The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New Terminal One (NTO), and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports have announced that three graduates of the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions (IOC) will join WHSmith North America on a team of joint venture partners to deliver best-in-class travel essentials at JFK Airport’s New Terminal One. The three New York-based firms will contribute products and investment through an incubator program led by joint venture partner Love From USA to offer best-in-class merchandise from global, national, and local brands promoting a unique New York sense of place.
The travel essentials program, which includes six retail spaces totalling approximately 8,400 square feet throughout the new terminal, aims to offer a diverse, high-quality retail experience that celebrates New York, plus an array of first-to-airport national and global brands with shop-in-shop experiences.
“We are delighted to welcome more Institute of Concessions graduates to JFK as we get closer to the opening of the New Terminal One,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Our region is the front door to the country for millions of international visitors, so we want to be the first to show off the best of our hospitality upon arrival and ensure that energy stays with them through to departure.”
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton commented: “We are prioritising the customer experience at our airports as the first impression of the New York-New Jersey area for millions of international travellers, so it is vital that our $19 billion redevelopment of JFK includes diverse local businesses from our local community to provide that distinct New York sensibility as travellers move through JFK. There is no place like New York, and these local businesses help JFK reflect that unique New York energy as an exciting part of travellers’ memories of their time here.”
Travellers at the New Terminal One can look forward to six unique retail concepts – many of which will be open 24/7 – designed to offer a dynamic product mix and unparalleled convenience, including:
- WHSmith Travel Essentials: visitors can explore curated essentials alongside an expansive library of titles, including New York Times bestsellers, magazines, and global publications. Open 24 hours a day, the store is designed to provide continuous access for convenience and cultural enrichment.
- The Canopy: located in the pre-security departures area, this store and its theme will reflect the vibrant energy of New York through a selection of high-quality luggage and accessories that include premium brands such as Herschel and TUMI.
- The Queens Borough Market: open 24 hours a day, this expansive market for travel essentials celebrates New York’s architecture and soaring skylines in a space that blends industrial design with natural textures, evoking the city’s iconic structures and the sense of movement and flight.
- Skybound by WHSmith: this proprietary brand will provide a reimagined take on the traditional travel store through a nod to New York’s drama and glamour.
- The Last Stop: strategically positioned at the level 1 bus gate in the departures area, this store’s design will mirror the nostalgic view through a window of a New York City subway car and offer core travel essentials in a setting that channels the city’s underground transit system.
- Las Artes Mercado: open 24/7 and conveniently located on the arrivals level, Las Artes Mercado will blend New York fashion with the practicality of a modern bodega, offering travel essentials and an expanded grocery selection.
“As we count down the months to welcoming our first customers, we are thrilled to unveil our travel essentials retail experience designed to elevate the standard for international travel from the iconic city of New York while providing unmatched convenience,” said Jennifer Aument, CEO, New Terminal One. “From beloved New York brands to exclusive products from local businesses, travellers can look forward to a vibrant shopping experience that captures the energy and creativity of our dynamic city.”
Dominic Lowe, Chief Operating Officer, URW, commented: “We set out to help make the New Terminal One a destination in its own right – a place where travel feels unique and exciting. In partnership with the Port Authority, the New Terminal One, WHSmith North America and our dedicated partners, we are curating a one-of-a-kind local-meets-global experience incorporating iconic brands while integrating and elevating local entrepreneurs, ensuring their products and stories are at the heart of the guest experience.”
Huw Crwys-Williams, CEO, WHSmith North America, added: “We are incredibly honoured for this opportunity to be able to collaborate with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, New Terminal One, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on this project. With the opening of these new concepts inside the highly anticipated New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport, WHSmith North America is marking another milestone in the travel retail space.”
Hear more from The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025. Brian Rohlf, Manager – Landside Operations & Customer Service, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, will deliver a Special Presentation titled ‘What new approaches, and initiatives, are being driven forward by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to take customer experiences for all passengers to a whole new level across the New York airport system and what role will digital play in that?’
View the full FTE Global 2025 conference agendas >> Join us at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” – in LA, 9 to 11 September 2025 – registration live >>You may also be interested in
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