Louis Vuitton travel retail store to give Sydney Airport a luxe edge
As international flights return, so will the welcome indulgence of duty-free shopping.
By David Flynn, August 20 2021
Sydney Airport is betting that the return of overseas travel across 2022 will be accompanied by a surge in duty-free shopping, and it'll be ready to satisfy that pent-up demand with a revamped luxury retail precinct located at the heart of the T1 international terminal.
Louis Vuitton will take pride of place with a spacious new boutique in a prime can't-miss-it location – in fact, this will be LV's first travel retail store in the Southern Hemisphere.
It'll be joined by 11 fresh luxury brands including Saint Laurent, Dior, Moncler, Loewe, Celine, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Balenciaga and Gentle Monster.
"The commitment of these brands demonstrates faith in the future of international travel and confidence that Sydney Airport will remain at the heart of Australia’s international aviation network," says Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert.
Meanwhile, several existing luxury tenants are using the temporary pause in international travel to renew their position within T1 as space opens up: Gucci will double its floor space, while Tiffany&Co is relocating into an all-new, custom designed store.
Sydney Airport Chief Commercial Officer Vanessa Orth, notes that a change in travel retail habits was already becoming evident before the pandemic.
"Impulse buying was on the way out and travellers were doing much more research and pre-planning their purchases," she explains.
"With that in mind we've been deliberately seeking to attract iconic retail partners like Louis Vuitton who will drive preference and make the Airport a luxury retail destination in its own right."
T1's luxury retail precinct, she promises, will be "the most extensive collection of luxury and boutique travel retail anywhere in the Southern hemisphere."
"We're looking forward to welcoming international passengers back to Sydney Airport and bringing the fun and glamour back to travel."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.