Duty Free Americas
Duty Free Americas has recently opened a few of its stores in Miami International Airport, confirms DFA CEO Jerome Falic.
As reported last month, DFA has retained an Aventura-based physician, Dr. Michael Braun, to guide the company as it gets ready to re-open select stores closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are optimistic about the resumption of international travel with what appears to be an easing of border restrictions and a gradual return of travel demand,” Jerome Falic tells TMI.
“Needless to say, this health crisis has made future planning extremely difficult to predict with conventional wisdom and forecasting tools. The one thing of which we are certain, however, is our steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees.
“Although we are revising our former budget assumptions and business plans that may no longer be relevant, we are confident that this short-term reshaping of our business will enable us to secure ongoing support from our customers, suppliers, employees, and airport partners.
“We are grateful to our airport partners, with whom we are carefully monitoring this situation and tailoring operating procedures that will allow us to open our stores in a mutually beneficial manner,” Falic continued.
Concluding on a cautious but optimistic note, Falic said: “We are making decisions and taking actions during this crisis with recovery in mind. There are many lessons that can be learned and carried forward once it passes, and we are confident about our resilience and agility to devise a business strategy to thrive in the future.”
International Shoppes
International Shoppes Vice President Scott Halpern confirms that the company has opened most of its operations, although with very limited hours to service the few international flights currently operating from each terminal.
With fewer people flying because of the COVID-19 pandemic and those who are traveling through airports concerned for their safety, International Shoppes has updated its ishoppes.com website and expanded its pre-order program to allow for “store-side pickup.”
