AA awards major luxury brands and catering licences

(HONG KONG, 14 February 2003) – Departing passengers at Hong Kong International Airport can look forward to an even greater range of catering and luxury shopping following the awarding of major new licence agreements by the Airport Aurthority.

The 25 luxury brand licences and 23 catering licences are the first to be announced for the East Hall renovation underway in the Passenger Terminal. The main shopping area of the airport is undergoing a complete reconfiguration that will include the addition of 6,800 sqm of lettable space.

The licencees announced today include the following impressive brand names such as Prada, Bvlgari, Cartier, Gucci, Hermes, Burberry, Ferragamo, Shanghai Tang; Dunhill, Polo, Hugo Boss, Zegna, Montblanc, Christian Dior, Tiffany, Lanvin, Bally, Celine, Chanel, Longchamp, Fendi, Omega, Coach, Baccarat and Lancel. Chanel outlets are found only in selected few airports worldwide, while Tiffany, Prada and Polo outlets are the first at any airport.

The catering licences represent a range of Asian and Western styles from fast food to fine dining. The selection is resulted from extensive surveys of passengers' tastes. The Asian selection includes Hang Heung's Kitchen, a Hong Kong style caf the locally renowned Pak Loh Chiu Chow Express; Lost City of Snacks featuring Hong Kong style "street" food; and specialty congee and noodles at King's Palace. Asian travelers will find more to delight them with the home-style taste of Ah Yee Leng Tong medicinal soup and Ajisen Ramen Japanese noodles. Those seeking a quick bite have a choice of local fast-food outlet Cafde Coral or two bakeries, Maxim's Deluxe and Orchid Padaria Bakery. Banana Leaf Asian Food Square, Maxim's Chinese Restaurant, Grappas and A Hereford Beefstouw will continue to serve at their existing outlets on Departures level.

The Toro Bar and Seafood House will feature fresh seafood such as sashimi along with a selection of champagne and fine wines.

The Western eateries in the latest round of awards include The Lite House and Hong Kong's only outlets for Burger King and Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits. Coffee shops include Caffe Ritazza and Starbucks. Customers can enjoy a drink at the thematic Champions Sports Bar or Katie O'Connor's Irish Pub, or enjoy pizza fresh from a brick oven at Wildfire. Fine dining is available at the first franchised outlet of CafDeco, an establishment that has long catered to tourists at The Peak in Hong Kong.

Of the luxury brand licence, six each have been awarded to Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) and Nuance Watson. Nine of the catering licenses have gone to Select Service Partner, a catering specialist firm for passenger terminals and a subsidiary of the Compass Group Plc of the UK, the world’s largest institutional caterer.

"These new outlets will take SkyMart to a new level of airport retail excellence," AA Commercial Director Hans Bakker said. "We aim to create an entirely new airport experience for passengers with more space to relax, more shops, more brands and more choices for dining and refreshment. I’m confident this will be the finest airport retail development in the world."

Ref: PR-669