International travelers are big business for the city of Grapevine.
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which offers 57 nonstop international flights, saw a 50 percent increase—from 5.59 million to 8.39 million— from 2011-15 in its number of international passengers. That includes a large number of connecting flights, which airlines often schedule at DFW.
Brady Closson, Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau managing director of sales and marketing, said the airport continues to be a huge source of economic impact for Grapevine because many international travelers come into the city on layovers.
Grapevine saw an estimated 1 million international visitors in 2015, and in fiscal year 2016, more than 67,000 guests boarded the Grapevine Visitors Shuttle for transportation to Grapevine’s historic downtown and Grapevine Mills, according to the CVB.
Annually, Grapevine sees a return of $2.3 billion in gross sales from visitors, according to the CVB.
Although Grapevine Mills is a large draw for international visitors, Grapevine Chamber of Commerce CEO RaDonna Hassel said the economic impact stretches to historic downtown, where travelers shop and dine at local businesses.
“International travelers are a large market for us,” Hassel said. “The shuttles from the airport are a great benefit to the traveler because it gives them something close to do while they are waiting. It’s also great for the community because it’s more dollars coming in. Those travelers take advantage of our retail, restaurants and attractions.”
Tax-free at Grapevine Mills
Closson said although enhanced duty-free options will benefit travelers on a shorter layover at DFW Airport, Grapevine’s shuttle provides flyers with a minimum of a four- to six-hour layover an opportunity to explore and shop in Grapevine’s historic downtown, Grapevine Mills and Grapevine Towne Center.
Trudy Cresswell, director of marketing and business development at Grapevine Mills, said international travelers make up a large percentage of the mall’s shoppers.
She said to help entice travelers to visit the mall, Grapevine Mills offers tax-free shopping. Next to the mall’s VF Outlet, international visitors can find the tax-free kiosk, which will refund international shoppers’ sales tax as long as they spend a minimum of $12 in Texas sales tax per store.
More than half of Grapevine Mills’ retailers participate in tax-free shopping, Cresswell said.
“Our tax-free shopping kiosk offers international shoppers a convenient way to receive additional savings during their visit,” she said. “International shoppers can receive a refund of a portion of the Texas sales tax paid on all their purchases made at participating stores.”
Duty-free shopping at DFW Airport
As the city of Grapevine looks to capitalize on the international travelers who have at least a four-hour layover, the airport is also looking to cater to its international crowd by opening a two-story, 20,000-square-foot duty-free shopping area, or shopping mall, in Terminal D, which is expected to open in the fall.
Duty-free shopping means customers are not charged local or state sales taxes, or duties. Discounts amount to at least 20 percent for many items.
The duty-free shops will feature international retail brands, such as Ferragamo, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Lancôme and Burberry. The shops will sell a variety of goods—clothing, cosmetics, electronics, leather goods, jewelry, handbags, wine and spirits, specialty foods and more.
DFW International Airport CEO Sean Donohue said expanding the shopping options in Terminal D will give international travelers the option of a high-end shopping experience such as the ones that can be had at the airports in Dubai or London.
“Terminal D hosts more than 7 million international travelers each year, and as our international profile grows, those customers look for world-class experiences and amenities,” Donohue said.
The new duty-free shops are the first upgrade to concessions in Terminal D since it opened in 2005.
Closson said DFW International Airport has a long tradition of offering outstanding shopping choices to consumers, and the expansion will only help to make the Grapevine area more enticing for travelers.
“The more that DFW International Airport is known as a shopping opportunity for gateway arrivals, the more travelers will select DFW as their arrival point,” he said.
