TTN

Retail destinations eye the Middle East market

Share  

IT’s no secret that shopping is one of the key activities and motivations for the outbound Middle East traveller and retail destinations, especially in Europe, are keen to get a share of this market.

This summer and Eid Al Adha, present your clients with retail ideas that will be a hit for the whole family, not just the shopping addicts.

 

BICESTER VILLAGE SHOPPING COLLECTION

The Bicester Village Shopping Collection comprises 11 destinations across Western Europe and China: London, Paris, Shanghai, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt, and Suzhou.

The Collection, by Value Retail, is unique in its unprecedented brand mix, beautiful settings, cultural richness, remarkable service and savings on the recommended retail price of up to 60 per cent. Each Village plays host to the world’s most revered fashion and lifestyle boutiques, and each one offers extraordinary experiences and hospitality for the world’s most discerning guests.

A point to note is that these quaint shopping villages are a lot more than shopping, they are a meeting point for friends and families, with open-air cafes and interesting installations.

 

“Italian style, refinement, the constant search for new solutions and exclusive services are the key elements of The Mall Luxury Outlets' DNA”
– Giorgio Motta

 

We spoke to chief merchant and chairperson Desiree Bollier of The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, earlier this year, and she said, “The average spend of Gulf market is two times more than the Chinese customer, so obviously this is an important market for us.”

The latest figures from the team show the increasing interest of shoppers from the Middle East region. Tax refund sales are up 23 per cent from last year for Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE; and the average transaction value from the same markets is up 4.7 per cent from last year.

Kuwaitis are up 24.2 per cent over last year, while sales from UAE tourists are up 25.8 per cent, Saudi Arabia is up 42.9 per cent and Qatar up 2.9 per cent.

 

VIA OUTLETS

With 11 centres in some of Europe’s most exciting cities, Via Outlets presented its portfolio at the recently concluded World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) summit, where it debuted as a new member.

Via Outlets is likely the fastest growing owner operator of outlet shopping destinations in Europe. Their ‘beautifully local’ outlets are strategically placed across nine countries, in traveller hotspots like Prague, Lisbon, Palma, Amsterdam and Seville.

With brand sales of over one billion euros in 2018, a total of more than 30 million visitors and a rise in the average spend per guest of 5.6 per cent, Via Outlets is a key player in the retail industry and a rising star in the travel sector.

Landquart Fashion Outlet in Switzerland, located an hour from Zurich, will host summer experiences in Switzerland, inviting a relaxed shopping experience in a typical Swiss open air village. The outlet joined the Switzerland Travel Experience (STE) Workshops by Switzerland Tourism in February 2019 and met tour operators and travel agents in Ras al Khaimah, in Muscat, in Qatar as well as in Jeddah. Landquart Fashion Outlet also welcomes fam trips from the Middle East in September 2019.

Meanwhile, Middle East visitors to Fashion Arena Fashion Outlet in Prague can benefit from a contemplation room and other special services such as extra discounts, onsite tax refund, VIP lounge; including Eid special celebrations featuring special discounts.

 

THE MALL LUXURY OUTLETS

Last month, The Mall Luxury Outlets opened The Mall Sanremo, the unique luxury outlet in the heart of the Riviera dei Fiori, near the French Riviera, really popular with tourists from the Middle East.

The Mall Luxury Outlets, already known for The Mall Firenze (opened in 2001), inaugurates a new destination for luxury shopping: The Mall Sanremo, surrounded by natural beauty, allowing visitors to live an exclusive experience of fashion, elegance and hospitality.

The selection of brands, all in the high fashion sector, and another area will open by the end of the year, offering more brands. On arrival, the Welcome Lounge team accompanies them on their visit, making it exclusive in everything, from the general information, to the current promotions, to a personalised plan to discover the surrounding area.

For a tailored shopping experience, a team of Personal Shopping Assistants is available to advice and guide in the choice of outfits to create a new and a personalised look. To purchase with the maximum comfort, all visitors can benefit of the Handsfree Shopping and Home Delivery services.

Finally, the lounge dedicated to Tax Free, allows visitors from non-EU countries, to get an immediate refund on their purchases.

"We are proud of this new opening,” said Giorgio Motta, Director of The Mall Luxury Outlets, “Our mission is to offer an experience of beauty in all its forms that goes beyond the classic concept of shopping. We share with our visitors the passion for fashion and we try to offer unique places where to live it. Italian style, refinement, the constant search for new solutions and exclusive services are the key elements of The Mall Luxury Outlets' DNA that make special every moment for those who came to visit us.”  

 

Spacer