Lagardère Travel Retail at Cotonou International Airport
Lagardère Travel Retail has announced its agreement with Société des Aéroports du Benin (SAB), a state-owned company, to operate duty free, travel essentials and foodservice operations at Cotonou International Airport, Benin.
Local operations will be managed through a joint-venture company – Lagardère Travel Retail Keyla – co-owned by Lagardère Travel Retail and local partner Keyla Distribution, a Beninese company specializing in distribution and retail in West Africa.
SAB and Lagardère Travel Retail Keyla have agreed to a long-term concession contract with the new operations due to open in 2024. The commercial offer will comprise of arrival and departure Duty Free stores, a convenience store and a dining area. According to Lagardère Travel Retail, this exclusive, long-term contract underscores the company’s longest-standing expertise of delivering operational and commercial value through a Three Business Lines model.
Suited to mid-sized international airports, the master concession model provides several benefits including a holistic understanding of customer needs to enhance the passengers experience, increased commercial revenues for both landlords and brands, and enhanced agility, flexibility, and synergies in operations.
In line with its development strategy, the Benin government has embarked on an extensive renovation and expansion program for Cotonou International Airport. This initiative targets high international airport standards and the alignment of the airport infrastructure with the growth of air traffic.
The airport expects to welcome over 520,000 passengers in 2023, matching its 2019 traffic figure. This growth is driven by the government’s strong commitment to making tourism the cornerstone of Benin’s development. It also positions the airport as a hub in West Africa.
Lagardère Travel Retail said key to its success in securing the contract with SAB has been its commitment to supporting the airport in elevating the passenger experience, applying the same high standards of excellence as anywhere else in the world. “Harnessing its global expertise and vast network of international brands, Lagardère Travel Retail will be creating unique shopping experiences and significantly investing into staff training to offer the best customer service,” the company added.
Along with offering top internationally recognized brands in Cotonou, Lagardère Travel Retail said its teams will strive to create authentic, local product offerings, “to bring the best of the local culture to travelers while effectively supporting local producers and economies.”
The company will showcase the Beninese culture, combining voodoo traditions, legends of the Abomeh amazons, folklores and tales. As part of its commercial offering, Lagardère Travel Retail has also developed a IROKO Bar food concept, based on the sacred Beninese sacred iroko tree. The bar will be a central focus for any passenger passing through the airport.
This local and cultural approach echoes the ambition of the Beninese government to leverage the tourism sector to boost economic growth. The country already attracts an increasing number of regional and international tourists and aims to reach two million visitors annually. The tourism sector is the third-largest source of jobs in the country.
Lagardère Travel Retail’s COO EMEA & Chief Transformation Officer Frédéric Chevalier commented, “We’re delighted to have secured this exclusive master concession at Cotonou Airport alongside our very strong local partner.
“We look forward to helping raise the shopping and dining experience through our unrivalled holistic approach to passenger needs. By working closely together with Keyla, we want to support SAB in raising its standards of excellence and appeal to international travelers.
“We have significant growth ambitions for our operations on the African continent and these new operations in Benin will continue to consolidate our position as a leading international travel retailer in the region.”
Armand Kpindjo, Commercial Manager at SAB, added, “Confidence and partnership are the two key words of our deal with Lagardère Travel Retail Keyla. With a refurbished and certified airport, Cotonou aims to offer the best experience to passengers as well as increase nonregulated revenues. The international reputation of Lagardère Travel Retail associated to the African know-how of Keyla is the most relevant way to develop a true partnership based on a custom-made offer fitting passenger expectations.”
Lagardère Travel Retail has pursued an active expansion strategy in West Africa since 2017 with the Group now operating in five countries: Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, Gambia and Benin.
