Page 32 - TFWA World Exhibit 2022 Special Edition

INSIDER

commercial vision. This commercial vision “Factoring all this together with American markets to help shape and create
has to be based around its peers and its looking at the customer, we help the airport great new commercial experiences here,”
business. What do you want your airport create really compelling strategies. And he said.
retail and F&B experience to stand for? then we can create a Master Plan that Over the last five years, HDH has been
This entails determining the right values determines how much space you need active in the U.S., but on a small scale.
for this airport and how will it work for to allocate to retail, F&B, duty free, and But now, being owned by a U.S. giant,
their passengers. Too many airports still do other services. After that, we create an Black says that HDH is ready to replicate
not understand their customers, and this is implementation plan to accomplish that what it does in Europe in North America.
where we really start: the customer has to strategy.” “This is a very exciting time, as U.S.
be at the center for any great commercial Working in the market with retail airports are thinking about change, and
plan. Our strategy is built around that.” brands, HDH understands the markets in want to improve the travel experience in
Black stresses that Harper Dennis depth. their facility. There are some great projects
Hobbs has its finger on the pulse of what “We are really very, very unique. taking place.
is really happening in the retail market: There is no one else like us in Europe; “Nadine has come onboard to lead this
what is happening on the macro level, what no one else that offers the breadth and journey and I know she will do a great job
the consumer changes are and what trends depth of expertise that we have. Now building our business there. Our goal is to
are going to shape retail for the next 5-10 we are passionate about taking our great build it into the best airport consultancy in
years. international expertise to the North North America,” Black concluded.

Nadine Heubel: Being Visionary to transform a market

In her new position as Senior with the great airports in the U.S. to help
Managing Director at Harper Dennis them develop their commercial operations,
Hobbs, Nadine Heubel will head up the improve them, and transform them.
travel retail operations in North America “It is a great moment to do this
and be responsible for leading and because of the passage of the infrastructure
advancing the HDH Travel Retail Team’s bill by the Biden administration, which
North America business. will pump millions and millions of dollars
Heubel has experience with both into improving airports and the customer
the European and North American travel experience at airports.
retail markets. Starting her career at Hugo “We feel that there will be a lot of
Boss, she rose to the position of Global new projects in the next few years. HDH’s
Head of Travel Retail, before her most forward thinking model and approach is
recent position as CEO of Heinemann exactly what the U.S. and North American
Americas, Inc., the U.S.-based subsidiary Nadine Heubel, HDH Senior Managing Director airports are looking for. These airports are
of international duty free leader, Gebr. looking to Europe, looking to Asia, and at
Heinemann. very iconic and with whom we have a great the same time also looking to Newmark,
Speaking to TMI about her new relationship,” she noted. our parent, which already has many great
role, Heubel stresses the importance of “I am also super excited to work in relationships with U.S. brands, to get
relationships and understanding both the Food and Beverage. I have never worked inspiration. We can absolutely provide
markets and the potential of new concepts. in Food and Beverage before and we that international thinking and help them
“I am only in day 45 [Ed. Note: when represent some amazing concepts. It transform their airport positions. I think
we spoke in early September] of my role at excites me to see how we can bring these this is really a great moment in time.”
Harper Dennis Hobbs so my first steps are innovations into airports and also into the Black adds a final observation:
about building relationships with the team cruise channel. “Where airports see a ‘captive’
in Europe, and understanding the brand “I am also working to understand audience going through the airport, we see
portfolio in Europe, to determine which which airports, or cruise lines, might need an ‘amazing’ audience going through the
brands would make sense to bring over to our support from a consultancy perspective. airport—an amazing customer base, an
the U.S. So the first things I am doing is explore and amazing consumer that numbers to tens
“I am also talking to our parent understand and build a strategy.” and tens of millions per annum. In this day
company, Newmark, with whom we Heubel and Black say a key goal and age when we are all incredibly time-
have a great relationship. As our parent involves ramping up and expanding HDH’s poor, there isn’t really an excuse to have
shareholders, they have given us great airport consultancy business. Black says an audience like that going through your
support and access to a very global, that HDH is the largest at what it does in asset, and not put a great compelling retail
international platform. Europe, and wants to do the same in the proposition in front of them. Harper Dennis
“We need to be visionary to get brands U.S. Hobbs wants to help them create those
that are not in Travel Retail yet but are Heubel continues: “We want to work amazing experiences.”

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