The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has asked the Government of Canada to reconsider new pandemic testing rules that will strain already stressed Caribbean public health systems and cause further damage to the region’s economy. “This policy is creating challenges and places even greater economic hardship on the people and governments of the Caribbean […]
Canada
Canada announces new COVID-19 testing requirements for all arriving air passengers
The Canadian government announced new COVID-19 testing requirements this week for all air travelers flying into Canada. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says the new requirements adds to the country’s existing “draconian COVID-19 border control regimes.” Effective midnight on January 7, 2021, regardless of citizenship, all travelers five years of age or older must provide […]
Frontier Duty Free Association applauds Canadian Government support for the Hardest Hit sectors
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has applauded the Canadian Federal Government’s long-awaited Fall Economic Statement released this week which centers around support for Canada’s hardest hit businesses. The FDFA joined together with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses earlier this year in an effort to obtain much-needed relief for its land border members, whose […]
ARI’s Jackie McDonagh: “Treat every customer like gold”
Since Aer Rianta International reopened The Loop international store at YUL Montréal- Trudeau International Airport in July, passenger traffic has not picked up to the level that was expected. Fewer passengers means that sales are low, only a fraction of what they had been before the coronavirus pandemic brought global travel to a stand-still and […]
Canadian land border situation “dire,” says FDFA
FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett, speaking at the Duty Free World Council webinar the day of the CHHB announcement, says the situation for the land border stores is “dire” and is now about survival. “We are now at six months of the U.S./ Canadian border being closed with no indication from our sources that it […]
FDFA: Canadian government extends wage benefits for Hardest Hit Businesses after coalition appeal
A group of Canada’s businesses most impacted by COVID-19, which joined forces to help save two million Canadian jobs, received a positive response from the government. Last week the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB)—of which the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) is a member — launched a campaign calling on the federal government to extend the […]
Aer Rianta International back in business at Montréal- Trudeau International Airport
Aer Rianta International (ARI) has re-opened The Loop international store at YUL Montréal- Trudeau International Airport. The store has been closed since March 24, in line with the government order for the closure of all non-essential outlets to contain the spread of coronavirus. ARI’s team in North America has taken a wide range of measures to […]
The Ambassador Bridge pays tolls for essential workers
Essential workers who cross the U.S. border with Canada using the Ambassador Bridge will no longer have to pay tolls during the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning on May 21. Ambassador Bridge chairman Matthew Moroun said the cost of passenger vehicle tolls will be covered by the Canadian Transit Company, a company owned by his family. “We […]
Blue Water Bridge DF stays open for essential travelers even as border business is “decimated”
While most of the Canadian land border stores have closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Water Bridge Duty Free in Point Edward, Ontario has remained open to essential traffic. But Blue Water Bridge Duty Free’s business over this period has been “decimated,” Tania Lee, Vice President, tells TMI. “The worst case scenario for any […]
Canada’s IGL donates 71,000 masks to local Montreal hospitals
Although its three duty free stores have been closed since March 27, Quebec’s Importations Guay Ltée has found a way to make a difference in its local communities. The Canadian duty free operator has donated tens of thousands of masks to hospitals in Montreal and a long term care facility in St Jean, Quebec. “Like […]
Status of Canadian border stores after closing of border with U.S.
The U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to close their shared border to non-essential traffic on Wednesday, March 18. While some stores that serve commercial trucks carrying essential goods have remained open, most others have closed. Barbara Barrett, Executive Director of Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association confirmed to TMI that CBSA (the Canada Border Services Agency) […]
Hudson and Dufry sign new 8-year contract at Toronto Pearson
Dufry and Hudson have been awarded an eight-year duty free retail contract at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Starting in June 2022, the con-tract continues a 35 year partner-ship with the airport authority and includes the creation of a strategic Joint Management Committee, which it hopes will help redefine the passenger experience at the airport. […]
LAWA’s Deborah Flint to move to Toronto Pearson as new president and CEO
The Board of Directors of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has named Deborah Flint as its new president and Chief Executive Officer of the GTAA. Flint will join GTAA in April 2020 following more than 4 years as CEO of Los Angeles World Airports and 24 years serving in executive roles in the aviation […]
Frontier Duty Free Association unveils 2019 Gold Standard winners
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) held the 2019 Gold Standard Awards at the Imperial Gala on November 13, in Toronto, during the annual FDFA Convention. For over two decades, the FDFA has selected winners for the 14 unique Gold Standards awards, to showcase the best in Canadian Duty Free. The awards honor products, suppliers, […]
Frontier Duty Free Association prepares to work with new Canadian government as 2019 Convention convenes
Convention highlights Reporting that attendance at the 2019 FDFA Convention was up, with more than 230 people in attendance, Frontier Duty Free Association Executive Director Barbara Barrett told TMI that the goal is for everyone to have “meaningful connections.” “Suppliers, buyers and owners are all busy in meetings, doing business,” she said about the annual […]
