Smarte Carte

What Smarte Carte does

Smarte Carte, Inc. is a U.S.-based concession operator founded in 1970 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, specializing in self-service equipment and passenger services for high-traffic travel and leisure venues. Its core product portfolio includes self-service luggage carts, electronic lockers (with RFID, barcode, PIN, and dual-sided access), commercial strollers, massage chairs, wheelchairs, electric convenience vehicles, and shopping carts. These are deployed across 3,400+ locations on four continents, totaling 150,000+ assets, with concession positions at 300+ global airports including all of the top 50 U.S. airports, as well as amusement parks, waterparks, zoos, shopping centers, and transportation hubs. The company is backed by private equity firm 3i Group plc.

The business operates through a concession model: Smarte Carte provides equipment, maintenance, cash management, and audit services to venue operators, sharing in commission-based revenue while reducing the operational burden on the venue. Beyond physical assets, the company runs an extensive passenger services suite — baggage storage, porter services, bag wrapping, meet-and-greet, and lost-and-found management — alongside software platforms such as Smarte Deliver™ (last-mile delivery lockers) and the recently acquired Lost and Found Software cloud platform (acquired February 2026, extending operations into Europe and North America). Pricing is predominantly unit-based (per-day or per-piece), with examples ranging from $6-$40 depending on location and luggage size. Customers span aviation (primary vertical), amusement and entertainment (primary), retail, resorts, transportation, and last-mile delivery.

Smarte Carte's competitive position rests on a deeply embedded distribution network that is difficult to replicate, combined with long-standing customer relationships (25+ year average tenure with top 15 customers) and 50+ years of brand presence in the travel-services category. The company is pursuing a programmatic expansion strategy under PE ownership, layering technology-enabled services (notably the 2026 Lost and Found Software acquisition) onto its core asset base while extending into new geographies and verticals such as last-mile delivery.

Name

Smarte Carte

Legal name

Smarte Carte, Inc.

Website

https://smartecarte.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Smarte Carte is a U.S.-based concession operator providing self-service luggage carts, electronic lockers, strollers, massage chairs, and passenger services to airports, amusement parks, retail centers, and transportation hubs across 3,400+ locations on four continents. It serves venue operators through commission-generating equipment and managed-service programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Concession Services

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Returnable Transport Item (RTI) Pooling & Container Lifecycle Management (TLAEAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Baggage/Personal Belongings Protection Platforms (THALALAD)

Keywords

• Luggage cart rentals
• Airport concession services
• Electronic locker solutions
• Passenger mobility equipment
• Baggage storage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Concession Programs: Smarte Carte provides concession programs to high-traffic venues including equipment, maintenance, cash management, and audits. Partners receive commission-generating products and services that reduce operational costs.
2. Passenger Services: Baggage storage, porter services, lost and found, meet and greet, information services, and bag wrap services at airports and transportation hubs
3. Locker Rentals: Self-service luggage storage lockers available on first-come, first-served basis at airports and venues

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Smarte Carte provides self-service physical equipment (luggage carts, electronic lockers, massage chairs, strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs, and shopping carts) together with passenger services (baggage storage, porter, bag wrap, meet and greet, lost and found) to high-traffic venues on a full-service concession basis. It supplies, maintains, and operates the equipment while sharing revenue with venue operators such as airports, amusement parks, retail centers, and transportation hubs. The company complements these physical services with technology-enabled offerings including the Smarte Deliver package locker system and the cloud-based Lost and Found Software platform acquired in February 2026.

Product overview

Smarte Carte provides a comprehensive portfolio of self-service concession solutions and passenger services for high-traffic travel and leisure venues. The core product line includes luggage carts, electronic lockers (with RFID, barcode, PIN, and dual-sided access), massage chairs, strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs (Electric Convenience Vehicles), and shopping carts. Complementing the physical product portfolio is an extensive passenger services suite comprising baggage storage, porter services, bag wrapping, meet and greet assistance, and lost and found management. The company also offers Smarte Deliver for package delivery systems. In February 2026, Smarte Carte expanded its technology-enabled services through the acquisition of Lost and Found Software, a cloud-based platform for lost and found property management. The company operates as a concession partner to venues worldwide, providing equipment, maintenance, cash management, and operational services while generating commission-based revenue for venue partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smarte Deliver™: A customizable self-service package delivery system with lockers for efficient last-mile delivery

Products and services

• Luggage Carts Self-service luggage carts deployed at airports and transportation hubs, enabling travelers to transport baggage conveniently through terminals.
• Electronic Lockers

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ global airports served including all top 50 U.S. airports
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HMSHost: HMSHost is a leading airport food and beverage concessionaire operating at major North American airports, comparable to Smarte Carte's airport concession model with a broader F&B focus.
• Plaza Premium Group: Plaza Premium Group operates airport lounges and meet-and-assist services globally, overlapping with Smarte Carte's meet-and-greet, porter, and passenger services offerings at major airports including Changi.
• ABM Industries: ABM Industries is a large facility services provider with substantial airport services operations including janitorial, parking, and passenger assistance, overlapping with Smarte Carte's airport concession and passenger services portfolio.
• Delaware North: Delaware North is a major hospitality and concessions company operating at airports, sports venues, and entertainment destinations, comparable to Smarte Carte in operating concession programs at high-traffic venues.

Direct peers

• Excess Baggage: Excess Baggage operates luggage storage and baggage shipping services at UK rail stations and other travel hubs, directly competing with Smarte Carte's baggage storage and luggage handling offerings at airports and transportation centers.
• LuggageHero: LuggageHero runs a marketplace-style luggage storage network partnering with local shops at transit hubs and airports globally, competing with Smarte Carte's self-service locker and baggage storage services in similar venue types.
• Vertoe: Vertoe provides short-term luggage storage at airports, cities, and transit hubs, directly overlapping with Smarte Carte's attended baggage storage and self-service locker offerings at airports.
• Bounce: Bounce operates a global luggage storage network across airports, train stations, and cities, offering similar short-term baggage storage to Smarte Carte's airport locker and baggage storage products.
• Nannybag: Nannybag provides luggage storage at hotels, airports, and train stations across Europe and beyond, directly competing with Smarte Carte's locker and baggage storage services at transportation venues.

Emerging players

• Airportr: Airportr offers door-to-door luggage pickup and delivery services for air travelers, representing an emerging alternative to traditional airport baggage storage that competes with Smarte Carte's locker and baggage delivery products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/smartecarte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartecarte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smarte Carte