The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.
Special Note:
In this era of Giving Back, where acts of kindness are more critical than ever, Travel Markets Insider would like to shine a spotlight on our very own Art Director, Chris Hetzer. Although only a few of our readers have met Chris in person, he is a vital member of the TMI team and has designed and produced every single issue of the TMI magazines since our first issue in 1998. A renowned photographer as well, Chris spends several mornings a week volunteering his time and energy at local food pantries and soup kitchens, where he prepares meals for hundreds of homeless and/or needy people from throughout the community.
Since before the start of the coronavirus, he is working four days a week at the St. Vincent de Paul Place, in Norwich, Connecticut, preparing breakfasts and lunches for more than 300 people a day, where he converted the program into a secure grab-and-go set-up with pre-made meals.
There has been a 69% increase in new households in the past two weeks alone using the program, which is in desperate need of food and monetary donations. If anyone is interested in helping, please go to https://www.svdpp.org/.
As Chris says, strength and peace and wellness to all.
Thank you. Lois Pasternak
IN THE NEWS
TFWA. The big announcement this past week came from the Tax Free World Association which confirmed that at this time the TFWA World Exhibition will go on in Cannes in September, although there will be changes in light of the coronarvirus threat. In a follow-up press briefing, TFWA President Alain Maingreaud answers questions and reveals more details about the event. Pages 1 & 2.
VIRTUAL TRAVEL RETAIL EXPO
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions and the current pandemic assailing the world is certainly spurring the travel retail channel to search for creative new ways to do business. The Moodie Davitt Report has announced plans for a Virtual Travel Retail Expo, to be held on September 9-11, and then on into October, which is attracting important interest throughout the industry. Travel Markets Insider is proud to have signed on as a media partner for this inaugural and ground-breaking event. Details begin on page 1.
APTRA
The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association has elected King Power Group’s Sunil Tuli as the new President as current APTRA President Grant Fleming steps down as he prepares to leave his position at Lagardère at the end of April 2020. Page 1.
ASUTIL
ASUTIL Secretary-General José Luis Donagaray talks about how the South American Duty Free Association is working diligently with its members and other industry partners looking for ways to ease the financial burden on retailers as a result of the coronavirus, as they prepare “for the day after.” Page 4.
SUPPLY SIDE
Simon Roffe departs from Halewood Wines & Spirits. Page 4
LVMH “maintains resilience” even as organic revenue falls by -17% in 1Q 2020. Page 4
U.S. AIRPORTS
Airport Boards in Miami, Orlando and Los Angeles approve financial relief plans for concessionaires. Page 5.
SPECIAL PHOTO ESSAY: THE EERIE STILLNESS OF EMPTY AIRPORTS
As U.S. airports struggle with passenger traffic down as much as 90% and more, TMI shares recent photos of the eerie stillness within two major hubs on either coast of the country – at Washington State’s Sea-Tac International Airport and at New York’s JFK International airport, Terminal 8. Photos provided by Travel Retail Distribution Group. Pages 5 & 6.
