The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.
In our lead story this week, Diageo GTME has teamed up with Celebrity Cruises to open the first World Class Bar onboard the newly renovated Celebrity Eclipse. This is the first of five World Class Bars that will be opened onboard all of Celebrity’s Solstice class ships by the end of the summer. World Class is the annual competition hosted by Diageo Reserve to find the world’s best bartender. The search for fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture are at the heart of World Class, alongside a passion for discovering the next generation of bartending talent and the latest trends in mixology. Winners have become some of the top rated mixologists around the globe. See page 1.
Canada’s land border duty free operators faced disappointment when the 2015 Federal Budget was released on April 21 and the FDFA-designed Road TRIP tax rebate campaign had not been approved for funding. But government sources are encouraging the Association to try again for approval. FDFA Executive Director Laurie Karson tells TMI what is next in the industry’s pursuit of the rebate program, which it sees as a tool to increase tourism and sales in the land border duty free stores. See page 1.
In other news from Canada, airport duty free sales soared nearly 40% in March, while the land border stores turned in a flat performance overall. In PEOPLE News, the very well-respected Andy Rattner has been promoted to Sr. Vice President, Operations for all of Nuance North America locations, as Nuance’s integration into Dufry goes forward. Rattner continues to be based in Toronto. Pages 1, 4.
In the Caribbean, International Liquor & Tobacco Trading (ILTT), in association with Penha Group, have opened the Princess Promenade duty free store in St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport. Read more on page 4.
BY THE NUMBERS. Miami International Airport posts its strongest quarterly passenger growth since 2012; Cargo volumes rebound at West Coast ports. Page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE. Beam Suntory announces its new organization that merges four operating regions into three. ACTIUM signs with fast-growing Rum Chata for Americas TR, LATAM and Caribbean. Page 2.
International. ETRC renews its membership in the European Alcohol and Health Forum and reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of responsible retailing of alcohol products. See page 3.
