Blueprint on digital natives driving a new travel retail

Thomas Kaneko Henningsen, Partner at Blueprint, says as airports and retailers continue to adapt to Gen Z’s digital-first mindset, AI implementations are proving crucial in creating the seamless, personalized experiences these consumers demand

Positioned as a “business development consultancy,” Blueprint combines expertise in strategy, knowledge transfer and collaborative innovation to help airports, operators, and brands respond to evolving consumer demands. Blueprint’s approach in the travel retail industry goes beyond the traditional consultancy model.

Thomas Kaneko Henningsen, Partner at Blueprint, recently moderated a pivotal session on Airport Consumer Profiles 2030 at ACI EUROPE in Helsinki. The panelists including eurotrade Flughafen München, Gharage, Finavia and m1nd-set shared insights with over 150 industry delegates on how traveling shoppers are ushering in a new era.

Thomas Kaneko Henningsen moderated a pivotal session at ACI EUROPE in Helsinki

The revelations about Gen Z’s impact on travel retail and the growing influence of artificial intelligence sparked considerable interest among airport stakeholders looking to adapt to changing consumer behaviors.

“The world’s first digital natives, Gen Z represents a global lifestyle transcending age groups, nationalities, social backgrounds and cultures, unified by digitalization and enhanced by AI,” says Henningsen.

Theo Goldberg, Director of the Amsterdam Schiphol Retailers’ Association (ARA)

As this generation emerges as travel retail’s fastest-growing customer segment, airports and retailers are racing to implement artificial intelligence solutions that cater to these digital natives’ preferences. This technological transformation is reshaping the airport customer journey, with innovative AI applications already showing promising results at major European hubs.