Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 15 No. 32

The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.

 

As has become the norm for the South American Duty Free Association, the most striking highlights of the 2013 ASUTIL Conference revolved around the people in the industry. This year that ranged from honoring duty free pioneer  Victor Hugo Bonnet – London Supply‘s vice president who has spent the past 56 years with this one company; to what was perhaps the industry’s first public marriage proposal, especially sweet since it happened to the lovely Nancy Giambanco of The Hershey Company.  See further details on page 1.

 

The networking at the annual South American event ranges from formal meetings to unparalleled social events. See the Travel Markets Insider Facebook page here to share photographs including the Opening Cocktail hosted by World Duty Free Group to the Gala Beach Party sponsored by Dufry Brazil and Brugal Rum.

 

Travel Markets Insider is very pleased to also present downloadable versions of the special TMI ASUTIL magazine for those of you who did not attend the event in Punta Cana. Feature articles include news and analysis of key developments throughout the region. Please click here to view.

 

One key topic of discussion at the 2013 conference was the slowdown of the rampant growth that has characterized the South American region for the past several years. Driving home this point, the International Monetary Fund this month issued a downgraded global growth forecast, with Brazil showing the largest GDP downgrade of all the countries in the IMF survey. Story on page 1. A chart tracking the IMF’s global revisions can be found here.

 

Congratulations to the Nuance Group, whose duty free concession contract at Toronto Pearson International Airport was extended by five years and will usher in a greater enhanced retail program. See page 2.

 

PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS.  New positions at Parbel, Godiva, Ferrero, Coty, HK Global Duty Free and a major change at BT Fashions/Bijoux Terner.

 

BEAUTY NEWS. Clinique relaunches one of its iconic flagship products with an improved Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+.  As part of the repositioning of its flagship brand that began after its 100th anniversary in 2010, Elizabeth Arden debuts its first new fragrance pillar in nearly two decades with the launch of Untold. Chanel brings in a familiar name to be its new perfumer – Olivier Polge will succeed  his father, Jacques Polge, who has been Creator of Chanel Fragrances since 1978. Page 3.

 

SPIRITS NEWS. Leadership change at Diageo GTME; and Diageo introduces a travel retail exclusive collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.  William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Age of Discovery to launch in Brazil exclusively through Dufry.

 

ELECTRONICS. Congratulations to Braun for winning two top product design awards. Page 4.