inflyter brings an opportunity to reach travelling audiences through its investment relationship with Collinson, the operator of airport experiences programme, Priority Pass, and lounge operator Airport Dimensions.
The new US delivery proposition will launch as a service offered to millions of the group’s airport lounge members and travel experience guests.
“The 3Sixty-Inflyter partnership is a powerful combination,” said 3Sixty Chief Operating Officer, Alex Anson.
“3Sixty’s understanding of the complexities of omnichannel retail is uniquely complementary to Inflyter’s comprehensive digital duty free platform and their unrivalled ability to present this new offer to Collinson’s frequent travellers starting with Priority Pass members. This partnership will undoubtedly transform the US domestic travel market.”
With the support of key brand partners, 3Sixty and Inflyter said they are poised “to deliver a strong, new travel retail online shopping proposition” across the beauty category in particular. Inflyter’s technology will verify passenger travel after purchasing and ship the order to the nominated address once completed.
The strategic and exclusive partnership will start in the US, with plans expand this delivery option into other markets.
It will also include the opening of in-store and in-lounge delivery across all of 3Sixty’s airport-based concessions for purchases made on the Inflyter platform.
Inflyter Founder and CEO Wassim Saadé added: “Our partnership with 3Sixty is the perfect opportunity to deliver on our mission to provide all travellers with a convenient, digital shopping experience. Using our specialist travel retail platform and 3Sixty’s operational expertise, we are delighted to make a step change in the online expansion of travel retail and help realise the revenue potential of this exciting customer segment.”
He continued: “This new home delivery proposition is a market-first in the US and our strategic partnership will support Inflyter’s ambition to drive growth and extend its reach further into North America.”
“With the easing of travel restrictions this year we have seen a substantive uptick in demand from Priority Pass members who are eager to get back to travelling,” said David Evans, Joint CEO at Collinson.
“Their return to the skies has however come with greater expectations of a connected digital experience. This is why we’re excited to leverage the Inflyter-3Sixty partnership to provide more ways for our members to have a seamless and friction-free travel experience – whether travelling internationally or domestic.”
