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INDUSTRY
The Duty Free World Council organized and hosted an informative and broad-ranging webinar that took place on Thursday. More than 850 registered for the event, moderated by TFWA Managing Director John Rimmer. TMI will present highlights of the session in a future issue.
For now, industry associations around the globe are working together to help the travel retail and related industries return to normal in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and survive until then. In the latest crisis, the UK government shocked the industry a week ago when it announced that tax-free sales would be withdrawn for all outbound passengers from Jan. 1, (as part of Brexit), although alcohol and tobacco products would still be sold duty free. See industry responses on page 5.
Arrivals Duty Free? COVID-19 still rages and Airports Council International (ACI) World and the Duty Free World Council (DFWC) have banded together to call for urgent measures to support the recovery of the international airport industry.
ACI’s new policy brief charts the crucial role duty free and travel retail plays in airports around the world. The brief calls for a temporary relaxation of travelers’ duty free limits and allowances to stimulate sales and appeals for the introduction of duty and tax-free shopping on arrival to level the playing field with those countries which already have the service. Full story on page 5.
China resurgence. TFWA has unveiled that the China Duty Free Group, along with APTRA – the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association — are strongly supporting the upcoming China Reborn online event scheduled for Dec. 1-3. Page 1.
Hints of Recovery
UNWTO reports that more than 50% of global destinations have eased travel restrictions to some degree, as of Sept. 1. Unfortunately, that means more than 40% are still in some sort of lock down. More details on page 1.
One very important obstacle airports around the world must overcome is passenger reluctance to fly due to safety concerns. ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation program is designed to help assure the health and safety of passengers and airport workers.
Airports in North and South America are leading the rush to obtain the accreditation, which guarantees they are following clear industry standards and good practices. Boston Logan and Miami in the U.S., Toronto in Canada, and the entire GAP Group in Mexico and Jamaica are the first to win the AHA approval in the Americas. Page 2.
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENTS
The New SLC Airport
The Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) opened the first phase of The New SLC Airport on September 15.
Billed as the “first new hub airport built in the U.S. in the 21st Century,” phase one of the $4.1 billion airport project features a new gateway center, central terminal and Concourses, which will house 45 concessions—21 restaurants and 24 stores. HMSHost, Hudson and Paradies Lagardère have already opened some key locations. More details on page 3
LaGuardia
LaGuardia Gateway Partners continue to unveil exciting new concepts at New York’s new LGA. The opening of The Dean emporium in Terminal B by Marshall Retail Group delivers a sophisticated shopping experience for men to the state-of-the-art facility. Story on page 4.
BEAUTY
What could herald a return to normalcy more than the annual gala recognizing the best in the world of perfume? The Fragrance Foundation held its renowned awards ceremony in New York this week, albeit in a different format than in the past.
The all-digital event was quite appealing and surprisingly intimate, as presenters discussed what fragrance means to them. Organizers and presenters also addressed diversity and the social upheavals defining our world today. See story and list of winners on page 4.
VIRTUAL TRAVEL RETAIL EXPO
The Moodie Davitt Report has announced the agenda for the symposium component of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, which is taking place on October 12-16, 2020. The Symposium Theatre and Workshop Room in the Expo’s Knowledge Hub will play host each day to a selection of keynote addresses and panel sessions on key topics around the theme of Road to Recovery. See the Day One line up on page 2.
