The latest gathering of Women in Travel Retail took place in West Palm Beach, Florida right before the 2024 Summit of the Americas officially welcomed attendees with a lovely al fresco Opening Cocktail. The get-together also kicked off the organization’s fund-raising efforts for the Frasi’s Bike to School project.
The roomful of women (and several “pluses”) from throughout the industry enjoyed a lively networking session, and raised a toast in memory of Cynthia Millett Higley, of Streiffer Duty Free, who passed away in October 2023.
Often called the “Original Woman of Duty Free,” in 1981 Cynthia acquired Dave Streiffer Company, a small duty free ship supply based out of New Orleans, transforming it into one of the top female-owned businesses in the New Orleans area, and the largest duty free wholesale operation in the US Gulf of Mexico region. Two of her sons continue to operate the company today. The toast in her honor was proposed by Ari Bussel of Saybrex International, who also included a donation to WiTR in her name.
The Summit meeting was also the first fundraising effort for WiTR+’s 2024 elected Charity: Frasi’s Bike to School project. The charity is providing bikes, helmets and repair workshops to students in Sri Lanka, in an effort to help them stay in school as the country goes through great financial and political unrest.
WiTR+ raised more than $630 for the charity through a raffle draw. Guests vied to win one of five beautiful prizes – a Venus Williams Lacoste jacket donated by Lacoste, a silver destination bracelet donated by Denizen, two sets of jewelry donated by Majorica and a Montblanc pen donated by Essence Corp, whose co-founder Patricia Bona had nominated this year’s charity. WiTR thanks each of these companies for their generosity.
Essence Corp also donated $2,500 to the Frasi Charity through WiTR.
WiTR+ co-chair Sarah Branquinho briefly discussed the benefits of becoming either an individual or corporate member of the organization and invited non-member attendees to join.
The evening could not have taken place without the significant assistance of the IAADFS (now known as the Duty Free & Travel Retail Association of the Americas), which provided meeting space and a lovely hors d’oeuvres spread. A wonderful selection of wines was provided by WEBB Banks. The WiTR+ meeting was organized by Lois Pasternak of Travel Markets Insider.
