Johnnie Walker has unveiled Blue Label Azure, a coastal summer limited edition release available exclusively for global travelers. Launching to coincide with the holiday travel season, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Azure has been created by Master Blender Dr Emma Walker as a blend of citrus, orchard fruits, gentle smoke and sweetness. The bottle was created […]
Charles Leclerc launches first 16‑Year‑Old Limited Edition with Chivas Regal, premiering with DFA in MIA for Miami Grand Prix
Luxury Scotch whisky, Chivas Regal and Global Brand Ambassador Charles Leclerc have announced the launch of Chivas Regal 16 Limited-Edition – the first 16-year-old expression in the brand’s history and Leclerc’s debut signature blend. Launching in select Global Travel Retail stores around the globe, Leclerc’s debut signature blend will be premiered at Miami International Airport […]
Sarah Genest takes top role at Essential Communications; Row Holland moves to director
Global Travel Retail PR and communications specialist Essential Communications (EC), part of The Bluedog Group, has appointed Sarah Genest as Managing Director, effective immediately. Founder Rowena (Row) Holland, who established the agency more than three decades ago and has led it alongside Ben Holland, will move into the role of Editorial & Key Accounts […]
Duty Free Americas & the LEGO Group open new store at JFK T8
As part of the official inauguration of the commercial offer at John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 8 last week, Duty Free Americas (DFA announced the opening of its new LEGO specialty store. This JFK T8 opening follows the success of DFA’s LEGO stores at Dallas Fort Worth and Miami International Airports. DFA has also […]
International Shoppes and Ben Crump Enterprises launch community-driven retail program at Honolulu International Airport
International Shoppes, in partnership with Ben Crump Enterprises (BCE), has introduced a new, community-focused retail program at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The joint venture is focused on strengthening Hawaii’s local business ecosystem while enhancing the traveler experience, and the new stores are built on a shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and economic […]
60+ new dining and retail concessions unveiled at inauguration of JFK Terminal 8’s $125 million commercial program
Opening of Terminal 8 commercial program marks completion of first terminal redevelopment of JFK’s $19 billion transformation The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, American Airlines, ASUR Airports, and Phoenix Infrastructure Group officially celebrated the completion of John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 8 transformation with the grand opening of a $125 million […]
ARI, International Shoppes preview new concession partnership benefits at JFK T4
JFK T4 Retail Partners LLC has a plan to reimagine the duty free and specialty retail concessions at New York’s JFK Terminal 4. The new partnership, made up of ARI, one of the world’s leading travel retail operators; International Shoppes, a leading NY-based duty free and specialty retailer; and a group of local and small enterprise […]
Weitnauer takes local expertise to multi-category omnichannel distribution
Weitnauer Group, which celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2025, has been undergoing its largest ever expansion to date and has been evolving into an expert in cross-category omnichannel distribution in the travel retail industry and domestic markets. A key aspect of this evolution has been the strengthening of its regional leadership in Travel Retail. Last […]
Flor de Caña grows cruise visibility with focus on authentic premium rum portfolio
Flor de Caña has been increasing its presence on cruise ships, led by premium activations including rum masterclasses, signature cocktail programs, and cross-promotions between pouring and retail. Rodrigo Bazan, Flor de Caña Global Travel Retail Managing Director, tells TMI that the past year has been very positive for Flor de Caña, with strong momentum across […]
Blue Caterpillar brings expertise to appeal to cruise and Caribbean
Boutique spirits distributor Blue Caterpillar has been growing its footprint across all the geographies and markets it handles since it was founded in 2021 by well-known travel retail executives Michael Gebrael and Christoph Henkel. And it has no plans to slow down any time soon. The Blue Caterpillar founders say that the company has evolved […]
Alexander James & Co.: servicing the duty free channel for 25 plus years
Alexander James & Co has been representing premium and luxury wine and spirits brands in the duty free channel, including airport and border duty free stores, and cruise lines for more than a quarter century. Ignacio Melero, Vice President, Alexander James, tells TMI that as his company focuses solely on the duty free channel and […]
Heinemann Americas strengthens its support of cruise channel with reliability, consistency, and a forward-thinking strategy
Heinemann Americas reports that it saw significant growth in Retail & Distribution last year. “At the beginning of this year, we are exactly where we want to be,” Heinemann Americas CEO Nicolas Hoeborn tells TMI. “Our 5th New Build Launch in a row with Royal Caribbean, the Star of the Seas, was a major success […]
MONARQ delivers another “exceptional” year with strong performance in cruise
MONARQ Group grew in every aspect of its business in 2025 and continues to invest behind its brands and team, to accelerate growth and provide top level service to the channel. “2025 has been another exceptional year for us. We have seen growth in all areas of our business, both domestic as well as Duty […]
Toschi Vignola targets cruise with debut at F&B@Sea and collaboration with Deborah Golden
Italian food and beverage company Toschi Vignola, which is participating in Seatrade Cruise Global F&B@Sea for the first time, sees the cruise segment as a key growth segment for its portfolio of brands. In support of this growth strategy, Toschi Vignola has announced the start of a collaboration with Deborah Golden, a leading consultant in the international cruise industry and founder […]
Cruise and island events provide “incredible expansion” for Southern Glazers Travel
2025 was an incredible year of expansion across many cruise lines for Southern Glazers Travel, Phillip Jarrell, Vice President Travel Retail, Cruise & Key Accounts, SGWS, tells TMI. “Our brands performed very well in 2025, and the outlook for 2026 seems promising,” says Jarrell. “Our goal has been to simply listen to the cruise operators […]



