URUGUAY. Travel experience player Avolta and airports group Corporación America Airports have struck a joint-venture master concession agreement to manage travel retail at Uruguay’s airports.
The partners said they plan to establish a “novel business model” that leverages the “combined expertise of duty free retail and airport management” – which will “elevate the airport retail experience”.
Avolta (formerly Dufry) is the long-time duty free concessionaire at many Corporación America Airports locations including Montevideo Carrasco.
They said the move embraces “a data-driven approach” and “strives to provide passengers with a more seamless and personalised journey”.
Corporación America Airports CEO Martin Eurnekian said: “We aim to explore every aspect of the customer journey and airport operations, identifying opportunities for improvement through integration and collaboration.”
The joint venture goes beyond financial considerations, the partners added.
“Both companies not only align on a customer-centric approach and a relentless pursuit of improved services and experiences but also share a profound commitment to sustainability,” they said.
“Both entities are devoted to fostering a positive impact in the communities they serve while responsibly managing their environmental footprint. Moreover, they believe that by collaborating, they can amplify their influence and make a more substantial contribution to sustainable practices.”
Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol said: “We share a mutual understanding that in order to foster sustained growth, it is imperative to revolutionise the conventional approach to conducting business within our industry. Both the retailer and the airport operator must actively engage in the innovation process and embrace calculated risks. The outdated model, anchored in high MAGs that restricted operators from making substantial investments and assuming risks, is destined to become obsolete.”
They noted that Uruguay has been strategically selected as the testing ground to experiment with new ideas and processes in a controlled environment, with the intention to export the template to other operations if successful.
The companies expressed their belief in forging a genuine ‘Trinity’ encompassing airports, retailers, and brands, which is “pivotal in fundamentally reshaping the landscape of travel retail”.
They said they recognise that “true innovation and an unparalleled traveller experience emerge when these key players collaborate seamlessly. This commitment to collaborative transformation signifies a pioneering step toward a future where airports, retailers, and brands unite to deliver an immersive and innovative travel retail environment. A travel experience revolution.” ✈
