First whisky store opens at Cyprus airport

Uisge Beatha – a new concept for new operators

 

‘Uisge Beatha’, the water of life, is the first of its kind malt whisky concept that has opened inside the partly refurbished Larnaca airport departure lounge with the aim of attracting the whisky connoisseurs and well-to-do travellers on their way to short or long journeys.

This pilot project is the brainchild of the marketing team of the airport’s new management, CTC ARI Airports, and plans are underway to imitate the same shop-in-shop, located within the upgraded duty free store in other countries where the Hermes Airports venture partner Aer Rianta International has a presence.

Uisge Beatha is manned by a well-trained ‘shopping advisor’ who will guide the potential buyer through the initial selection of 61 Scottish single malts, that is expected to see a number of Irish malt whiskeys added very soon.

Tasting also takes place on the spot depending on the customer’s preference or inquiries. Some of the ‘most interested’ are some Scandinavians and Russians who are prepared to spend big amounts for a quality whisky, while others are still rushing through trying to get the odd Scotch blend for the father-in-law and the cologne for the mother-in-law, while trying to catch the flight in time.

For the unknowing visitor, the best bargains are the Glenfiddichs for about a tenner while the most expensive in the store is a 30-year-old ‘Glen’ going for CYP 110 (EUR 187). This shop is expected to engulf whiskies and blends from other continents as well, such as the U.S., and is regarded as having the best whisky collection at any airport.

All four major Scottish malt producing areas are represented at Uisge Beatha – Highlands, Speyside, Islay and Lowlands and you can ask the shop keeper anything you want. If he doesn’t know it (which he probably does), then he has a vast supply of books and other resources.

But it is not just quality brands and their nice display that will attract buyers to the shop. The company’s management has secured competitive prices rating Larnaca Airport as one of the “most affordable” for whisky purchases.

“On some brands we have at least a pound’s difference from outside market prices, but in the case of others we have resorted to special deals by incorporating taxes or other costs in order to make our shop attractive for new customers,” explained Gerry Crawford, General Manager, CTC-ARI Airports that operates the Cyprus Airports Duty Free, as well as the smaller Xpress shops dotted around the airport terminal building.

“My objective is to completely demystify the sector for our consumers,” said Crawford, adding that, “we will be initially specialising in distillery bottled editions as I think it is a lot more interesting and collectible for the consumer.”

 

— Other improvements

 

These are not the only significant and evident improvements at Larnaca airport. For starters, the re-arranged parking facilities are truly more efficient with a 30-minutes-free service for quick drop-offs or pick-ups. Though the drop-off point for buses is still a small distance away, all the 600 parking spaces are now more reachable and the new pay machine is more friendly.

Under the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract awarded to the Hermes Airports venture, CTC ARI Airports and Cyprus Airports F&B have undertaken to provide a face-lift to both operating airports in Larnaca and Paphos until the new terminals are delivered in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

Although the new terminal buildings and other upgrades of facilities and services will cost around EUR 600 mln, less than a tenth of that amount has been allocated to upgrading the commercial services such as the food stalls and shops in the check-in areas and the departure lounge, while the hire-car area outside the arrivals section is now roomier and no longer competes for space with the hundreds of passengers getting out of the building.

New franchise agreements have been introduced with the most evident being the face-lift to the coffee-stalls in the check-in areas, the Food Village and the Burger King restaurant operated 24 hours a day by SSP that has several hundred catering facilities 26 countries. Partners in the F&B venture include the previous catering contractor Sbarro Louis.

Other food outlets include Segafredo coffee, Caffe Ritazza (operated at 40 other airports), the News Bar and Haagen Dazs ice-cream stalls, while Paphos airport will have its own Beer Garden, Veranda Café and a Kafeneio.

The duty free stores have been somewhat enlarged but clearly enhanced by a larger selection of spirits, tobacco, music and electronics, ladies and men’s care products, watches, toiletry and accessories, gift ideas and clothes, including a Hugo Boss shop-in-shop.

 

— Coming up

 

New services expected to appear at both airports include improvements at the luggage carousel in the arrivals hall, new flight information screens, better banking facilities, a new office for the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, a new lost-and-found office in the arrivals lounge and new advertising boards and displays under a new franchise agreement.

An Internet café will be available near the food outlets after passport control, while June and July will see the introduction in Larnaca of a travel and toys shop in the departure lounge, the Casa del Habanos cigar shop, renovation of the “last minute” shop within the arrivals halls at Larnaca and Paphos and expansion of the Larnaca Xpress outlet to double its size.

After the first Volvo S60 was won among 210,000 entries in the promotional competition, the next grand prize is a black Volvo C30 in collaboration with William & Grant’s for all Glenfiddich purchases from the Uisge Beatha.