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It is now five years since the formation of the Hand in Hand for Haiti Foundation – the wonderful organization behind the building of the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable school in Saint-Marc, Haiti. The Foundation recently hired its first Executive Director – Erin Morales – who is responsible for the U.S. operations and global resource development. Erin was in Miami recently to meet with the staffs of Starboard Cruise Services, Onboard Media and the HHforH Advisory Board, and TMI was there. See our report on page 1.
Next week we will present an in-depth interview with Estée Lauder’s Olivier Bottrie, one of the three duty free executives along with DFS’ Ed Brennan and The Moodie Report’s Martin Moodie, who put together the Hand in Hand for Haiti program and has worked ceaselessly to make sure it survives and prospers. Olivier spoke with TMI about the school’s vision, where it is today and what comes next.
Speaking of milestone anniversaries, Porthole Cruise magazine – another of South Florida’s iconic publications — turns 20 this month. Story on Page 1.
AIRPORT NEWS. Washington’s Reagan and Dulles airports usher in their own milestone, as they open the 100th new shopping and dining option under the Airport Authority’s redesigned concessions program.
The 100th store is no other than fashion jewelry brand Erwin Pearl, opened under the auspices of Director of Sales Michael McGratty, a familiar name in the duty free business. Page 2.
Denver International Airport also celebrates a milestone, reporting record retail and dining sales for its redeveloped concessions program. Page 2 & 3.
Meanwhile, Terminal 4 at New York’s JFK International Airport saw the launch of two new concepts from Paradies Lagardé, the new company formed from the acquisition of Paradies by Lagarde’s LS Travel Retail North America last August. Both of the stores are new to U.S. airports and the company says that more are on the way.
See full story on page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE.
Edrington WEBB Travel Retail Americas has partnered with spirits company Sazerac to exclusively distribute Southern Comfort in the duty free and cruise channels in the Americas, as well as some other markets. Page 1.
Patrón Tequila has embarked on the search for 2016’s Margarita of the Year, and enlisted seven bartenders from the U.S. and Mexico, each of them specializing in a specific style of cocktail. See how you can vote for your favorite on Page 3.
Bacardi held the finals of its 2016 Legacy Cruise Competition Bartender of the Year on Thursday night in Coral Gables, Florida, and the winner is ….. (See page 4). The bartender and winning cocktail now goes on to compete in the final of the Bacardi Legacy Global Competition, taking place in San Francisco on April 20-25.
The Luxury of Beauty. Estée Lauder continues to grow its fine fragrance portfolio through strategic acquisitions and last week announced that it has added the very prestigious “eco-luxe” By Kilian brand founded nine years ago by Kilian Hennessy. Full story on page 4.
