State-owned Duty Free Philippines recently unveiled its renovated Departure and Arrival area stores at the newly rehabilitated Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City.
Likewise, the Duty Free outlets at the NAIA Terminal 3 also underwent major renovations to cater to the increase in passenger traffic due to the relocation of major airlines such as Delta, KLM Royal Dutch, Emirates, Singapore Air and Cathay Pacific.
Duty Free Philippines engaged the services of world-renowned design team Sounda Design Inc. led by the brilliant French tandem of architect Frederic Chevassus and designer Philippe Larosse. The Perfumes, Cosmetics and Fashion areas’ elegant and more functional design adopted an ‘aerodynamic’ concept using aircraft details, such as a plane’s wings and propeller, as inspirations. The new layout aims to project the airport outlet as inviting from all sides of the store perimeter, drawing the target customer into the interior. Sounda Design Inc. is based in Taiwan and Hong Kong and specializes in architectural planning, interior design and construction.
The Duty Free Philippines stores have been re-designed to achieve a more attractive, dynamic and functional retail environment to cater to the discriminating taste of its shoppers, made up of international travelers, tourists and balikbayans (arriving Filipino residents). And with the new Duty Free shops’ cutting-edge design, state-of-the-art interiors and amenities, Duty Free Philippines has also assembled an impressive line-up of the world’s best travel retail brands that cater to the discriminating tastes of international travelers.
Top perfumery, cosmetics and fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Bulgari, Christian Dior, Clinique, Clarins, L’Occitane, La Prairie, SK-II and Lacoste are expected to attract both new and loyal customers. The other highly in-demand duty free product categories still house the usual best-selling brands; such as Cadbury, Hershey’s, M&M’s, Toblerone and Nestle for confectionery, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Jack Daniels, Hennessy, Ballantines, Remy Martin and Macallan for liquor and spirits; Michael Kors, Anne Klein, Skagen, Cerruti and Armani for watches; among many others.
A special ‘brand’ experience await the jet-setters as fashion boutiques of luxury labels abound at the Terminals, specifically Coach, Salvatore Ferragamo, Longchamp, and Chloe. Aside from these designer brands of top quality leather goods and fashion accessories, Duty Free Philippines also houses an extensive range of the popular Kiehl’s beauty products while the now trendy, high quality jewelry brand, Pandora, is set to open soon.
Another best feature of the new Duty Free Philippines is their added value service such as the Travelite programme which is a “shop-now-pick-up-later” promotion for all outbound passengers of any nationality who will be returning to the Philippines within 30 days. The best part is, all purchases entitled to this programme is entitled to a 7% discount.
Store development and product expansion are endeavors perennially on Duty Free Philippines’ priority list. Aside from meeting the high standards of its target customers, these ensure that Duty Free Philippines stores keep pace with the dynamism and sophistication of the international travel retail industry.
Duty Free Philippines is an attached agency of the country’s Tourism Department and its earnings accrue to the DOT to help support the Philippines’ tourism infrastructure, programs and projects. It is also worthy to note that as the country’s only tax and duty free travel retailer, the Duty Free Philippines shops are, significantly, the very first to welcome balikbayans and tourists into the country as well as the last to bid them farewell after having had more fun in the Philippines.