Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has awarded three duty-free locations to a joint venture between Hudson Group Retail and four local small businesses, as part of a 30,700ft2 (2,500m2) expansion.
Renderings released on October 6 show Pacific Northwest-themed concepts, including a walk-through layout on the A Concourse due in late 2027, along with spaces in the N and S Concourses.
Hudson, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolta, leads the venture with Randi Maya Sibonga of MCSB Inc.; Katherine Lam of Bambuza; Godwin Gabriel of Moovn Technologies; and Marques Warren of Warren’s News & Gift Inc. Lam, Gabriel and Warren are ACDBE-certified partners.
The group signed a 20-year contract. Construction on the A Concourse is expected to start at the end of 2026 and finish in late 2027. Work on the S Concourse will form part of the S Concourse Evolution project, which is slated to begin multi-year construction in late 2026. The timeline for the N Concourse space has not been determined.
“Duty-free shops are a hallmark of major international airports, and this expansion enables SEA to meet growing demand through innovative use of space and technology that elevates the overall traveler experience,” said Port of Seattle commissioner Sam Cho. “This contract also builds in meaningful opportunities for women, minority and small-owned businesses to continue thriving at SEA, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to supporting and uplifting local entrepreneurs.”
The A Concourse project will add approximately 12,000ft2 (1,100m2) of leasable space for duty-free operations. The main area is adjacent to the exit from the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) and Gina Marie Lindsey (GML) Hall.
The primary duty-free area will sit in the center of the concourse between Gates A4 and A6 and will include airport dining and retail, a customer information hub, a music stage and flight information displays. Some of the additional space will come from closing five dining and retail locations and opening new space on the concourse and mezzanine levels above GML Hall.
“This new duty-free offer, coupled with Hudson’s emphasis on immersive experiences and digital engagement, will transform the travel experience at SEA,” said Steve Johnson, president and CEO, North America, Avolta.
“We are proud and excited to grow our longtime partnership with the Port of Seattle to help usher in the next phase of SEA’s evolution and make the journey as exciting as the destination for the millions of travelers from around the world who visit the airport every year.”
Estimated costs for the A Concourse project are between US$8m and US$15m. Costs for the other concourse projects will be updated as design plans progress.
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