Paradies Lagardère Partners with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Expansion Project

ATLANTA – Paradies Lagardère, a travel retail and restaurateur leader in North America, will offer three new retail concepts at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) to address traffic growth at the airport and meet traveler and airport employee needs.

“Paradies Lagardère has been a long-time partner with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport,” said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO, Paradies Lagardère. “We’re excited to continue this relationship with new, innovative concepts designed to enhance the customer experience. The stores will not only offer travel basics, but cutting-edge technology, local gifts, food items and souvenirs, as well as showcase the work of Arizona artists.”

Paradies Lagardère considered traveler desires and demographics in determining locally-influenced and international brands that would resonate with travelers at AZA and celebrate the Valley of the Sun:

TripAdvisor®, a wildly successful brand exclusive to Paradies Lagardère, and the world’s most popular travel site with more than 490 million unique visitors each month, will be the go-to airport travel essentials store at AZA. The store will feature an innovative touchscreen with specially-curated for Phoenix-Mesa, the southern Arizona region, and popular destinations served by AZA.

A tribute to AZA’s historic distinction as the country’s first pilot training ground and some of the earliest jet test flights, First Jet Market will offer convenience items, locally-sourced grab and go foods, and freshly-brewed coffee. First Jet Market will also feature a new assortment of pre-packaged food offerings from local chef Aaron Chamberlin, owner of Phoenix Public Market Café.

Saguaro Mercantile will embrace the natural beauty of the southern Arizona landscape and the surrounding region, and be the centerpiece of AZA’s retail offerings. The travel essentials store will offer an expanded assortment of regional and local gifts that include Rango Honey, Twenty6 Designs, Beneficial Beans, Sarah Madeline Jewelry, and many others.

The concepts also allow customers the convenience of easy pay options such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Mobile POS.