Schiphol wins two prestigious awards
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has won two awards in the annual Global Traveler Tested Reader Survey. Readers of the prestigious American travel magazine Global Traveler crowned the national airport as the winner in the categories ‘Best Shopping Airport’ and ‘Best Duty-Free Shopping in Europe’.
Tanja Dik, Director of Consumer Products & Services; ‘Schiphol and its business partners are always looking for ways to give our passengers a warm welcome and the best possible service. We aim to deliver new concepts in a unique and magical place: exclusive products, luxury brands and a distinctly Dutch flair. From souvenirs to jewellery, from the latest trends in fashion to a wide range of international brands: with more than 100 shops, Schiphol offers a world filled with inspiration and surprises for every passenger. We also experiment with new formulas. Our completely refurbished Departure Lounge 2 and the recently reopened Holland Boulevard are great examples of this. With these efforts we respond to passengers’ changing needs and wishes while leaving them with a memory of the Netherlands. Of course, it’s wonderful that this is recognised and valued by passengers, and has translated into the two awards we have won. I would therefore like to thank all of our business partners and their employees for their contribution.’
The airport notes that a major shift can be observed in consumer behaviour. Tanja Dik: ‘Today’s consumers require a seamless omni-channel shopping experience: communication via a channel of their choice at a moment they prefer, and a relevant product range that ideally includes personalised recommendations. The expectations are certainly high when it comes to retail. Our retailers work side by side with us to respond to these needs as innovatively as possible with new concepts and a total passenger experience. A great example is our collaboration with Made.com. Made.com has set up mini-showrooms with its furniture at Schiphol and is thus able to reach a large international audience. The furniture can be purchased via the website as well as at the airport.’
Tanja Dik points out that Schiphol carefully considers the specific needs of all its passengers. ‘We introduced AliPay at the beginning of this year, for instance. With the launch of this popular Chinese mobile payment platform, we hope to further optimise the experience at Schiphol for our Chinese passengers.’
Schiphol’s development is based on a clear vision. Tanja Dik: ‘The airport is actually a modern city where each passenger should have a short and pleasant stay. Schiphol is home to a wide variety of retail outlets, but also features play areas for children, hotels and a library, for example. It’s really an aviation city without inhabitants of its own, but one where everyone is welcome.’
