LS travel retail MALAYSIA inaugurates 3 stores in Kuala Lumpur international airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is now home to three of the most iconic names in adventure and travel luxury merchandise – Lonely Planet, Billabong and Longchamp.

The official launch of the 3 stores in video

mode=integre;autoplay=0;autoloop=0;[ mediaId=642;mediaUrl=http://viphttp.yacast.net/lagardere/Kuala_Lumpur/KLIA_TV.mp4;title= ;caption= ;copyright=;length=;thumb=base64;thumb2=1;]

Lonely Planet, a name synonymous with travel guides and adventure, together with LS travel retail has created the hugely successful retail concept and opened its first Asia concept store at KLIA. KLIA is the third international airport to feature a Lonely Planet concept store following the success of LS travel retail’s Lonely Planet stores in Sydney, Australia and Manchester, England.

The 153.6 sqm outlet (which includes the adjacent Billabong space) retails the full range of Lonely Planet books with all 477 travel titles on offer, along with an extensive range of travel essentials and gift items. The store is designed with interactive elements in mind. Wide display screens with illustrations of progressive global landscapes captures the passer-by attention while the interactive iPad Concierge platform allows customers and staff to connect with the Lonely Planet’s digital range of products and services. The iPad Concierge in Lonely Planet KLIA also comprise a Face-to-Face live interaction between customers and staff, from offering travel advice and tips to weather information with the Lonely Planet Manchester and Sydney stores.

According to LS travel retail ASIA, being the first international travel retail operator in KLIA to simultaneous launch Lonely Planet, Billabong and Longchamp outlets offers KLIA’s modern upscale travellers, a complete travel experience ranging from adventure to board sports to luxury fashion. The three stores were opened officially on January 15th, 2013 by Her Excellency Mme Martine Dorance, Ambassador of France. In attendance to launch the store, Her Excellency was accompanied with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad Senior General Manager Commercial Services, Puan Faizah Khairuddin and LS travel retail ASPAC’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Emmanuel de Place.

Emmanuel de Place, COO of LS travel retail ASPAC comments: “Travel retail is a crucial and growing component of Lagardère’s innovative portfolio of businesses. Especially in Asia, travel is on the rise and this means there are vast opportunities for growth in the travel retail sector in this region. Therefore, we are pleased to be the first international travel retail operator in KLIA and to have this opportunity to work with the dynamic teams in KLIA to explore and initiate these new and exciting stores at KLIA. Malaysia is a developing market for the travel retail industry and a strategic development for Asia. For this reason, we thank the Malaysia Airports team and our brand partners for making today possible. Going forward, we look forward to working closely with Malaysia Airports to take the lead in setting new standards in the travel retail industry.”

Puan Faizah Khairuddin, Senior General Manager Commercial Services, Malaysia Airports added : “We are delighted that such an exciting concept will have its Asian debut at KLIA. This dovetails beautifully with our strategy of positioning airports as lifestyle destinations where our passengers’ holidays start from the moment they arrive at KLIA. “Being able to take advantage of Lonely Planet’s interactive hubs, innovative travel products and knowledgeable staff team will give passengers travelling through our terminal a huge boon.”

Adjacent to the Lonely Planet concept store is the new Billabong space. A name that is well regarded by all boardsports and beach enthusiasts, Billabong at KLIA will offer up an extensive range of the brand’s signature products which includes boardshorts, surf tees, bikinis, luggages, backpacks, accessories, as well as its seasonal and limited edition collections. Billabong’s most recognisable and coveted products include its Platinum Stretch (also known as PX) and Recycler boardshort series. Made for performance, boardshorts from the PX series are made out extremely lightweight, Zero Gravity, Infinite Seam Technology, 120% Quad X Stretch material (which offers its wearers enough flexibility for a four-way stretch) and easy dry H2 Repel coating; while the environmentally conscious Recycler Series – a two time Surf Industry Manufacturers Association award winner – is a unique one that’s made up of approximately 25 PET bottles per boardshorts. Also offered up at Billabong KLIA is the brand’s Since 73 Membership Program: a loyalty program that offers exclusive customer rewards, and exclusive updates from the brand.

For those who desire some style with their travels, they can head on over to the new Longchamp store. The new mono-brand Longchamp store, opened on late August 2012 at Departure Lounge, KLIA International Satellite terminal, is the 3rd Longchamp store in LS travel retail ASPAC network. Spanning a space of 113sqm, the new store offers the latest selection of iconic bags, luggage, small leather goods and selected exclusives for men and women collections, a fashion range synonymous with travellers.

LS travel retail will also launch 2 new exciting concept stores in the upcoming KLIA 2 terminal. Discover Malaysia, a 108sqm travel essential concept local souvenirs and gifts and MY Lifestyle Gallery, an over 500sqm multi-category store to the likes of fashion, travel essentials, luxury accessories and most distinctively, an Elle Café within the store. Elle Café, is a first-in-travel retail Foodservice concept to be offered to travellers. Elle has become a famous fashion and lifestyle Brand in Asia, derived from the world’s No. 1 beauty and fashion magazine.