Page 16 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2025 Special Issue

INSIDER

HKG Duty Free secures 8-Year Duty Free contract at Austin-Bergstrom

International Airport

HKG Duty Free has been awarded quality products and a superior shopping “Journey With AUS” program is a multi-
an exclusive eight-year duty free retail experience. year initiative aimed at meeting the current
contract at Austin-Bergstrom International “We’re excited to welcome HKG Duty and future needs of the growing region.
Airport (AUS) in Texas. This landmark Free to AUS,” said John Gallo, Deputy The Central Texas region has
agreement will allow HKG Duty Free Chief of Commercial Management for experienced significant growth in recent
to introduce its world-class shopping the airport. “As our community continues years, with the airport’s expansion
experience to travelers at one of the fastest- to grow as an international destination, reflecting the region’s development.
growing airports in the United States, says having a premier Duty Free experience Austin is home to a diverse array of major
the company. is important for our travelers. We look companies across various industries,
HKG Duty Free will offer a forward to HKG Duty Free elevating the especially technology. Apple, IBM, Oracle
selection of core product categories, retail experience at AUS.” and Tesla all contribute to the city’s tech
including perfume & cosmetics, liquor Austin-Bergstrom International Airport landscape. Austin’s reputation as a hub
& tobacco, and will add categories recently transitioned from a medium-sized for higher education offers a diverse array
such as confectionery, accessories and airport to a large one, serving more than of academic programs contributing to the
electronics in the future. HKG Duty Free 20 million passengers a year since 2022. city’s dynamic cultural and intellectual
says that it is committed to enhancing the With a reputation for outstanding service environment. The city hosts several art,
passenger experience at AUS by bringing and a focus on sustainability, it serves as music and food festivals as well as major
an exceptional range of international and Central Texas’ gateway for both domestic international events such as the Formula 1
local brands to the airport’s diverse traveler and international flights, offering travelers Grand Prix of the Americas.
demographic. a wide array of nonstop destinations, Founded in 1977 in Laredo, Texas,
“We are excited to partner with facilitating convenient travel to major HKG Duty Free today is a multinational
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport business and leisure destinations nationwide. conglomerate, headquartered in Miami,
and to bring our unique retail expertise to AUS offers nonstop international Florida, with increasing presences in the
this dynamic and vibrant city,” said Ross flights, connecting Austin to key global USA and Mexico. Under the leadership
Khaledi, President of HKG Duty Free. cities like London, UK, Frankfurt, of Ross Khaledi, HKG Duty Free grew
“Our goal is to provide travelers with an Germany, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver from an electronics distribution company
unparalleled shopping experience that Canada, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Panama, to having numerous retail shops on the
reflects the spirit and culture of Austin, and several destinations in Mexico. These US/Mexico border, airport concessions in
while also offering the finest global international routes expand Austin’s Mexico and now focusing on US airport
brands.” global reach, supporting both business and Travel Retail. The expansion of HKG Duty
Travel Retailer HKG has an tourism. Free at such a prominent airport as Austin
established presence in Texas and In response to increasing passenger marks the beginning of a bright future, says
California on the U.S. / Mexico border traffic, AUS has embarked on its largest the company.
where it offers a curated selection of high- expansion program in history. The
Summit of the Americas March 2025 16