The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.
This week, TMI takes a look at a number of new developments taking place in Canada, as well as the news from the supply side companies in all categories preparing for next month’s Tax Free World Exhibition in Cannes and the year ahead.
But the issue starts off with the latest report on international tourism spend on travel to, and within, the United States in the first seven months of the year. Even with a higher dollar, international visitors poured more than $127 billion into the U.S. economy, slightly more than last year, says the U.S. Department of Commerce. With the dollar buying more than it has in many years, it is not surprising that U.S. resident spending abroad soared nearly 7% during the same period. See more details on page 1.
Looking north, Air Canada, working with Tourism Toronto, is offering a special promotion to lure more visitors to stop and get to know the city, with free stopovers of up to one week with flights booked between the U.S. and Europe or Asia. The offer is also designed to position Toronto as a global air transit hub. Page 1.
In more news north of the U.S./Canadian border, Aer Rianta opened a M.A.C boutique at Montréal -Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport; and Pernod Ricard introduced the ultra-prestige Scotch whisky Chivas Regal The Icon for the first time in the Americas at Vancouver International. See pages 3 & 4.
Pernod Ricard also unveiled Absolut Electrik, the latest limited edition in its ongoing Absolut Night campaign (Page 3).
On the People side, Kevin Baker has been named to head up the travel retail business of the newly reorganized Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits; while Lars Vestbrik gets promoted to international marketing director at Stoli.
U.S. chocolate brand Hershey has also reorganized its World Travel Retail team, incorporating it into The Hershey Experience in order to maximize shopper engagement. Page 2.
Also: Eyewear company B+D expands its inflight listings and Travel Blue teams up with three top brands in the Braun portfolio in travel retail. Pages 1 & 2.
WiTr. The Women in Travel Retail networking group is getting ready to raise some 20,000 euros in order to expand a group home for slum children in India. See details on how you can help-and attend the annual WiTr get together in Cannes, on page 4.
MEADFA – Registration is now open for the 2015 Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association Conference, taking place Nov. 23-24 in Jordan. See page 4 or go to www.tfwa.com
