ABSOLU, a luxury Canadian fragrance brand that embodies the country’s natural beauty and sophistication, has launched exclusively into global travel retail. Produced by the House of Cosper Inc, in Canada, the initial range features five unisex fragrances, AURA, BLISS, MYSTIQUE, OPULENCE and TIMELESS, each presented in 100ml bottles at a recommended retail price of US$120. […]
Canada
Canada’s Peace Bridge Duty Free goes into receivership amidst plunging border traffic
Peace Bridge Duty Free, one of Canada’s largest duty free land border retailers, has entered receivership, as it struggles to pay off millions of dollars in debt amidst plummeting traveler numbers, according to Canadian media reports. In an order issued on April 17, 2025, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered a takeover of Peace Bridge […]
YVR and Avolta unveil new Vancouver Duty Free shops
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has unveiled Vancouver Duty Free, a reimagined shopping experience for international travelers. The newly renovated Vancouver Duty Free at YVR, which has expanded by 7,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet, spans two walkthrough locations post-security in International departures. The space features a mix of global luxury brands and local British […]
Struggling Canadian border stores hard hit by tariff uncertainty
Canadian duty free, already suffering through its toughest period in years post-pandemic, could be devastated by the proposed tariffs coming from the U.S., the source of its most important customer. Travel Markets Insider speaks with three Canadian land border operators at the IAADFS Summit of the Americas in Miami about what is happening on the […]
FDFA report: Canadian land border duty free stores unable to compete with U.S. due to unnecessary red tape
Representatives from the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) released a report today, Feb. 13, showing that Canadian land border duty free stores are unable to compete with U.S. retailers due to unnecessary red tape, unfair regulations, and misapplied policies. The association is calling for urgent government action to level the playing field, remove the regulatory […]
ARI unveils newly refurbished Edmonton Duty Free stores
ARI has unveiled the new look for Edmonton Duty Free, bringing an elevated travel retail experience to Edmonton International Airport (YEG). Since opening in January 2024, significant refurbishments have been underway at the two stores, located in YEG’s Domestic-International Departures Lounge and YEG’s US Departures Lounge. ARI says that refreshing these stores signals the company’s […]
Dior Travel Retail Americas and Avolta open first stand-alone Parfums Christian Dior boutique in Canada
Dior Travel Retail Americas has partnered with Avolta to open the first Parfums Christian Dior stand-alone boutique in Canada, in Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 Domestic Departures. The new boutique brings the fragrances, make up and skincare products of the Maison to travelers who fly or transit at the airport. This elegant 516 sq. […]
Wine Classics International adds Suntory Global Spirits to Canadian portfolio, as business on both sides of the border recovers
Canadian wines and spirits agency Wine Classics International has announced an important new agreement with Suntory Global Spirits. The recent FDFA Convention was the kickoff for the partnership in which Wine Classics International becomes Suntory’s duty free agent in Canada, although the collaboration has been in the works for a while, Wine Classics President Jonathan […]
Dior celebrates exclusive La Collection Privée pop-up boutique at Montréal Duty Free
Montréal Duty Free unveiled the stunning new La Collection Privée pop-up boutique by Dior at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport – a partnership exclusive in Canada to Montréal Duty Free, which was in place until December 3, 2024. La Collection Privée is a prestigious and exclusive line of scents created by French luxury fashion house Dior. This pop-up boutique allows […]
Canada’s Jeff Orson retires from PMA after 29 years
After nearly 29 years of leading the Global Travel Retail business, Canadian duty free executive Jeff Orson announced that he is retiring from PMA Canada Ltd. (formerly known as Peter Mielzynski Agencies). Over the course of his career, PMA has won over 10 Duty Free supplier of the year awards and has been nominated countless […]
Frontier Duty Free Association celebrates Excellence, Innovation, and Leadership at the 2024 FDFA 40th Anniversary Convention
Gold Standard awards highlight of gala evening The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) announced the winners of their 2024 Gold Standard Awards during a gala evening held at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. This event, a highlight of the FDFA’s annual convention, brought together industry leaders to […]
FDFA prioritizes pandemic recovery as it fights to remove domestic excise tax
Canadian duty free is undergoing a “slow and painful recovery,” as it still struggles to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing underwhelming car traffic and domestic taxes targeting its industry, Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) President Tania Lee said in her opening remarks at the Operators Meeting of the landmark 40th anniversary for the Canadian […]
Quebec’s IGL Duty Free looks to the future as it implements changes post-pandemic
Importations Guay Ltée is not only one of the best land border duty free stores in Canada, but is recognized as one of the best in the world. For the second time in three years, IGL Duty Free has been nominated by the Frontier Awards for Border, Downtown, or Port Retailer of the Year. The […]
Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free connects with customers on both sides of the border
Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been a gradual rise, but the Canadian land border operator tells TMI that travelers are now back to pre-pandemic numbers, with the store’s connection to its community playing an important role in its success. “After falling drastically at about 95% during the pandemic, […]
Dior and Aer Rianta treat travelers at Montreal-Trudeau to summery “bohemian-chic” activation
This June, the House of Dior and Aer Rianta Montreal invited travelers at Montréal–Trudeau Airport International Terminal to enjoy a sunny getaway decorated with the colors of the “Diorivera.” The picturesque animation dressed the Dior Aer Rianta Montreal podium in a “bohemian-chic” style, featuring the bright yellow of the sun, the soothing green of nature, […]
