Dubai Duty Free to rollout concierge service, smart bags at airport lounges

Airport retailer aims to boost business with customers that prefer the comfort of lounges

Retailer Dubai Duty Free is in the final stages of introducing kiosks in first and business class lounges at the emirate's airports.

The service will allow customers to browse through the Dubai Duty Free inventory in select areas of each lounge, vice president of retail sales and merchandising Michael Schmidt said on stage at the World Retail Congress event in Dubai.

They will then be assigned a bag with a fitted tracker, allowing airport staff to collect items selected for purchase and deliver them to the customer wherever they are in the airport.

Payment will be made via mobile phone or credit card once the items have been received.

"We are in the final phases of putting together our concierge service for all the first and business class lounges" said Schmidt.

Last year, sales at the airport retailer fell 1.5 per cent as the weak euro and lower Russian spending hit operations.

Its most popular products were perfumes (Dhs 1.1137bn), liquor (Dhs 1.069bn) and cigarettes (Dhs 589.67m).

The company operates 34,000 square metres of retail space at Dubai International Airport and 2,500 square metres at Al Maktoum International.