Patrick Bohl, Budapest Airport’s new Head of Retail and Advertising: “I am really looking forward to working with my new team to find fresh ways in which we can deepen passenger spend, and exceed the airport’s commercial revenue targets. Myself and the team have a lot of really good ideas.”
A well-known figure in the industry, Bohl joined the airport’s management team in 2008 as Head of Airline Business Development, after spending 10 years in sales and operational roles at British Airways and Malév. His strong background in marketing and sales has been put to great use at a time when the airport’s customer base changed significantly following the demise of the national carrier Malév in 2012, with the airport maintaining, and then exceeding, pre-Malév traffic levels. The airport handled 8.5 million passengers in 2013 – up +0.2% on 2012.
Bohl’s brief is to increase spend-per-passenger and to strengthen and enhance relations with current and future concessionaires. He commented: “This new opportunity gives me the chance to greatly extend my management skills and knowledge base. I am really looking forward to working with my new team to find fresh ways in which we can deepen passenger spend, and exceed the airport’s commercial revenue targets. Myself and the team have a lot of really good ideas.”
Kam Jandu, Chief Commercial Officer, added: “We are really pleased with this powerful new appointment. Patrick’s results-orientated approach and long experience in project management combines with the fact that he is a very well-known and respected figure in our industry. I fully expect to quickly see his hand in making our succeeding commercial portfolio perform even better.”
The focus on non-aeronautical growth is evident throughout the bud:future modernisation programme, with €320 million invested in improvements since 2011, including the flagship SkyCourt development.
A Maserati Ghibli is drawing the crowds at SkyCourt in March. While the €100,000 car is an advertisement for the premium marque, the retail promotions space will also be used for a scheduled 15 Trinity promotions this year, starting with luxury Szamos Chocolates in March. Last year’s Trinity promotions, in partnership with Heinemann, resulted in sales increases exceeding 250% for each product promoted.
A BUD delegation will be present at the ACI EUROPE Airport Trading Conference & Exhibition in March.
