PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      5c 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     August 20, 2013 
DATE:    August 5, 2013 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   James R. Schone, Director, Aviation Business Development 
Deanna R. Zachrisson, Manager, Concessions Business 
SUBJECT:  New Foreign Currency Exchange Provider at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
(Airport). 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a lease and
concession agreement, substantially as drafted in Exhibit A, with a foreign currency exchange
company to provide foreign currency and other ancillary services in multiple locations at the
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a term of seven years.
SYNOPSIS 
As a major international gateway, the Airport is expected to provide foreign exchange services
for international travelers as a necessary and customary convenience.  Airport staff issued a
request for proposals for the operation of foreign currency exchange in late April. Proposals
were due on August 2, 2013 and the Port received four proposals from companies active in the
foreign currency exchange business in international airports. The proposals will be evaluated by
a staff evaluation panel in accordance with the scoring criteria identified in the request for
proposals.  Upon selection of the preferred provider, staff would commence negotiations for a
new seven-year contract. The new agreement would commence after January 1, 2014, and
include a minimum annual guarantee, terminal rent, and a percentage fee based on sales. The
seven-year term is typical for retail and service concessions and sufficient to cover the operator's
investment. 
BACKGROUND 
The Airport provides foreign currency exchange services at multiple locations in the facility
convenient for the international traveler. Currently, these services are provided in two locations
in the pre-security ticketing level (North and South Esplanades), baggage claim (near the
international arrivals carrousel), in Concourse A on the route to the South Satellite, and at the
South Satellite. Currency sales at the Airport in 2012 were just over $14 million, and revenue to
the Port was $772,289. The current provider of these services is Travelex Currency Services Inc.
This firm was selected in 2007 by a competitive process. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 5, 2013 
Page 2 of 4 
In the last few  years, the business of international travel from the Airport has changed
significantly. Direct international service has increased international enplanements by 7% in
2010, 5% in 2011, and a robust 9% in 2012 at the same time as domestic enplanements have
grown only modestly. This has increased the number of travelers for which for foreign currency
exchange services at the Airport may be desired.
However, the growing ease of use of debit and credit cards world-wide has limited the growth of
foreign currency exchange demand despite the dramatic increase in enplanements. Staff does not
predict a reversal of this trend. Easy access to ATMs abroad is expected to continue to erode this
business long-term.  This is similar to the nearly complete demise of the traveler's check that
began in the late 1990s. Nevertheless, the companies that are active in the foreign currency
exchange business can be expected to make adjustments and find innovations to their business
model in order to meet this new competitive picture. 
The foreign currency exchange business is a very mature, world-wide business. The companies
providing these services in airports have been in the marketplace for decades, and through
mergers and acquisitions, there are very few competitors in the marketplace, and they all offer
similar services.  Therefore, staff believes that the competition for this opportunity will be
between a small number of U.S. and European proposers. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The current foreign currency provider pays a combination of square footage rent and percentage
rent on sales. This is unique for th e Airport, but is due to the unique nature of foreign currency
exchange, where the product/service is money. 
The current operator pays the Port a terminal square foot charge ($102.09 per square foot) and a
tiered percentage rent fee, as follows: 
Sales up to $8 million: 5% 
$8 million to $10 million: 5.25% 
Over $10 million: 5.50% 
Five Year Sales History of Current Operator 
As summarized above, the sales history of the current foreign currency operator does not mirror
the growth in international enplanements at the Airport, largely due to the availability of ATM
machines that offer competitive fees and convenience for international travelers. Nevertheless, it
is important that the Airport continue to offer foreign exchange services for international
passengers because a significant portion of the traveling public continues to require these
services.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 5, 2013 
Page 3 of 4 

Year      Sales         Revenue to Port 
2008      $12,766,784    $683,863 
2009      $12,411,794    $679,355 
2010      $13,717,558    $729,683 
2011      $15,401,130    $779,045 
2012      $14,046,370    $772,289 

Summary of Business Terms for the New Agreement 
1. Term of Agreement: 
The successful proposer will be receive a term of seven years in four locations. 
2. Rent and Other Charges: 
The successful proposer will pay to the Port a base rental amount at the terminal per square foot
charge (currently $102.09) for the combined leasable square footage of all locations. This
amount is also the property rent, which is subject to Washington State leasehold excise tax
(currently 12.84%).  In addition, the new operator will pay additional amounts as follows: 
Minimum Annual Guarantee (MAG): 
Proposers will bid a Minimum Annual Guarantee (MAG) for the first and fourth year of the
agreement.  The first year MAG will also be paid for the second and third lease year with the
fourth year MAG also being paid for all subsequent years. The Property Rent will be credited
against the MAG each month. 
Percentage Fee: 
Proposers will bid the fee structure to be paid in the form of percentage of gross dollar volume.
Tiered rent proposals will be accepted. The percentage fee will be bid for each of the proposed 
types of services. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1)  Execute a new agreement with the current provider. Although expeditious, the
Port would forego the benefits of exposing this particular opportunity to direct competition. This
is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2)  Eliminate foreign currency services. Despite the increased use of debit and
credit cards by international travelers, the need for this service clearly remains for a significant

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
August 5, 2013 
Page 4 of 4 
portion of the traveling public and does provide the Port with non-aeronautical revenue. This is
not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3)  Award and negotiate a new lease and concession agreement for foreign
currency exchange services at the Airport. This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
Exhibit A: Draft Lease and Concession Agreement 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None.