UK. London Gatwick Airport has launched the second edition of a summer family festival that features live entertainment, special edition retail products, and shopping voucher giveaways.
The airport’s North and South terminals have been adorned with festival-themed branding and decorations, with the event running until 30 September.
Gatwick’s World Duty Free stores are offering two new flavours of Edinburgh Gin – Rhubarb & Ginger and Watermelon & Lime. The latter is exclusive to World Duty Free.
World Duty Free customers can also buy a 125ml Lancaster Tan Maximizer for £4.99 (US$6.30) when they spend £100 or more on beauty products.
The airport is gifting £10,000 (US$12,670) worth of shopping vouchers, as well as 3,000 beach balls, to passengers as they head off on their summer travels.
WHSmith Gatwick will bring children’s literature characters, including Peter Rabbit and Mog the Cat, to the airport for the festival as part of a series of exclusive book readings.
Live festival entertainment will also be staged throughout the airport’s terminals, including a Trinidadian steel band, an interactive street theatre group, and a line-up of family entertainers.
Gatwick has also collaborated with two local Kent-based suppliers, the Westerham Brewery Company and Fudge Kitchen, to offer bespoke products for passengers during the festival. The airport is now the only one in the world to stock Westerham’s zesty extra pale ale – brewed just 12 miles away – and Fudge Kitchen’s sweet treats.
Gatwick Airport Head of Retail Rachel Bulford said: “Last year’s inaugural Summer Festival was a big success for Gatwick so we’re delighted to launch this airport-wide celebration once again and put families right at the heart of the action.
“It’s great that our retail partners have joined us in getting into the festival spirit, with WHSmith bringing our younger passengers’ literary heroes to the airport, and World Duty Free offering some fantastic Gatwick exclusives across drinks, beauty and fashion.
“As an airport which values strong relationships with our local community, it’s particularly exciting for us to be partnering with two local suppliers from Kent to bring their delicious products to millions of Gatwick passengers from across the globe.”
World Duty Free Commercial Director Davene Stirling commented: “Summer has officially begun with World Duty Free at Gatwick and we’re delighted to be staging our second Summer Festival campaign. Our aim is to provide passengers with unique and memorable experiences when they visit our stores.
“The Summer Festival provides the perfect platform to showcase new and exclusive products for summer that will appeal to the Gatwick Airport customer and we’re confident that this year’s event will be another great success.”
Gatwick’s top long-haul destinations for the summer are Orlando, Dubai and New York – while Doha and Buenos Aires are among the destinations with the highest year-on-year growth, up 38% and 31% respectively.
