2024 was a year of remarkable expansion for Lagardère Travel Retail across its three business segments in high-growth regions, marked by major tender wins.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
In France, Lagardère Travel Retail consolidated its Duty Free operations by securing concessions at Nice-Côte d’Azur and Roland Garros airports (Reunion Island). The year was also marked by the opening and upgrading of numerous Travel Essentials and Dining points of sale in rail and airport networks.
Business in Europe was further buoyed by particularly strong growth in Duty Free, with the takeover of Duty Free & Fashion stores at Bucharest Airport (Romania), the successful tender for Amsterdam- Schiphol Airport (Netherlands), the opening of the new Aelia Duty Free walkthrough at Rome-Fiumicino Airport (Italy) and multiple openings in Spain. A joint venture was also established with Tirana airport (Albania) to take over Duty Free & Fashion operations. Significant progress was also made in Travel Essentials, with the award of the master concession at Düsseldorf airport (Germany) and the opening of Relay franchise stores in Zagreb (Croatia) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) airports under a strategic partnership with TAV Airports. Lastly, in Dining, the division consolidated its market position with openings at Dublin (Ireland) and Keflavik (Iceland) airports.
In the Middle East and Africa, Lagardère Travel Retail expanded its Dining operations in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai airport) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh airport), while also securing a new concession in Medina. The company also launched Duty Free operations at Cotonou airport (Benin) and won Duty Free and Travel Essentials tenders at Douala and Yaoundé airports (Cameroon), further consolidating its footprint in the region.
ASIA-PACIFIC AND AMERICAS
Despite a challenging and tense environment in China, the Group continued its expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, securing several key tenders. These included the Duty Free & Fashion, Dining and Travel Essentials master concession at Techo airport (Cambodia), the Duty Free contract at Singapore Cruise Centre (Singapore) and multiple concessions at New Zealand airports (Duty Free at Wellington and Travel Essentials at Auckland).
In North America: Lagardère Travel Retail recorded numerous tender wins and concession extensions at airports in the United States (Atlanta, Detroit, Boise, Asheville, Long Beach, San Antonio, Portland, etc.), in addition to a large number of store openings, mainly in Travel Essentials and Dining (Providence, Montreal, Denver, Charlotte, Houston, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Denver, Grand Rapids, Atlanta, Bradley, etc.).
Business also continued to thrive in South America, with the opening of Travel Essentials stores at four regional airports in Peru and the further expansion of Dining points of sale at Santiago airport (Chile).
2024 Key dates
- January: opening of the world’s largest Lego store in an airport in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
- February: successful tender for Duty Free at Bucharest airport (Romania).
- April: introduction of FLOW (Fighting to Limit Our Waste), our food waste reduction programme.
- May: opening of the first Kering Eyewear boutique in South-East Asia Pacific at Changi Airport (Singapore).
- June: successful tender for Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Dining at Techo airport (Cambodia).
- September: Duty Free & Fashion concessions won at Nice-Côte d’Azur airport (France) and Travel Essentials concessions at Sydney airport (Australia).
Signing of a strategic partnership with TAV Airports to introduce the Relay brand at Zagreb (Croatia) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) airports. - October: tender win for the Dining concession at Medina airport in Saudi Arabia.
- November: opening of the new Aelia Duty Free walkthrough at Rome-Fiumicino Airport (Italy).
- December: Duty Free concessions won at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (Netherlands) and Travel Essentials concessions at Düsseldorf airport (Germany).
Opening of the first Aelia Duty Free store at Cotonou airport, Benin.