Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 16 No. 3

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 we go to press, Hudson Group has announced that its President & CEO, Joe DiDomizio, will appear on the Emmy Award-winning US TV reality show “Undercover Boss” this Friday, Jan. 31, 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS Television Network. DiDomizio, who visited various airports, working undercover as a newsstand sales associate, a barista and a specialty store replenishment buyer, said “Going undercover reinforced my belief that our successes are generated in the stores. Our field employees are clearly the backbone of our business, and once again, they proved that their dedication to customer service is unsurpassed in the industry.” A company spokesperson tells TMI that the show provides “an interesting look behind the scenes at our little-understood industry.” Stay tuned!

Not surprisingly, much of today’s issue of TMI – which is a special expanded 5-page issue — features final year Airport numbers, with key facilities in Miami, Los Angeles and New York reporting record breaking passenger traffic, boosted by booming international travel.

In addition, TMI is delighted to present a preview of what’s ahead at MIA, excerpted from our exclusive in-depth interview with Miami-Dade’s new Aviation Director, Emilio T. Gonzalez. MIA’s dynamic new top executive, who took over in April, is fully committed to making Miami as important a Global Hub as it is an Americas hub. Coverage begins on page 2.

San Francisco International Airport is also in the news, as it gets ready to re-open its transformed Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 tomorrow. The $138 million renovation features a wide array of innovations and new retail and dining options to serve SFO’s growing passenger base. Page 4.

Global numbers are also showing positive growth, with international tourism arrivals up by 5% in 2013, exceeding expectations, says the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released last week. Page 1.

In a bit of disconcerting news, cruise goers debarking in Galveston, Texas will now be charged a “personal importation tax” on purchases of alcohol and cigarettes purchased onboard the ship or in a foreign port. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission intends to extend the tax to other ports later in the year. What impact, if any, this has on duty free sales has yet to be seen. See page 1 for further details.

With the Duty Free Show of the Americas just weeks away, the IAADFS reports strong exhibitor demand which it says suggests an outstanding business environment. Page 3

International News. ETRC reports that security concerns in advance of next month’s Winter Olympics have caused the Russian Ministry of Transport to introduce strict control of carry-on liquids for air passengers; and a deteriorating political situation in Bangkok has prompted the organizers of next month’s Trinity Forum to postpone the event until September. See details, Inside Insider.

In a positive international development, Dufry expands its presence in Africa through a partnership for duty free operations in Nigeria. See page 1.

Supply Side. BPI Canada & Ferragamo Parfums; new CEO at Perfume Holding; Essence-Clarins partner with John Bull for a special event at Marathon Bahamas. PPI Group announces new partnerships. Pages 3-4.