- High tech tender process will encourage creative and innovative concepts to reinvent the duty free experience
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2014-5-6 — /Travel PR News/ — Abu Dhabi Airports issued today one of the most revolutionised RFPs ever designed following a briefing to potential duty free operators at the eagerly awaited Midfield Terminal Building (MTB).
All interested bidders, comprising the best duty free concessionaires in the world, have received a mandatory detailed presentation on the scope and specifications of the duty free area and the different retail packages that will be available. They were also given an explanation of the scoring criteria that will be applied in the tender process and its timetable. A similar process for the food & beverage concessions will commence shortly.
Reflecting the spectacular design and unique nature of the MTB, and to drive creativity and innovation, a new technology-led interactive tendering process is being adopted and the tenders are being issued in a completely new format. In order to elicit the highest quality responses possible, the tender pack has been designed to be as spectacular as the terminal itself and matches its scale and ambition. It contains a detailed retail vision book for the Midfield Terminal commercial space as well as a gallery of artistic images encapsulating some of the most creative retail, food & beverage and hospitality innovations from around the world. The pack also includes an iPad containing innovative technology, animation and augmented retail reality. This will enable potential bidders to interact with the terminal through a three dimensional experience, which has never been seen before in the industry.
Abu Dhabi Duty Free have set new standards for the travel retail sector and the responses should, as a result, include commensurate ‘Wow Factors’ to tell product stories in new and exciting ways and give the spaces real personalities of their own. The MTB will incorporate the very latest designs and systems in all aspects of its operation, and the duty free areas will be no exception. It is therefore hoped that bidders will be inspired to submit proposals that will completely reinvent the duty free experience and give passengers non-traditional airport environment, delivering a range of multi-sensory experiences. In order to best achieve this, bidders will need to ensure that the outlets which they propose to design and build reflect the generosity and style that are the true hallmarks of Arabian and Emirati hospitality.
Expressions of interest have already been received from many of the world’s leading duty free operators, which further demonstrate the project’s scale and ambition. Following today’s briefings, potential bidders will have until 7th of September to consider all of the tender material and seek further clarifications. Submission date is set at 1st of October, with contracts expected to be awarded in December. The tendering process for Food & Beverage outlets in the MTB is following a similar timetable, and a correspondingly high tech tendering process has been adopted.
H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, commented:
“Abu Dhabi Airports is very excited to be issuing the RFP for the duty free space in the MTB. It is an excellent opportunity to show the world how serious Abu Dhabi Airports is about making the capital’s airport the best in the world and this is reflected in the RFP’s revolutionary design. This is not just another tender process, it is an integral part of a massively important infrastructure project. Abu Dhabi Airports is investing in a truly spectacular terminal and, with around 28,000 square meters of commercial space available, bidders will be expected to match that investment with a commitment to help deliver sensational experiences for travelers. There has been a high level of interest from bidders and Abu Dhabi Airports is looking forward to forming exceptional partnerships with brands whose ideas and concepts match its own ambition and vision.”
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Abu Dhabi Airports briefed its revolutionised RFPs for Midfield Terminal Building before world’s best duty free concessionaires