Historically Beirut Rafic
Hariri International Airport has been Lebanon's primary gateway. Recognizing future
commercial potential and passenger expectations, in 1996 the government of Lebanon
invited international bidders for the management and operation of the Retail Sales Areas
on a BOT basis at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The contract was
awarded to Phoenicia-Aer Rianta Company S.A.L., a joined venture between Aer Rianta
International-Middle East and Beirut-based Phoenicia Trading Afro Asia. The Beirut Duty
Free today is basically introducing European travel retail strategies and solutions to
the Middle East. The operation now has a revamped main duty free area, with a
total retail space at the airport amounting over 4,500 square meters, including two
arrivals shops measuring a total of 460 square meters. All passengers'
purchases are exempt of V.A.T. and Beirut Duty Free ensures that they really achieve good
saving versus the domestic market.
At the departure we have five
distinct shopping zones effectively evolving into a shopping street making travelers
shopping easy especially with our competitive prices and best services compared
to other Middle East and international duty free shops. It is important to mention
that Beirut Duty Free have the first walk in Cigar Humidor Shop. Also BDF was
the first shop to be awarded the La Casa Del Habano.
As for the prices Beirut
Duty Free are cheaper than all Regional airports as well as other international
airports. And for the development of Beirut Duty Free business, with this
expansion and prosperity we expect that the passengers will find all their demands
providing them with the best level of service and quality prices.
CAR AREA Multimedia & Online Concepts S.A.L (MOC), in collaboration
with Phoenicia - Aer Rianta Company S.A.L (PAC), has been promoting a very innovative
concept
at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport since May 2003. The
game involves passengers making any purchase from the Duty Free Departure Area,
and
grants them the chance to win a luxury car by buying a coupon to
participate in the computer game. For further information, visit the website
www.mocwinners.com BEAUTY Located on the west wing the new Beauty Store
measures 500 square meters. It is totally customized by suppliers, with
specially-designed below-the-line,
high impact, and promotional areas linked
to external televisions for maximum impact. There is also a specially constructed
make-up bar for "makeovers"
by cosmetics companies, Most of the major
cosmetic brands have already snapped up slots and are sending international makeup artists
throughout the year.
In addition to this, each beauty house has specialized
BEAUTY ADVISORS that assist customers in their choices.
LUXURY ZONE
The luxury zone comprises watches, jewellery, fashion and accessories and covers
an area of 1,100 square meters. The fashion areas have been fully
customized
as shop-in-shop concepts with Lancel, Lacoste, ST Dupont, Rossetti, Dior, Hermes,
Ferragamo, Zilli and Escada, Fully-customized areas were
also implemented for
Swarovski, Zougheib Jewellery and Bonja Jewelry.
The Watches
department has been given pride of place toward the front of the area. The category
features; Cartier, Omega, Baume & Mercier, Raymond Weil,
Tissot, Longines,
Rado, Tag Heuer, Christian Dior, Facconable, Gucci, Bruno Banani, Montblanc, Omorfia
and many other prestigious brands. Michaela Frey,
AT Cross and Misaki.
ELECTRONICS & FOOD The Electronics shop covers 320 square meters
and includes Duty Free Cell (cellular phones), the Middle East's first Virgin Megastore
and the best electronics and photography categories. This area has a distinctly
hi-tech ambience.
The Food Shop covers 250 sqm and houses
several strong local FOOD LEBANESE names, such as A.Hallab sweets,Al-Rifai Roastery and
Goodies Delicatessen.
Also, another famous lebanese name is: Patisserie
Doueihy that has a 25 square meters for delicious lebanese sweets.
LIQUOR &
TOBACCO
This area, located adjacent to Cigars, covers approximately
1,050 sqm and houses all main international cigarettes, tobacco, liquor, confectionery
and wine.
Within this, specific zones have been created, notably a dedicated
wine area to showcase the world famous Lebanese classic vineyards.
The Lebanon
has always enjoyed a love affair with fine Cuban cigars, and the opening of the La Casa
Del Habano facility which must be the most
impressive airport cigar
shop in the world Set within the 1,100sqm main duty free store, La Casa encompasses
400sqm and incorporates an unparalleled
selection of cigars, cigarillos and
accessories presented in a stylish shop concept including two large walk-in humidors.
But the most intriguing element given the severe space constraints that travel
retailers must deal with is the VIP cigar lounge. Located at the back
of
the shop, this sophisticated and elegant facility is about as far from the hustle and
bustle of an international airport as you can imagine with
comfortable
leather seating, a bar and an authentic Cuban ambience.
The lounge
is only open to privilege card holders, with membership available to customers
shopping in any of Habano's 89 shops around the world. Access
to La Casa is
certainly a strong incentive to sign up and, having secured the contact details of
consumers, Phoenicia uses this information to target
members with direct
marketing regarding the company's latest and promotional activities.
The most striking aspect of the shop is the vintage walk-in humidor, which
stocks a range of rare and exclusive products. The exclusivity of the
collection presented in the vintage area is underlined by the fact that the Romeo
& Julieta brand produced a smaller number of exclusive products,
exclusively listed in the humidor to celebrate the opening of La Casa.
Situated between the vintage humidor and the main shop floor is the main walk-in humidor.
It covers 100sqm, which the company believes makes it the
argest airport
humidor in the world. The unit stocks 35 different brands of cigar. The store also boasts
a wide range of accessories with a gondola
dedicated entirely to lighters,
a selection of pipe smoking accessories and a vast selection of humidors ' either
empty or ready stocked with sticks.
