ATU Duty Free, a subsidiary of Unifree Duty Free/Gebr. Heinemann, together with TAV Airports Holding have inaugurated a new Bulgari boutique at the new Istanbul Airport.
The new 115sq m boutique carries jewellery, timepieces and leather goods and features a VIP lounge, for the first time in travel retail. Special guests will be invited to this new ‘glamorous and exclusive area’ to discover the most unique pieces of jewellery and watches available in the store.
TRBusiness Senior Editor, Andrew Pentol is on location at the event, speaking with Unifree, ATU Duty Free, Bulgari and Heinemann executives. More to follow…
“The VIP area is reproduced on the basis of the original ‘Elizabeth Taylor lounge’ (‘Il Salottino Taylor’), namely the lounging room in Rome where the Hollywood actress used to spend many hours, escaping from paparazzi through the secret door of Palazzo Maruscelli-Lepri,” says Bulgari.
ATU Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan adds his remarks: “At ATU Duty Free, we are very glad to collaborate with Bulgari, one of the world-renowned, significant brands.
A DUTY FREE RETAIL ‘HARMONY’
“We harmonise our duty free retail experience of more than twenty years with luxury retailing culture to offer the perfect customer experience to our passengers as we always do.
The new 115sq m boutique carries jewellery, timepieces and leather goods and features a VIP lounge, for the first time in travel retail.
“We are a pioneering, well-experienced and continuously growing company among the duty free operators in Europe in terms of luxury boutique field. With our new boutique stores over an approximately 2000 square meter area at Istanbul Airport, we have the goal to offer the best service.”
Roberto Marino, Sales and Marketing Director for Bulgari Travel Retail in Europe continues: “This new Bulgari shining gem further adds uniqueness and Italian glamour to the whole luxury and fashion shopping experience offered to travellers in the new Istanbul airport.
“Before heading to their next destination, passengers are warmly invited to a virtual stopover and time travel into the Eternal City’s treasures and heritage. The VIP lounge inside the boutique is another step towards selling more emotions to our customers in an airport environment.”
‘GENUINE AND EFFICIENT COLLABORATION’
Olaf Benjamin, Director Purchasing Watches & Jewellery at Gebr. Heinemann also comments: “Bulgari is one of Gebr. Heinemann’s strategically important partners and the opening of the new boutique at Istanbul Airport is a further milestone in the global roll-out of our luxury Watches & Jewellery concept.”
L to R: ATU Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan, IGA Chief Business Development Officer Melih Mengü, Director Purchasing Watches & Jewellery at Gebr. Heinemann. Olaf Benjamin, Bvlgari Europe Managing Director Vincenzo Pujia, Governor of Istanbul Airport Ahmet Önal.
“We are extremely pleased to be opening this new boutique with our valued partner and operator ATU Duty Free. The success of our joint venture is owed to the genuine and efficient collaboration between ATU, Gebr. Heinemann and our brand partner Bulgari in sharing ideas and creating a shop with a big impact.
“It perfectly extends further into the selected line-up of first-tier luxury brands at Istanbul Airport.” ATU Duty Free operates duty free stores and other services at more than 120 stores in seven countries over three continents.
ATU operates duty free operations of Istanbul, Ankara Esenboğa, Izmir Adnan Menderes, Gazipaşa Alanya and Milas Bodrum airports in Turkey as well as Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi airports in Georgia, Skopje and Ohrid airports in Macedonia, Enfidha, Monastir, Carthage, Jerba, Sfax, Tozeur and Tabarka airports in Tunisia, Riga Airport in Latvania, Salalah Airport in Oman and Medinah Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Founded in partnership with TAV Airports and Unifree Duty Free/Gebr. Heinemann ATU Duty Free offers passengers 50,000 products of the leading world brands at advantageous prices.
Bulgari boutique boasts VIP lounge in travel retail first at Istanbul Airport