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 […]
Canada
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 […]
Frontier Duty Free Association unveils 2019 Gold Standard Award finalists
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), has announced the finalists for the 2019 Gold Standard Awards, which will be awarded 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 […]
Niagara Duty Free modernizes with more space devoted to spirits and ice wine
More than a year after Niagara Duty Free finished renovating its duty free store located on the Canadian side of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, the modernized shop has devoted more space to spirits, particularly ice wine, with improved sales, Steve Richardson, Niagara Duty Free General Manager tells TMI. The store, with 8,200 sqf […]
Renovated Queenston Lewiston Duty Free store expands focus on whisky and white spirits
Queenston Lewiston Duty Free, located on the Canadian side of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge in the Niagara region, renovated its store this summer, designing the layout to devote more space to its best-selling products. “The renovation is now completed and the store looks excellent,” Chris Foster tells TMI. “We reorganized the liquor department, and increased the […]
Strong & Free thrives in duty free
Canadian streetwear brand Strong & Free Emblem is ready to take its three word affirmation from Saint John, New Brunswick all around the world. Now available in fifteen duty free locations across Canada, the brand began with no lofty expectations in 2006. It started with a woman pulling maple leaves off a tree and tracing […]
ARI-NA combines luxury appeal with engaging customer interactions
Aer Rianta International- North America made traveling through Montreal and Quebec airports much more entertaining this past year. ARI-NA staged some engaging and fun-filled activations at the point of sale to help passengers pass the time before boarding their planes, while enticing them to make a purchase in the duty free store. The operator […]
FDFA prioritizes return of Visitor Rebate Program
One year after taking over as Executive Director of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), Barbara Barrett tells TMI that the Canadian land border duty free association is prioritizing the return of the Visitor Rebate Program. In 2007, Canada became the first country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to cancel its […]
Ottawa International Airport names SSP Canada and Paradies Lagardère Master Concessionaires
The Ottawa International Airport Authority has named SSP Canada and Paradies Lagardère the Master Concessionaires for food, beverage, and retail. The YOW airport authority said that a key consideration in the decision was that Ottawa-Gatineau is reflected in the terminal offers. SSP Canada will add local Canadian brands Big Rig Brewery, Bridgehead Coffee, La Bottega […]