Canadian furniture building specialists T.S.M. Custom Millwork has been working with travel retail operators for more than a quarter century. While it was first focused on the land border operators north of the border, its builds are now featured with almost every border and airport operator in North America. The company has grown, changed names, […]
Canada
ARI celebrates milestone 25th Anniversary in North America
ARI celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its business in North America at an exclusive “cocktail dinatoire” event hosted at 1769 Distillery in Montreal on September 15. The event was attended by many partners and local supporters of the ARI business in the region, including airport partners, local suppliers with long-standing relationships, executives from ARI, senior […]
In Memoriam: Len DaSilva
Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association announced the very sad news that Len DaSilva has passed away. DaSilva was the Senior VicePresident and COO of West Coast Duty Free store for nearly two decades. “Len sat on the FDFA Board of Directors for several years and contributed greatly to Canada’s duty free industry. “Len was part […]
FDFA advocates to protect U.S./Canada border from future closures
Travel Markets Insider had an opportunity to speak with FDFA President Tania Lee and FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett about their efforts to promote the cause of the border duty free stores with Canada’s elected officials in Ottawa, and what they are hoping for going forward. “May 10th was the FDFA’s Day on the Hill […]
Canada/U.S. Border to open fully May 11
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has announced that tomorrow, May 11, 2023, marks the day non-essential travelers will be accepted into the United States without proof of a COVID-19 vaccine and will end unnecessary conditions at the border and return the Canada/USA border to a normal pre-pandemic state. The FDFA, representing the small independently-owned, […]
Ontario Duty Free tackles supply issue through local craft spirits
Duty free stores across Ontario in Canada are now targeting local craft spirits like they never have before as a way to offset some global supply chain issues. Chris Foster, owner of Queenston Lewiston Duty Free in Niagara Falls, Canada says the local Ontario craft spirits fill multiple needs for the land border duty free […]
Aer Rianta adjusts its workplace in Canada to new realities post-Pandemic
While airport passenger levels are still drastically below 2019 peaks for Aer Rianta International in Montreal and Quebec, Canada – passenger numbers for 2021 were only 19% of 2019 traffic numbers and resulting travel retail sales were 26% of 2019 levels—the company has made some important adjustments to how it does business as recovery moves […]
Wine Classics signs E. & J. Gallo Winery for Canada DF/TR distribution
E. & J. Gallo Winery Canada and Wine Classics International are partnering in Canada Travel Retail representing E. & J. Gallo Winery’s extensive portfolio of premium wines and spirits. Wine Classics International will represent the E. & J. Gallo Winery’s portfolio as the agent in the Canadian Duty Free Market. The partnership took effect on […]
Frontier Duty Free Association names new Board of Directors
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) elected a new Board of Directors at its recent Annual General Meeting held virtually on November 10, 2021. The terms of office will run from January 2022 – May 2023. The three members of the Board who were re-elected (see below), were joined by two new members, Alexandra Bachand […]
Canada’s Peace Arch Duty Free reopens after nearly 18 months
Peace Arch Duty Free Shop at the Peace Arch border in Surry, British Columbia is one of the Canadian land border duty free stores that is now open for regular business. After being closed since March of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which only allowed essential traffic and trucking to cross the border, […]
U.S. extends non-essential travel restrictions at land border with Canada & Mexico until September 21
The United States announced that it is extending travel restrictions at the Canadian border for at least another month. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tweeted Friday morning that the U.S. is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at their land and ferry crossing with Canada and Mexico through Sept. 21. The current restrictions were due […]
Frontier Duty Free Association cheers pledge of support for “hardest hit” industries from Canada’s Liberal party
The Liberal Party in Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, last week pledged to provide a bridge program to sustain Canada’s hardest hit businesses, which includes the operators of Canada’s land border stores. The pledge will help the tourism, hospitality, conventions and festival sectors survive the enduring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the […]
Canada opens border to vaccinated Americans
From grandparents waiting to hold new babies for the first time to holiday travelers desperate to enjoy a summer vacation, Americans lined up in their cars at 26 border crossings between the U.S. and Canada on Monday, as Canada finally opened to fully vaccinated American tourists for non-essential travel for the first time since March […]
Canada eases border restrictions for vaccinated travelers, starting with Americans on Aug. 9; U.S. extends closure
Canada’s federal government announced Monday, July 19, that fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents who currently reside in the U.S. can travel to Canada for non-essential purposes without quarantining as of Aug. 9. Additionally, Canada announced that it will open its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from any country for non-essential purposes, with proof […]
FDFA petitions Canadian government for C$6.6 million in critical aid as land border duty free business remains shuttered
With Canada’s land borders with the United States shut down for all but essential traffic for more than 16 months and business in the country’s duty free stores down more than 95%, Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association is desperately petitioning the federal government for some relief to the crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]
