Beijing, China, April 1, 2015 – Through its HMSHost International subsidiary, Autogrill is starting up operations at Beijing International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. The Group has secured a new contract to develop seven points of sales at Beijing International Airport and four concepts, encompassing the largest Food & Beverage location at Sanya Airport. The concepts will open in Q2 2015, and are expected to generate total revenues of around 67 million USD in the period 2015 – 2020.
“Entry to China is an important step for our expansion ambitions in Asia,” said HMSHost International CEO, Walter Seib. “These new openings are the continuation of a program which is in line with our strategy of expanding into the growing and emerging economies of the Asia Pacific region, and will enable the Group to continue its ambition to obtain a global presence.”
HMSHost will operate at Beijing International Airport in partnership with Huazhou, a locally experienced hospitality company. Huazhou has a long history of operating in numerous Chinese airports including Beijing International Airport. In Terminal 2 of Beijing Airport, HMSHost will develop a food court highlighted by Crystal Jade, a renowned Chinese restaurant committed to preserving the rich traditions of Chinese cuisine. Traditional favourites BURGER KING® restaurants and Puro Gusto Café ensure a mix of Asian and Western cuisine in the food court. Two HMSHost convenience concepts; Grab & Fly and Urban Food Market will be developed to meet the needs and demands of guests on their way to their respective gates. In Terminal 3, HMSHost opens a second Crystal Jade and a Crystal Jade Korean which offers authentic Cantonese, with a combination of Korean cuisines. The total offer has a specialization in regional taste as well as introduction of famous international brands at ‘China’s No.1 Gateway’.
At Sanya, HMSHost International formed a joint venture with Cosmos group, a significant comprehensive multi-type of business managing company based in Sanya. HMSHost had the desire to establish a solid partnership with the main local operator in the airport F&B sector. Cosmos has a long history of operating in several airports in China since 2006 and has full experience in business, supermarket, property management, F&B and retail in the local Sanya business district. The success of this project will bring economic benefit to both companies as well as improve international management skills of F&B industry on the island of Hainan.
The successful Food & Beverage proposal specific for Sanya Airport, is designed to satisfy the needs of all traveller’s, local and international. Developing the biggest location of 825 sq. meters on landside in the Arrivals Hall is an exciting adventure for this new joint venture to begin its relationship. Within the food court space, the joint venture will develop a Juicy Details, a fresh juice and smoothie concept, and a Taste of China, a food station with Chinese local snacks and delicacies. These offerings will be directly operated by the joint venture. Two other concepts will be directly managed by the joint venture, a revamped and contemporary KFC store that brings an international flavour with a focus on the QSR chicken category. In addition, the joint venture will work with a local Chinese casual dining concept Jui Mao Jui, which specializes in authentic Chinese Northern dishes.
Autogrill / HMSHost in Asia
The Group made its first move in Asia at the beginning of 1998 when it entered Malaysia, followed by Singapore in 2007 and then India in 2008. In the last two years, Autogrill has continued to expand in the Asian markets by starting up operations in countries with high growth potential for the travel F&B sector, such as Vietnam and Indonesia.
Beijing International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), known as ‘China’s No.1 Gateway’, is the most important, largest and busiest international aviation hub with the state-the-art facilities. It is also China’s important window to communicate and exchange with the outside world. Over the past 50-plus years since its inception in 1958, BCIA has been striding forward along with time. Especially since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, China has been enjoying fast economic development; moreover, Beijing, the base of BCIA, enjoys unique political, economic, cultural and geographical advantages. Against such a background, BCIA sees its annual passenger throughput rise from 1.03 million in 1978 to 83.71 million in 2013, ranking second among airports in the world.
Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Sanya Phoenix International Airport Ltd. is located 11 kilometres southwest of Sanya city which is the only tropical seaside city in China and is renowned as “”The Oriental Hawaii”. Since July, 1994, Sanya Airport has gained more advantages and potential in international air transportation by the support of several preferential policies, e.g. the open of third, fourth and fifth freedom, the transfer to Sanya of “the South China Sea area control”, the open of Sanya international airline, and business abstraction to the airline company of other provinces, even other countries. In March 12 2013, Sanya Phoenix International Airport was homered as the “SKYTRAX the World Best VIP Terminal” which was another important international award after ‘Most Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific Region’ and “YTRAX four stars airport”. Sanya Airport became the only airport which was awarded this title two years in the row and was ranked among the best airports in the world.
