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In a very sad start to the week just past, former Bacardi and Brown-Forman senior executive Patrick Moran passed away, and the industry mourns a fine gentleman.
In a development widely applauded by the airport and tourism industry in the U.S., and sure to have positive implications for travel retail in North America, President Obama on Thursday signed a memorandum to help welcome more international visitors to the U.S. See more details on page 1.
The other leading story this past week was the official opening of the new passenger Terminal 3 at Brazil’s Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, just a month before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup taking place in Brazil this summer. Brazilian Aviation Minister Wellington Moreira Franco claims that the new terminal is as good as any airport in the world, “bringing the airport into the 21st century.” Dufry operates the duty free concession now in GUR Terminals 1, 2 and 3. See page 1.
In more airport news, World Duty Free Group and Wayne County Airport Authority, operator of Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), unveil plans for the first-of-its-kind Beauty Boutique, featuring 16 prestige brands from the Estée Lauder Companies, scheduled to open in Detroit’s McNamara Terminal this summer. Full story on page 3.
Luxury brands prosper. Louis Vuitton is the world’s most valuable luxury brand for the ninth year in a row, in a year when luxury brands rose by 16% to a combined value of more than $111 billion, according to the 2014 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking released this week. In fact, those luxury brands that focused on exclusivity, rather than accessibility, fared best, says the respected study. Story on page 2.
SUPPLY SIDE. Coty is partnering with Avon in Brazil to sell select Coty fragrances through Avon’s network of 1.5 million sales representatives there; DANZKA Vodka is launching in the U.S. Virgin Islands through Glazer’s Premier Distributors; and the giant JCK Jewelry Show will take place May 30-June 2 in Las Vegas and Buckley Jewellery, Artco Group and Marco Moore/Royal Jewelry are among the companies that will be on hand. Read more on pages 3-4.
