WORLD DUTY FREE UNVEILS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING OFFICIAL STORE

Bethesda, Maryland, May 11, 2016 - Today marked the launch of the refurbished Empire State Building Official Store by Dufry company, World Duty Free.  Located on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building, the extensively renovated space now spans an impressive 4,200 square feet, adding an additional 1,200 square feet to the previous store which first opened in 1990. 

The bright and vibrant store, devoted to memorabilia of the world-famous building and New York City, has been elegantly re-designed in partnership with Empire State Realty Trust. With Art Deco features intact, the Empire State Building Official Store has been modernized to improve the accessibility of merchandise to over 4 million people who visit the landmark each year.   

As they approach the space, visitors are greeted by a showcase window bearing a striking logo and intricate etchings of original design features that celebrate the Machine Age and can be found on the ceiling in the lobby of the Empire State Building. One particularly striking feature in the store is a large Art Deco inspired ceiling decoration. The interior of the store includes gold detailing and garnet colored statement walls, a nod to the Art Deco heritage. Furthermore, digital screens incorporated into the store layout showcase exclusive artwork, Empire State Building trivia, and Empire State Building tower light shows.  

A broad product range is offered and a carefully curated selection of bespoke souvenirs reflect both the historical prominence of the building, as well as modern, artistic interpretations of its beauty. Much of the collection is designed exclusively for the Empire State Building Official Store. Signature products include: 

• Beautifully crafted, hand-painted stemware from Lolita that captures the classic Art Deco design of the building and the excitement of New York City 

• A unique collection of artisan chocolates including a three-pound, solid chocolate replica of the Empire State Building and a 14-pound, 18-inch-tall solid chocolate King Kong 

• And apparel items featuring exclusive designs of the Empire State Building, King Kong and New York City. The collection includes both whimsical and modern styling, as well as classic and retro designs.   

Joseph DiDomizio, CEO of Division 5, Dufry, comments, "The Empire State Building is not only a New York landmark, but also an international icon, The World’s Most Famous Building. We are honored to be partners with Empire State Realty Trust. Their sharp attention to detail and substantial investment into the Empire State Building itself has resulted in an exemplary experience for all those who travel to New York City and we are proud to be part of that journey." 

“We are excited to offer a new and improved shopping experience,” says Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO, Empire State Realty Trust (NYSE:ESRT). “The redesign has enhanced one of the core elements of the Empire State Building Experience and improves engagement in the retail store.” 

The Empire State Building Official Store is open seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Visitors may also browse a wide selection of gifts on the Empire State Building Official Store website www.empirestatebuildinggifts.com.   

For further information: 

Alys O’Neill  

Communications Consultant  

WORLD DUTY FREE (a Dufry company) 

Email: alys.oneill@instinctif.com  

Telephone: +1 646 762 1396 

Renzo Radice 

Corporate Communications & Investor Relations 

DUFRY 

Email: renzo.radice@dufry.com   

Telephone: +41 61 266 44 19 

Dufry Group – A leading global travel retailer 

Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN; BM&FBOVESPA: DAGB33) is a leading global travel retailer operating around 2,200 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas. Dufry employs over 31,000 people. The Company, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operates in 63 countries in all five continents.  

World Duty Free’s core business is tax and duty free shopping and its proposition covers the complete spectrum of airport shopping including Beauty, Wines & Spirits, Food & Confectionery, Tobacco, Sunglasses, Watches & Jewellery and souvenirs. 

 
Social Responsibility 

Dufry cares for children and supports social projects from SOS Kinderdorf in Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Morocco and Ivory Coast. SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-political and non-demonstrational organization established for orphaned and destitute children all over the world. 

For more information, please visit www.dufry.com and www.worlddutyfreegroup.com 

About the Empire State Building 

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the “World’s Most Famous Building.” With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions as the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding,  www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.  

About Empire State Realty Trust 

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of December 31, 2015, consisting of 9.3 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 723,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio. 

For more information, please visit www.dufry.com and www.worlddutyfreegroup.com