Auckland Airport wins retail property award

Auckland Airport was presented with an Excellence Award in the Retail Property category at the annual Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2011.

The awards, held this year at the Langham Hotel in Auckland on Friday 10 June, recognise outstanding achievements in property development and are considered to be New Zealand’s most prestigious commercial property awards.

The Excellence Award in the Retail Property category, won by Auckland Airport, recognises the significant changes to the international departures area, which has been remodelled to enhance the overall passenger experience.

Adrian Littlewood, Auckland Airport’s general manager for retail & commercial, said, “We have been very focused on expanding and improving our international terminal area to ensure that our travellers are offered a world-class travel experience.

“Recently Auckland Airport was named one of the top ten airports in the world, for the third year in a row, at the 2011 Skytrax World Airport awards. To receive this Excellence Award in the Retail Property category, following on from our Skytrax success, is very encouraging. It is further recognition of the positive changes we are making to ensure our passengers have the best possible travel experience.”

The redevelopment has involved the expansion and relocation of the International security area, to cater for the increasing numbers of passengers travelling through Auckland Airport, and also the remodelling of the International departures foodcourt.

As part of the foodcourt redevelopment several new food and beverage concepts have been added, including Hayama Sushi & Silk Road Asian restaurant, KFC and a soon-to-be open Mac’s Brew Bar.

For passengers that are leaving NZ and have passed through security, a complete renovation of the retail area means they now have a wider range of shopping and dining options. Not only have the duty free shops, DFS and JR Duty Free, been expanded, but there is an array of new retail and dining options including MAC cosmetics, Apple, Icebreaker, Swatch, Zarbo deli and wine bar and Valentino’s gelato. These new additions join already established retailers such as Adidas, Walker & Hall and Artport.

Mr Littlewood says “Our emphasis has been on creating a unique and high quality environment for everyone passing through Auckland Airport.

“Around 18.6 million people spend time in the Auckland Airport terminals per year; that’s more than the busiest shopping malls in New Zealand. The ongoing evolution of the international departures area ensures that travellers will leave with a positive view of their time in New Zealand and hopefully they will encourage their friends to travel to our shores and choose to return themselves,” added Littlewood.