Travel Shop opens two new stores at Guatemala Airport

Travel Shop’s 70sq m store at Guatemala Airport features a bar area where passengers can sample complimentary local Gallo beer before they shop

Travel Shop has opened two stores at Guatemala Airport carrying sunglasses, watches and accessories.

The stores, covering 70sq m and 30sq m, are both located airside in the Departures area. They seek to offer a “completely different concept” for passengers, according to the manager, Karla Galindo Barth.

The main store features a bar area where passengers can sample complimentary local Gallo beer before they shop. The 30sq m kiosk is situated in the middle of the airport, which caters to 1.5 million passengers from three different groups: businesspeople, backpackers and retired people, according to Galindo Barth.

A selection of Botran and Zacapa rums – both locally produced – are also on display in the stores.

Sustainable innovation at the airport

“Thanks to the Director General of Civil Aviation Armando Asturias who is working proactively on sustainable innovation of the airport and aviation sector, Travel Shop opened one month ago,” Galindo Barth told The Moodie Report.

“From my point of view the only way to succeed in travel retail is to work together combining and sharing resources and avoiding redundancy by diversifying concepts in the airport.

“As a result of the synergy between colleagues and friends, we have two great new stores.

“One of our main goals was to create a place where people would feel comfortable and relax. We don’t indulge passengers to buy, we indulge passengers to sample Guatemalan premium beer and relax; the outcome is remarkable, most of the passengers stay browsing and get in the shopping mood.

“Guatemala takes pride in the production of local rum (Zacapa and Botran) and beer (Gallo, Dorada, Famosa, among others). At Travel Shop we are proud to share our national products with accessories, sunglasses and watches. At Travel Shop you can have a drink and shop if you like.”

Brands offered include Fossil Group products, such as Fossil watches and sunglasses and Diesel watches; Maui Jim sunglasses; and Armani Exchange sunglasses from Travel Traiders.

Commenting on Maui Jim’s presence in the new stores, Maui Jim Travel Retail Manager Silvana Garcia told The Moodie Report: “It’s great to partner with a company that has been so supportive of our brand since our introduction in Guatemala in 2007.”

Left: Passengers can enjoy local beer before shopping; Right: Botran and Zacapa rum displays
Travel Shop’s 30sq m kiosk is located in the centre of Guatemala Airport
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