Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 17 No. 17

The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.

Today’s issue of Travel Markets Insider has a heavy emphasis on news from North American airports.

In Minnesota, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, operator of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), last week held its full commission meeting to approve the winners of 50 retail and food & beverage concessions at MSP. Nearly all of the recommended bidders were approved, including Dufry for the Duty Free/Duty Paid concession; and Hudson for one of two News and Convenience store packages. The only dissension involved World Duty Free Group, which had originally been the recommended bidder for the second News and Convenience Store package, but was replaced by Delaware North at a subsequent meeting of the MAC’s Management & Operations Committee. Both WDF and Delaware North presented compelling arguments before the commission, particularly WDF North America president Padraig Drennan, but Delaware North prevailed in the end. See story on page 1. To view a video of the actual meeting, click here.
Click on section C. III. Management and Operations Committee. The World Duty Free discussion is the first order of business discussed. It makes for interesting viewing.
See story on page 1.

In Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles International Airport celebrated the grand opening of its luxury wing in Concourse A and B, highlighted by the gala inauguration and ribbon-cutting of seven luxury branded boutiques by Duty Free Americas. See additional photos here. Page 1.

In Miami, top government and tourism officials gathered at Miami International Airport last week to announce that the Sunshine State, in part driven by record numbers at MIA, is on track to welcome a historic 100 million visitors this year. See more details on page 3.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is holding an Airport Concessions Connections Networking event this Thursday, Aug. 27, for the upcoming RFPs to be issued for Midway International Airport. Details on page 4.

Looking north, the duty free stores in Canada‘s airports continue to report impressive results, with half year sales up 20% over last year. Land border stores also turned in a positive sales performance, up slightly more than 2% for the first six months. Full story on page 2.

SUPPLY SIDE.

Patrón celebrates it Mexican heritage with a limited edition collector’s tin in duty free. Page 2.
Paris Hilton branded accessories come to travel retail in the Americas through Lola Perez’s Unique Luxury Goods and by the IBG network globally. See page 3.

TFWA will hold its first research workshop in Cannes this year. PPI Group and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association has formed a strategic video partnership.
Page 4.

PEOPLE.
L’Oréal’s Sebastien Levi joins Moroccanoil in Israel; Mars International Travel Retail expands its global travel retail team. Page 1.