As international tourism dried up MONARQ Group shifted its focus to digital marketing, social media and e-commerce, Managing Director Robert de Monchy tells TMI. To promote its brands on social media, the independent premium wine and spirits distributor launched MONARQ’s Social Club early on during the pandemic with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. The company […]
Duty Free Global’s Barry Geoghegan doubles down on travel retail worldwide
When the coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down international travel, Duty Free Global doubled down on its core travel retail business. Duty Free Global Founder & Commercial Director Barry Geoghegan tells TMI that as wine and spirits duty free specialists to travel retailers worldwide, DFG did not pivot to domestic markets. “Duty Free is what we […]
2021 Travel Markets Insider April Special Edition
Click here to download the TMI 2021 April magazine special edition. Click here to view as a book
Wine Classics: Staying connected in Canada despite border shutdown
The U.S./Canada border has now been closed for more than a year. But Wine Classics International’s relationships with its suppliers and the Canadian duty free operators is stronger than ever, Sherri Gidney, Sales and Marketing Travel Retail Manager at Wine Classics, tells TMI. The two countries closed the border on March 21, 2020, and the […]
Juan Gentile creates Distribution Spirits Company to build premium brands in the Caribbean
Respected spirits executive Juan Gentile has created his own wine and spirits distribution company based in Miami with a focus on the Caribbean and duty free markets. Gentile, who worked for Edrington for almost 20 years most recently as Senior Vice President, Managing Director Americas Travel Retail at Edrington Americas, tells TMI he will use […]
Otis McAllister: “We are committed to Travel Retail”
Otis McAllister was expecting 2020 to be another record year for its travel retail division before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped that momentum in its tracks, Otis McAllister Vice President Sales and Operations Marc Panara tells TMI. The company has steadily grown to be the pre-eminent regional confectionery distributor in North America. “Like everyone, the pandemic […]
Logistics: WTDC’s diversification from core business delivers added benefits
Miami’s family-owned Foreign Trade Zone company WTDC, which specializes in logistics for spirits for the duty free/travel retail and cruise industries, diversified its business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua tells TMI that this expansion away from its core duty free/travel retail business has strengthened his company and […]
GAP chooses The Design Solution for US$300m redevelopment of commercial space at Guadalajara International Airport
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) has partnered with The Design Solution to redesign Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport. GAP, which says it wants to create the “best airport in Mexico” at its home base in Guadalajara, plans to invest 10 billion Pesos (US$504m) by 2026. The plan includes an additional runway and new […]
Swarovski launches bold new vision in transformative rebrand
Austrian crystal house Swarovski has unveiled a bold new vision for the company that it says celebrates crystal in all its forms. Marking its 125th anniversary, the rebrand includes a striking, restyled swan logo, with the iconic image now poised to take flight, and vibrant new store concepts across the globe, transforming the way Swarovski […]
Beam Suntory extends Bowmore Timeless Series with new GTR exclusive 31 Year Old Whisky
Beam Suntory has added a Global Travel Retail exclusive 31 Year Old variant to its Bowmore Timeless Series. The new expression was launched in select travel retail locations last month. The Bowmore Timeless Series is a celebration of the 240 years of Bowmore’s legacy and is designed to capture the essence of the whisky’s Islay […]
Porsche Design holds exclusive Rouge Duty Free event for Grenada launch
Lifestyle brand Porsche Design has launched its stylish collection of sunglasses at Rouge Duty Free on the island of Grenada. The launch was kicked off with an exclusive event for invited guests at Rouge’s popular luxury store located in Port Louis, Grenada’s renowned marina for mega-yachts. The Porsche Design sunglasses collections showcase the brand’s combination […]
Hudson officially opens Nonstop, powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology, at Dallas Love Field Airport
Travel retail operator Hudson has opened the first Hudson Nonstop store using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL). The opening celebrates Hudson’s commitment to delivering transformative retail experiences tailored to today’s travelers, says the company. Hudson is a Dufry company that operates more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, […]
Dufry wins new retail contracts at Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay
Global travel retailer Dufry has been awarded a new concession license at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where it has held a contract since 2012. The airport operator, MBJ Airports Limited (“MBJ”), is currently expanding and redeveloping the retail space as it expands and modernizes the facility. Montego Bay is one of the […]
BREAKING NEWS: U.S. suspends tariffs on single malt Scotch whisky
In a huge dose of good news for the travel retail industry, the U.S. has agreed to suspend tariffs on UK goods including single malt whiskies, it was announced this morning. The tariffs were imposed in retaliation over subsidies to the aircraft maker Airbus. The duties will be suspended for four months while the two […]
MAG USA to open new Escape Lounge at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Chicago-based MAG USA has been awarded the contract to build and operate an Escape Lounge at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) post security in Terminal 3. The contract is a joint venture with Gideon Toal Management and Superior Hospitality Group. MAG USA anticipates this lounge to open near the end of this year. Escape Lounge FLL will be a common-use […]