Three new locations of duty-free shops have been awarded to a joint venture between Hudson Group Retail, LLC. (Hudson) and four local small businesses, as part of a dramatic 30,700-square-foot expansion coming to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Renderings released today of the new Pacific Northwest concepts include a dramatic walk-through layout coming to the A Concourse in late 2027, along with spaces in the N and S Concourses to modernize SEA’s duty-free shopping options.
Hudson leads a joint venture with local small business partner Randi Maya Sibonga of MCSB Inc., and ACDBE-certified partners Katherine Lam of Bambuza, Godwin Gabriel of MOOVN Technologies, LLC., and Marques Warren of Warren’s News & Gift Inc.
“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 joint venture group signed a 20-year contract for the spaces, with construction on A Concourse expected to start at the end of 2026 and be completed in late 2027. Work on the S Concourse will be part of the S Concourse Evolution project, which is slated to start multi-year construction in late 2026. The timeline for the duty-free space in N Concourse is still to be determined.
“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 & 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.”
Duty-free shops are a staple in major airports, offering international travelers the option to buy products tax-free, primarily liquor and tobacco. The word “duty” refers to taxes and fees – local, sales, import, or value-added (VAT) – that you pay for bringing goods across international borders. So “duty-free” means that international travelers may not have to pay taxes in the country where they make the purchase; anyone can enjoy shopping for goods at these stores, however.
A Concourse Duty-free
The A Concourse will be the first to get the upgrade treatment, by adding approximately 12,000 square feet of new leasable space for duty-free operations. The main project area is adjacent to the exit from the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) and Gina Marie Lindsey (GML) Hall. With the addition of the IAF, gates on the A Concourse are now internationally capable, making it an ideal location to provide expanded duty-free services. The primary duty-free area will sit in the center of the concourse between Gates A4 and A6. It will include Airport Dining and Retail space, a customer information hub, a music stage, and flight information displays throughout.
Some of the additional square footage for this area will come from closing five dining and retail locations, as well as opening new space on the concourse and mezzanine levels above GML Hall.
For current renderings, visit this photo library or visit the Duty-free project page.
For more detailed tenant information, see Hudson’s release. Hudson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolta.
S and N Concourse Duty-free
The S Concourse duty-free project will happen in coordination with the S Concourse Evolution (SCE) project. More information will be coming soon on both the S and N Concourse duty-free expansions.
Estimated Project Costs
Total estimated project costs for the A Concourse Duty-free project are currently between $8 and $15 million. Costs for the other concourse duty-free projects will be updated as design plans progress.
Rendering courtesy of Sea Tac Duty Free Joint Venture
