Tourists shopping in London can now receive instant cash VAT refunds with ease and efficiency
Bahrain, September 22, 2010: Kanoo, one of the largest independent, family owned group of companies in the Gulf Region and Premier Tax Free, Europe’s major Tax Free Shopping provider, today announced that they have further extended their downtown VAT refund partnership to include the United Kingdom. Available initially from within two Kanoo Foreign Exchange branches located in the Haymarket and Knightsbridge areas of London, this new service allows international tourists to receive their VAT refunds in cash with real ease and efficiency.
Thanks to the collaboration between Kanoo Foreign Exchange Services and Premier Tax Free, tourists visiting London can receive an instant VAT refund from one of two city centre branches on the day of purchase prior to going to airport customs.
“Following the successful launch of our expanded VAT refund service within the prestigious Printemps Department Store in Paris earlier this summer, it made perfect sense to extend similar facilities to those visiting London. Until now, most customers have had to obtain their cash refunds at the airport, adding to the time spent there. Kanoo and Premier Tax Free aim to make Tax Free Shopping all that more enjoyable and easy, by offering refunds in cash at city centre locations. Our aim is that customers will spend more of their time enjoying shopping and visiting London, rather than additional time at airports” explains Nabeel Kanoo, Senior General Manager of Kanoo Travel.
The Kanoo Foreign Exchange branches in the Haymarket and Knightsbridge are conveniently located close to the main tourist and shopping areas of London, including the well known luxury department store Harvey Nicols. In addition, Kanoo offers a full foreign exchange service enabling tourists to receive their refund in the currency of their choice.
The Tax Free Shopping concept allows non-European residents to pay less for purchases made within the European Union. UK legislation stipulates that tourists must spend more than £30 in one store and on the same day, in order to become eligible for a VAT refund. They then receive a VAT refund voucher at the point of sale and are required to present their goods to customs upon leaving the EU. With VAT currently at 17.5% in the United Kingdom and due to increase to 20% in 2011, this equates to significant savings for visitors from the GCC, Middle East, North Africa and beyond. Premier Tax Free offers tax free shopping in partnership with over 10,000 luxury retail outlets throughout the U.K. and over 3,000 in London alone.
Kanoo and Premier Tax Free plan to further extend this service to customers next summer, to include new cities and new refund destinations in the Middle East.
For more information on how to shop tax free and details of your nearest Kanoo branches in the U.K. visit www.kanootravel.co.uk, for France www.kanoofes.fr, www.kanootravel.com for all your travel requirements or www.premiertaxfree.com .
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About YBA Kanoo Group:
Established in Bahrain in 1890, Kanoo is one of the largest independent, family owned group of companies in the Gulf Region. This diversified business conglomerate operates across a wide spectrum of industries, including; foreign exchange, corporate and leisure travel, holidays, shipping machinery, oil & gas, power & industrial projects, exhibition services, courier services, logistics, specialty chemicals, business centres, other retail and commercial activities.
About Premier Tax Free:
Premier Tax Free pioneered Tourist VAT Refunds in Ireland in 1985 and has since become synonymous with quality Tax Free Shopping and Financial services across the globe. The company currently operates within 24 countries from The Americas, Europe, Middle East to South East Asia. Premier Tax Free is the official and exclusive Tourist VAT Refund provider for the Australian, Jordanian and Uruguayan Governments. Today, Premier Tax Free is the chosen VAT Refund provider for over 75,000 retail outlets globally.
For further information, please contact:
Tracey TIVNAN
Group Marketing Manager
PREMIER TAX FREE
Phone +33 1 56 79 55 55
Mobile +33 6 70 94 94 58
E-mail [email protected]
Internet www.premiertaxfree.com
Or
Bill Stewart
Group Planning Manager
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo W.L.L.
Phone +973 17220886
Mobile +973 38386436
Fax +973 17220893
E-mail [email protected]
Internet www.kanootravel.com
