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WHSmith Opens First U.S. Location at NYC Airport Leveraging Amazon’s Cashierless Tech

• February 17, 2022 at 12:35 PM EST
• By Nicole Silberstein

Global travel retailer WHSmith has opened its first North American retail location inside the redesigned Terminal B concourse at New York City’s LaGuardia airport. The store is equipped with Amazon ’s Just Walk Out (JWO) technology, offering travelers a checkout-free shopping experience.

“As a group, we’re always striving to provide the best retail experience for our customers, and this new technology allows travelers to shop quickly and with ease during their journey,” said Toby Keir, CEO of Marshall Retail Group, which owns the WHSmith brand, in a statement. “It’s a hugely exciting time for our business and we look forward to strengthening the retail provision in airports across the U.S. by opening more stores under our WHSmith, Marshall Retail Group and InMotion  brands.”

With just a dip or a tap of a credit card, customers can enter the new WHSmith store, pick up their desired items and leave without waiting in line. As travelers shop, the JWO technology determines what they take from, or return, to shelves. Customers’ credit cards will be charged only for the items they took with them after they leave the store.

“Amazon’s Just Walk Out Shopping experience is designed to be convenient and effortless, so the new WHSmith store will be ideal for travelers who are in a hurry to pick up refreshments, reading materials or gifts before or after their flights,” said Dilip Kumar, VP of Physical Retail and Technology at Amazon in a statement.

WHSmith joins a growing roster of retailers that have implemented Amazon’s JWO tech in their stores, including fellow travel retailer Hudson at the Dallas Love Field Airport, Sainsbury’s in London, several Starbucks locations and at the Amazon-owned Whole Foods .

• Posted In: Customer Experience , New Store Concepts , Retail Innovation , Retail Store Design
• Tagged With: airport retail , Amazon , Amazon Just Walk Out technology , cashierless checkout , checkout-free tech , JWO , marshall retail group , travel retail , whsmith
• This post has been read by 1543 executives in the retail industry.
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WHSmith in ‘strongest ever position’ as international travel opens up

By Hugh Radojev 2023-01-18T07:22:00+00:00

• No comments

WHSmith is in its “strongest ever position as a global travel retailer” after travel revenues across its UK and international travel businesses soared.

Overall revenues for WHSmith’s North American travel business were up 31% compared with the previous year

In a trading update for the 20 weeks to January 14, WHSmith group revenue jumped 41% compared with the previous year and was 20% up on pre-pandemic, 2019 levels. 

Across its travel arm, WHSmith reported a 77% increase in sales year on year and a 48% increase on pre-pandemic levels – this despite passenger levels well below 2019 levels. 

Travel UK revenues were up 70% compared to the prior year for the 20-week period and up 18% versus 2019. Air was up 132%, rail up 24% and hospitals up 32% year on year, as WHSmith focused on increasing average transaction values and broadening its categories. 

Overall revenues for its North American travel arm were up 31% compared with the previous year and on a proforma basis were up 20% versus 2019 with improvements in air passenger numbers over the critical Thanksgiving period. 

Total revenues in the retailer’s travel business across the rest of the world soared 198%, driven by “notable improvements in Australia and Asia, with Europe the best-performing region in the period”.

The retailer’s UK high street business like-for-like revenues were flat in line with expectations, although WHSmith said it had “maintained good stock availability and we exited Christmas with a clean stock position”.

In terms of outlook, the retailer said it had had a “strong start to the year” and said it was confident of progress in 2023 if international travel numbers continued to pick up. 

Chief executive Carl Cowling said: “The group has made a strong start to the financial year, with our global travel retail business growing strongly across all regions.

“Our strategy to transform our customer offer continues at pace through broadening our categories and expanding our ranges, to include health and beauty and tech accessories, and is underpinned by a forensic approach to retail.

“We continue to make good progress with our store-opening programme and, in the year to date, we have opened more than 40 new stores. We have also won significant tenders at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC and Palm Springs International Airport in California in the US, as well as a further three InMotion stores in Italy at Rome Fiumicino Airport. This takes the total number of stores we have won and are yet to open to over 130.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team across the globe and, in particular, our store colleagues who have worked exceptionally hard serving our customers throughout this busy trading period.

“The group is in its strongest-ever position as a global travel retailer. This strength, combined with the ongoing improvement in passenger numbers across the globe, means that we are confident of another year of significant growth in 2023.”

Analysis: Is WHSmith underestimating the power of the high street?

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WHSmith sees ‘strong growth’ across all regions in travel retail

By Chris Madden in Financial News , Latest News January 19, 2023 Comments Off on WHSmith sees ‘strong growth’ across all regions in travel retail

Revenue across most of the world is up on 2019 for the retailer’s travel business

WHSmith has seen impressive recovery in its travel retail business, with 77% growth in the last part of 2022 supported by improved results around the world.

Reflecting on the company’s results, Group Chief Executive Carl Cowling said the performance of the WHSmith Travel stores was helping to drive a “strong start” to 2023.

“The group has made a strong start to the financial year,” he said, “with our global travel retail business performing strongly across all regions.”

The travel retail business for the 20 weeks to 14 January was also up 48% on the results recorded in 2019, and helped the group’s whole operation surpass pre-pandemic revenues by 20%.

WHSmith Travel UK revenue was up 70% year-on-year for the period and 18% up on 2019, thanks to “improving passenger numbers across UK air”, as well as good results from the company’s hospital and rail business. The company is poised to open 15 new UK stores during the next year.

‘Positioned for future growth’

“We continue to focus on initiatives that position us well for future growth,” A WHSmith spokesperson explained. “We have increased average transaction values and broadened our categories during the period, for example, by ranging more health and beauty and wellbeing products, providing customers with a onestop-shop for all their travel essentials.

“Our market leading tech accessories stores, InMotion, are performing strongly.”

In North America , revenue was up 31% year-on-year for the period, and surpassed 2019 by 20%, thanks to a “strong track record of tender wins”. WHSmith has opened eight new stores across Reagan National Airport in Washington and Palm Springs Airport , with a further 37 set to open this financial year and a total of 60 won and due to open over the next three years.

Revenue for the Rest of the World business was up 198% on 2022, with “notable improvements” in Australia and Asia . Since November, the company has opened 12 new stores and won tender for three more.

The group is in its strongest ever position as a global travel retailer

Cowling continued: “The group is in its strongest ever position as a global travel retailer. This strength, combined with the ongoing improvement in passenger numbers across the globe, means that we are confident of another year of significant growth in 2023.

““Our strategy to transform our customer offer continues at pace through broadening our categories and expanding our ranges, to include health and beauty and tech accessories, and is underpinned by a forensic approach to retail.”

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Travel Retailer WHSmith Makes U.S. Store Debut – with Amazon Tech

February 17, 2022

The British-based global travel retailer WHSmith is letting people pay without having to stand in line at its first North American store. 

WHSmith, located in the new Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport in New York, offers Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to provide a checkout-free shopping experience. With a dip or a tap of a credit card, customers can enter the store, pick up their desired items, and leave without waiting in line. The product assortment includes on-the-go snacks, beverages and everyday travel essentials

As customers shop, Just Walk Out technology determines what they take from or return to the shelves, and the credit card they used will be charged for the items they took after they leave the store. The platform, currently in use at Amazon Go convenience and grocery stores, combines computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine-learning algorithms. 

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WH Smith acquires US travel retail business InMotion

British retailer WH Smith has announced the acquisition of USA-based travel retailer InMotion for US$198m, marking a significant step in WH Smith’s international travel growth strategy.

InMotion is the largest airport-based digital accessories retailer in North America. Established in 1998, it operates a portfolio of 114 stores across 43 airports in the USA, with a presence in 22 of the top 25 busiest US airports. InMotion sells a range of digital accessories including headphones and earbuds, travel accessories, mobile power units, portable speakers and action cameras.

WH Smith’s travel arm has delivered more than 10 consecutive years of profit growth and now generates two thirds of the group’s operating profit. International travel forms a key part of the group’s future growth and InMotion was identified as an attractive acquisition in this context.

Following the acquisition, InMotion will continue to operate as a standalone business as part of WH Smith’s international travel business. The senior management team of InMotion will continue to lead the business, including Jeremy Smith, who has been the CEO for 12 years.

Stephen Clarke, group chief executive, WH Smith, said, “InMotion is a highly successful pure play travel retailer in the world’s largest travel retail market. The acquisition of InMotion is an exciting value creation opportunity for the WH Smith Group and marks a major step in our international travel retail growth strategy. It doubles the size of our international travel business and provides us with attractive growth opportunities.

“The travel retail market in North America for digital accessories offers significant growth potential. As the market leader, recognized for its best-in-class customer service, InMotion is well positioned to take advantage of that potential.

“In addition, InMotion provides us with a scalable platform to launch the WH Smith airport format into the USA, the world’s largest travel retail market for news, books and convenience products.”

Jeremy Smith, president and CEO of InMotion, added, “The team at InMotion are delighted to be joining such an iconic business with a high growth international division. Working together, we look forward to combining our expertise in travel retail to grow the InMotion business further both within and outside of the USA, while at the same time accelerating WH Smith’s international growth strategy.”

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You are in: Home » Industry » WHSmith revenues rise thanks to strong travel performance

WHSmith revenues rise thanks to strong travel performance

By jasdip sensi.

WHSmith has reported a 28% rise in group revenues in its full-year results, thanks to its booming travel business.

In the full year ended 31 August 2023, the high street retailer reported “strong summer trading” at its stores at locations such as airports and railway stations, which helped its travel arm see a 42% rise in sales.

According to the retailer, its high street business “performed well and in line with expectations”. However, WHSmith added that its tail channel has been “resilient given the ongoing industrial action impacting rail.”

“Our strategy remains unchanged as we continue to focus on cost efficiencies and the return on space,” it said.

WHSmith added: “In the financial year ending 31 August 2024, we anticipate opening over 40 new stores in North America and 25 new stores in the Rest of the World.

“Including our UK travel business, we therefore anticipate opening over 80 new stores across all our travel businesses in the financial year ending August 2024, demonstrating the growth prospects in travel across all our geographical markets.

“We continue to be active in several ongoing tenders.”

Download the 2023 UK Travel report now for insight into:

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WH Smith PLC

Wh smith plc is a leading global retailer in news, books and convenience for the world’s travelling customer., since 1792, we've been there for every journey, every innovation, every moment as we've evolved with the changing retail landscape., we now have over 1,700 stores in over 30 countries worldwide, and we are present in airports, hospitals, railway stations and on the high street..

WH Smith PLC is a leading global travel retailer for news, books and convenience, with a smaller business located on UK high streets. We're proud to be the familiar face people trust on their journeys, both in life and through life.

At the heart of our business is our people and our customers. As a diverse group of over 14,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

We aim to deliver our goals through our strategic priorities and initiatives by: constantly innovating, expanding globally, improving our profitability and delivering sustainable returns.

And as we continue on our journey, our aim is simple: to make every one of life's journeys better.

WHSmith Life’s Journeys

Delivering sustainable shareholder returns is a core focus for WH Smith PLC.

Investment Case

WH Smith PLC is one of the world’s leading international travel retailers, with a smaller business located on UK high streets.

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SUSTAINABILITY

We're present in over 30 countries across the world, employing a diverse group of over 14,000 employees, and supporting thousands of local communities and the environment around us. As a major retailer, our operations can have far-reaching consequences and we are increasingly sensitive to the global issues that impact our world. We want our customers to trust us to act sustainably, ensuring we have minimal impact on the environment, that we source our products fairly and ethically and that we support the communities where we operate.

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Highlight links, change contrast, increase text size, increase letter spacing, readability bar, dyslexia friendly font, increase cursor size, mps students awarded 2024 keegstra and thomashow travel awards.

• Apr 16, 2024

Graduate students Xiaotong Jiang and Bailey Kleven are the 2024 recipients of the Keegstra and Thomashow Travel Awards .

The Keegstra and Thomashow Travel Awards are named for two former directors of the PRL, Kenneth Keegstra and Michael Thomashow. The award annually recognizes two distinguished PRL graduate students and support them in presenting their research at a high-quality research conference. The recipients were announced April 15 at the Anton Lang Memorial Awards Ceremony.

“Presenting research results and networking at meetings is essential to the career of all scientists,” said Christoph Benning , director of the PRL. “This is especially true for young scientists, and this is what the Keegstra and Thomashow award facilitates. On behalf of all at the PRL I am congratulating this year’s awardees.”

Xiaotong Jiang is a member of Jianping Hu’s lab , and is in the Department of Plant Biology and the Molecular Plant Sciences graduate program .

She will be attending the American Society of Plant Biologists 2024 Plant Biology conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. She will present on her research, “Arabidopsis Glyoxylate Reductase 1 is involved in a non-canonical photorespiratory pathway under high light conditions.”

She is looking forward to connecting with and discussing her work with researchers.

“I believe that my experience at the conference will have a long-lasting impact on my career, and the Keegstra/Thomashow travel award is a huge support for this,” Jiang said.

Bailey Kleven is in Gregg Howe’s lab. She is in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Molecular Plant Sciences graduate program .

She is attending the 2024 International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) in San Diego, California and will present on her research, “Coordination of energy supply and demand by CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE 8.”

“In addition to presenting my current work, I am eager to delve into the latest cutting-edge research, resources, techniques and tools employed within the Arabidopsis community,” Kleven said. “I believe these insights could not only advance my research but also open up possibilities for potential collaborations.”

learn more about the Keegstra and Thomashow Travel Awards

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'Conan O'Brien Must Go' is side-splitting evidence of life beyond late night TV

Eric Deggans

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway. Conaco/Max hide caption

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway.

To be honest, when I first heard Conan O'Brien was ending his TV talk show in 2021, I assumed news that he might turn to variety shows and online programs to continue his career was some combination of face-saving and wishful thinking.

But after watching the four episodes of his new Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , it's now obvious — even to a thickheaded critic like me — that leaving late night TV really was liberating for O'Brien. He's leveraged his unique sensibility into several different podcasts, a deal with Sirius XM , specials featuring other stand-up comics and now this travel series for Max — which resembles jokey specials he did for cable channel TBS back in the day.

And as the late night TV genre crumbles under sagging viewership and the decline of traditional media, O'Brien's renaissance also provides an example for the future — where fertile comedy minds and talented performers can spread their work over a much larger canvas.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is conan o'brien the best 'hot ones' guest ever discuss., learning a lesson from 'hot ones'.

O'Brien already made a splash recently with his brilliantly maniacal appearance on the interview-while-eating-hot-wings show Hot Ones , slobbering over hot sauces while claiming, as he was checked over by a fake doctor, that "I'm fine! I'm perfectly f*****g fine!"

This is the place where O'Brien shines — he's called it "this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid" — and it's on full, freakish, super silly display in every episode of Conan O'Brien Must Go .

The conceit of the show is pretty simple. O'Brien heads overseas to visit average folks in Norway, Argentina, Thailand and Ireland who had once Zoomed in to speak with him on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan . Sometimes the visits seem like a surprise — he catches one aspiring Norwegian rapper in shorts and Crocs after popping up on his doorstep — and others seem a bit more planned, including his visit to a radio show with about four listeners in Buenos Aires.

Each episode begins with a solemn monologue which sounds like it is delivered by the film world's most eccentric voice, German filmmaker and actor Werner Herzog (he's not credited in the show and when asked, a publicist at Max shared a quote from O'Brien: "I can neither confirm nor deny the voice in question.")

The torturous accent by "Herzog" makes every line sound absurdly hilarious, describing O'Brien as "the defiler ... with dull, tiny eyes ... the eyes of a crudely painted doll ... he scavenges in distant lands, uninvited, fueled by a bottomless hunger for recognition and the occasional selfie."

Now that's smart. And oh so stupid.

A funhouse mirror version of a travel show

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway Conaco/Max hide caption

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway

Fans of O'Brien's Conan Without Borders specials on TBS already know what his style is when he tackles a travel show — throwing himself into outrageous reactions and situations while working his quirky brand of improvised conversations with hapless bystanders.

In the Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , that includes O'Brien offering screechy vocals onstage during a performance of a Norwegian emo/rap band. Or asking provocative questions of a couple therapist/sex expert. Or getting beat up in a "fight" with a 10-year-old boy in a bar.

It's all an excuse for O'Brien to unleash his energetic wit, taste for silly absurdity and skill at drawing laughs from sympathetic — if often befuddled — strangers. Whether you enjoy this special will depend on how you feel about O'Brien's style, which can feel a bit like the world's best class clown doing everything possible to make you crack a smile.

(Rent a family in Norway so they can say goodbye when he gets on a SeaCraft? Check. Get local artists to paint a mural of O'Brien, a soccer star and The Pope on the side of a building in Argentina? Double check.)

'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend' Is A Joke Name For A Podcast — Sort Of

But what amazes in a larger sense is how O'Brien has turned his sensibility into a comedy brand to fuel work on many different platforms. And, at age 60, with more than 30 years as a comedy star, he's been released from the shackles of any genre to shine wherever he chooses — whether it's an episode of Hot Ones or a streaming service which sometimes looks like a collision between True Detective and 90 Day Fiancé .

Leaving late night TV as late night left him

I'm old enough that I started covering TV not long after O'Brien made his first move from the shadows of life as a comedy writer – he worked on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — to succeed David Letterman in 1993 as host of NBC's show Late Night (now hosted by Seth Meyers). Back then, NBC gave O'Brien years to figure out the show, honing his smartly serious comedy in a way that would inspire then-teenage fans like Seth Rogen and Bill Hader .

O'Brien left NBC after a disastrous deal where the network tried to make him host of its venerated late night program The Tonight Show and also keep its former host Jay Leno at the network. He moved to a late night show on TBS in 2010, but even then, there was a sense that his creativity was a bit hemmed in by the format.

After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night

By the time he left his TBS show Conan for good, it seemed O'Brien was already caught in a trend which would hobble other late night shows — as young viewers consumed his content online and ratings on cable dropped.

Now, with a podcast and digital media company worth many millions and growing status as a TV comedy legend still willing to do almost anything for a laugh, O'Brien is proving there is a successful life beyond late night.

Particularly, if you have the talent to play the fool while leaving little doubt you're also the smartest person in the room.

Brightline to Launch High-Speed Train from L.A. to Vegas

A 40-year-old fantasy moved one step closer to reality on Monday when the private company Brightline West drove the first spikes into the ground for a $12-billion bullet train that will connect a suburb of Los Angeles to Las Vegas .

The railway project, dubbed Brightline West, will transport passengers the 218 miles between Rancho Cucamonga and Sin City in two hours, which is half (or one-third, depending on traffic) of the time it currently takes by car. The zero-emission, fully electric trains will be able to reach speeds of up to 200 mph and will travel mostly along the center median of Interstate Highway 15 (aka I-15).

According to Brightline founder Wes Edens, a round-trip fare will cost about $400 per person.

"This is a historic project and a proud moment where we lay the foundation for a new industry," he said at a groundbreaking event in Las Vegas on April 22. "Today is long overdue."

Edens added that the current goal is to have trains operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Brightline West was recently awarded $3 billion through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill . The project also has received an additional $2.5 billion in private activity bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The rest of the initiative-roughly another $5.5 billion-will be privately funded.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg participated in Monday's groundbreaking ceremony, where he signaled that he was enthusiastic about the potential for high-speed rail in the United States.

"People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades, and now . . . it's finally happening," Buttigieg told the crowd. He added, "We're writing a new chapter in our country's transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air."

In addition to stimulating economic growth, the train could be a boon for travel to Las Vegas.

For this reason, leaders in Las Vegas were excited by the news; for decades politicians and tourism officials in the Nevada city have been openly dreaming of a way to better connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles and eliminate the drive often snarled by traffic.

"This high-speed rail system will be transformative for our region, reducing traffic congestion on the I-15 and providing access from our No. 1 feeder market," Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told AFAR.

Sean McBurney, regional president at Caesars Entertainment, which owns Caesars, Paris, Nobu Hotel, and the Cromwell, among other Vegas hotels, noted that one-third of the company's visitors come from Southern California and that this tourism is "critically important."

"As both areas continue to grow, transportation infrastructure must grow [as well]," he said. "High-speed rail in the I-15 corridor will add a much-needed round-trip transportation option to help ease traffic congestion and make it easier and more convenient than ever for visitors to enjoy Las Vegas and beyond."

Travelers, however, had mixed reactions to the news. On the one hand, the idea of high-speed rail travel between major Western cities certainly brings a sense of innovation and intrigue. On the other hand, skeptics raised questions about cost and the hassle of getting from Los Angeles proper to Rancho Cucamonga to pick up the train.

Though Rancho Cucamonga will connect to downtown Los Angeles via Metrolink regional rail, the suburb is 47 miles from downtown L.A.

Perez Hilton, a longtime celebrity influencer who recently moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, was concerned about the cost and logistics of the forthcoming high-speed train.

"It's incredibly disappointing that tickets are going to be around $400-that makes zero sense to me, and it doesn't even take you all the way to Los Angeles," Hilton told AFAR. "Go all the way to Los Angeles and lower ticket prices. Otherwise, it's cheaper to drive or take a bus or even take a flight. It should not be cheaper to take a flight."

As of now, the Brightline West system is expected to have stops in Las Vegas, Victor Valley (California), Hesperia (California), and Rancho Cucamonga.

The Las Vegas Station will be located near the Las Vegas Strip, on a 110-acre property north of Blue Diamond Road between I-15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. The site will provide access to Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Allegiant Stadium. The station will be approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.

In Rancho Cucamonga, the Brightline West station will be located on a five-acre property near Ontario International Airport. It will be co-located with existing multimodal transportation options, including California Metrolink for seamless connectivity to downtown Los Angeles and other locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.

The Victor Valley station will be in the city of Apple Valley; both that and the Hesperia station are located in the Inland Empire between Rancho Cucamonga and Barstow and will provide local rail service for residents in these High Desert communities.

Once complete, the L.A.-to-Vegas train route will be Brightline's second major rail endeavor; the company's first rail system in Florida connects Miami to Orlando and began initial service between its South Florida stations in 2018. In September 2023, Brightline's Orlando station opened at Orlando International Airport, connecting South Florida to Central Florida.

Brightline West broke ground, now the high-speed train is on the clock for 2028 Olympics

Getting from Las Vegas to Southern California in a high-speed bullet train might sound like a thing of the future, but Brightline West is working on making it a reality.

Construction is currently under way for Brightline West, a 218-mile railway system that will connect a Los Angeles suburb to Sin City, turning a 4-hour car ride into a 2-hour high speed train ride. 

The metal on the tracks won't be dry or operational until 2028, just in time for the Summer Olympic Games which are set to take place in Los Angeles then.  

It took an estimated $12 billion to make this “dream” a reality, with Brightline securing $3 billion in federal funds in December and another $2.5 billion in private bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible …. it’s finally happening,” Pete Buttigieg, secretary of transportation said Monday. 

What is Brightline West?

Brightline West is a years-long eco-transportation project by Brightline that will connect Nevada to Southern California via a 218-mile railway system. 

Fully electric and zero emission trains will make the trek, reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour. 

Brightline West route and map, Rancho Cucamonga among stops

Brightline West’s high-speed rail will make plenty of stops along its 218-mile route from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga. Victor Valley and Hesperia are among the stops included on the trip. 

Brightline says the route, which has full environmental clearance, will run along I-15. 

Wes Edens to connect other ‘city pairs’ in future

Wes Edens, Brightline’s founder, called the project “historic.” 

Brightline West is set to “lay the foundation for a new industry,” even if it's long overdue. 

“This is a proud moment … where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system … But the blueprint we’ve created with Brightline will allow us to repeat this model in other city pairs around the country.”

Brightline West is just the latest example of connecting city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive” across the country, with a similar project completed in 2018 to connect Florida Central and South Florida.

Contributing: James Powel

Moodie Davitt Report

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WH Smith sells US travel retail divisions for US$76 million – UPDATED

US. London-based WHSmith is selling its Atlanta-based US airport division, WHSmith USA Travel Retail, to US competitor Hudson Group in a deal valued at £41 million (US$64 million).

The deal was completed yesterday. The UK company will close its Atlanta corporate office, at the cost of around 100 jobs.

The total consideration of £41 million consists of £25 million (US$40.2 million) of cash and £16 million (US$25.8 million) of deferred consideration, payable by way of an interest-bearing loan note with a 5% coupon. WHSmith is selling 180 stores located in 23 airport locations together with certain assets and liabilities associated with the US airports business.

In the year to 31 August 2002, the US airports business generated sales of £133 million (US$214 million) and store contribution before central costs of £8 million (US$12.9 million).

The sale is conditional on receiving the necessary regulatory approvals and assignment of leases from the airport landlords. Both WHSmith and the Hudson Group anticipate the transaction will complete within two months.

WHSmith is also divesting its US hotel-based gift shops to a group headed by former WHSmith USA ceo Sean Anderson, under the name of Travel Traders. This separate sale includes 280 gift shops in several large hotel chains, including Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott for the sum of only £8 million (US$13 million or US$46,400 per store). WHSmith will retain a 15% interest in this entity.

Following completion of these transactions, WHSmith said in a statement that it will provide transitional services for the US hotels business until 29 February 2004, after which the head office in Atlanta will close. “WHSmith will retain no ongoing operational presence in the USA,” it said.

WHSmith sells books, magazines, newspapers, candy and other items in shops in Atlanta Hartsfield airport (the world’s busiest airport) in the atrium, international terminal and Concourse A. Newsstand employees at Hartsfield and other US airports will transfer to Hudson, said WHSmith group chief executive Richard Handover. Hudson already operates several newsstands at Hartsfield.

He said shareholders in Britain were increasingly nervous about the US businesses, and WHSmith did not want to make the kind of investment that would be needed to stay in the business for the long haul.

In a statement, he added: “WHSmith operated profitably in the US market for sixteen years, when a combination of an economic downturn and the terrorist attacks of September 11th moved the businesses from profit to substantial losses.

“While the airport retailing market is one in which we will continue to participate, in other parts of the world, the disposal of the hotels retailing business would leave a sub-scale business in the US. The Board therefore decided it was in the shareholders’ best interests to exit from both the US hotel and airport retailing markets.

“The disposals will be significantly earnings enhancing.” The company will continue to operate airport shops in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where it also has a large non-airport retail presence.

Hudson Group president and ceo James Cohen said: “This is an important strategic development for the Hudson Group allowing us to extend the national recognition of the Hudson brand. This acquisition will raise Hudson Group’s premier retail footprint to 450 news and gift stores in North American airports and commuter terminals, establishing the company as the leading transportation retailer throughout North America.”

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