Bahrain Duty Free opens new stores

At the same time BDFS has not skimped on airport investment, as it completed the upgrade to the perfume area, a new Zummerod shop, the introduction of a Beijoux Turner shop, the refit of the souvenir area, a move to a larger location for sunglasses, moves for luggage and travel, expanded space for the book shop, the upgrading of the A-Z shop, with food area and additional shopping trolleys.

Further planned upgrades are for pillar light boxes to be installed, a Mont Blanc premium shop, a major refit of the electronics area, upgrade of promotional and car sites are part of the ongoing plans for year end and early 2011.

The groups operations of Airport, Ports, In-flight and Training, all performed well, and contributed strongly to the overall business. The “Hidd Port” contract for the Cruise Line Terminal opens shortly which will help in the continued growth, adding value to the overall business.

Bahrain Air has been very successful for both parties and business continues to grow steadily as Bahrain Air increases its share of the business and adds new routes. BDFS has just launched its third Bahrain Air, In-flight magazine.

Our Retail training division company “Bahrain International Retail Development” (BIRD) has also expanded and won additional training contracts as well as adding additional training modules and partners to our portfolio to meet the growing needs of Bahrain and Bahrain’s 2030 objectives.

Our main focus continues to be on Customer Service, Customer Care, and Innovation in Products, Promotions and Service to ensure a better experience, for the customer at Bahrain Duty Free.

The Bahrainization policy adopted by the Company since its inception which has played a major role in attracting many tourists to the Bahrain Duty Free shops at the departure area in the Bahrain International Airport. The growth in Bahrainization has been consistent despite the difficulties, to reach the current rate of 60%. By the end of the year, the rate is expected to rise to 63%, as the trainees presently employed would finish their studies.

The training scheme on the other hand instills in the newly recruited trainees the fact that a successful salesperson does not necessarily have to be an expatriate individual. Bahrain are also quite cable and qualify for this job as well as the expatriates. As result a number of the existing staff have been promoted to supervisory position in a very short period of time after their joining and completing. Some of these trained staff are being prepared to further assume higher positions. This policy has had a significant impact in reducing the rate of resignations, in comparison to the past three years. The company invests around BD 180,000/- annually on training and development projects, with a tendency to increase its annual training and development budget to meet its continuing policy of Bahrainization.

The success of the Company’s Human Resources management has been highlighted earlier this year by its winning the prestigious award as the best company in human resources management and nationalization, in the region, coupled with the honoring of its Corporate Human Resources Director by the Supreme Council for Vocational Training and the Ministry of Labour in the field of training and human resource development.