Hong Kong Airport opens first autonomous store, travelwell

Hong Kong Airport's new autonomous store, travelwell. CREDIT: HONG KONG AIRPORT AUTHORITY

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has unveiled an autonomous convenience store, travelwell, which offers instant grab-and-go purchases. Passengers can chose from a range of products and will only need to tap their credit card at the entrance before making their way around the monitored store. 

The store is strategically located at the entrance to the Sky Bridge near gate 24. Covering 80m², travelwell offers a selection of packaged food, beverages, souvenirs and travel essentials. Passengers can shop at travelwell by tapping their credit card at the entrance to enter the store. Using IoT sensing technology, the store tracks customers’ movements and shopping patterns, automatically detecting the items they select and eliminating the need for checkout queues. When they’re ready to leave, the sensor will detect the items they’ve purchased, and their credit card will be charged accordingly. Passengers can then print a receipt, if required, at the store’s exit gate.

The products available by travelwell. CREDIT: HONG KONG AIRPORT AUTHORITY

Travelwells broad range of products. CREDIT: HONG KONG AIRPORT AUTHORITY

“The first-ever autonomous store at HKIA is creating a buzz with its seamless shopping experience for travelers on the go,” said Alby Tsang, head of retail and advertising of Airport Authority Hong Kong, “As a smart airport, we have always been committed to using the latest innovations and technologies to elevate the passenger experience. The launch of travelwell demonstrates this commitment. By using breakthrough technologies, we provide passengers with a one-stop shop for pre-flight necessities and last-minute shopping. It’s just one more way that HKIA is staying at the forefront of travel retail innovation to redefine airport shopping experiences.”

Séverine Lanthier, chief operating officer Asia and group chief strategy and development officer at Lagardère Travel Retail, commented, “We are grateful to have benefitted from the support of the Airport Authority Hong Kong and of business partners to pioneer this technology-led, innovative new store. Our travelwell store and the beautiful Sky Bridge are a natural fit to each other. I hope the new shopping experience will appeal to travellers and become a memorable part of their journey. This project represents a key milestone in our ambitious roadmap to innovate to elevate the traveller shopping experience.”

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