Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 21 No. 31

The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.

 

The biggest news of today is, of course, the announcement that the 2021 Summit of the Americas will be held as a virtual event in the beginning of April, and will be organized in partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report’s virtual expo company.
See the full joint announcement from the International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores – IAADFS and Association of South American Duty Free Stores – ASUTIL, on page 4.
In fact, most of today’s issue reports on developments on the industry’s very busy upcoming virtual calendar.
Coming up next week, on Sept. 16, is Future Airports: From Here to Where?, jointly organized by Portland Design and travel retail blog www.trunblocked.com. The event sounds like it has a really innovative and compelling interactive agenda, but if you are interested in participating you must hurry and register, since the deadline is tomorrow, Sept. 11. See more details on page 1.
As reported last week, DFWC is holding its second webinar on the state of the travel retail industry – called Route to Recovery –on Sept. 17.
Meanwhile, more details are emerging about The Moodie Davitt Report’s inaugural Virtual Travel Retail Expo, taking place virtually from October 12-16. The event will feature a pioneering consumer component. Integrated retail marketing, communications and design agency, FILTR, and leading Asian communications consultancy, QINRIVE, have jointly developed a KOL Program that will bring a roster of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to the event. To learn how your brand can benefit from this KOL Ambassadors program, see pages 1-2.
The Virtual Travel Retail Expo now has more than 110 exhibitors lined up and is adding new service companies and brand partners on a daily basis. See latest update on page 2.
WiTR. With the cancellation of TFWA’s flagship event in Cannes this year, the Women in Travel Retail networking organization has been invited to hold its major meeting of the year at Virtual Travel Retail Expo on October 15.
The meet-up will also provide an opportunity to raise some funds for Impact HK, the designated charity for this year. The WiTR event will be on October 15 and will allow members from most time zones to join. Please see page 3 for more details.
IN THE BOARDROOM
In other news, there is a legal battle brewing between luxury goods group LVMH and U.S. jewelry brand Tiffany & Co., after LVMH announced it was ending its takeover offer for Tiffany earlier this week, which it blamed on new pending U.S. tariffs. Tiffany responded with a lawsuit accusing LVMH of breach of obligations, which was today followed by LVMH suing the jeweler for “crisis mismanagement.” More details on the unfolding story on page 1.
Dufry is continuing its efforts to acquire full ownership of Hudson Group, and is planning to issue a rights offering to raise CHF 500 million (US$552 million) to fund the acquisition. It has already secured a CHF 415 million commitment from Advent International, the private equity fund it has worked with in the past. Read more on page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE
International Spirits Challenge winners.
Whyte & Mackay was a big winner at the prestigious ISC this year, coming home with 53 gold and double gold awards.
Congratulations, also, to Alfred Giraud French Malt Whisky, which won gold awards for both of its whiskies, which were first introduced last year. Page 4.