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BREAKING NEWS:
WEBB Banks has just posted the following notification regarding rescue measures on the island of St. Vincent’s following the recent volcano eruption. Please help if you can:
“We have partnered alongside Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Third Wave Volunteers to help the island of St. Vincent in these times of need.As of April 14th, there have been approximately 30 villages evacuated in St. Vincent affecting approximately 16-20K people. Tito’s Handmade Vodka has already donated $10,000 towards solar lights and we can also all help out by donating to the GoFundMe link below.Please help the island of St. Vincent and those in need by donating through https://lnkd.in/ePPyQPE” LP
| A group of U.S. Congressmen from Florida and Alaska, states hard hit by the shut down in cruising for more than a year, have introduced the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements (CRUISE) Act. The bill is an effort to fight back against the ongoing restrictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gone so far as to threaten to sue the CDC. The CDC has not issued guidelines to enable cruising to restart, however, and in fact still says cruising poses the highest level of COVID-19 danger. Page 1. As we go to press, the Canadian province of Ontario announced that it was expanding and extending a stay at home order as well as issuing new domestic travel restrictions, as COVID cases rise. Page 1. |
| CRUISE NEWS Global cruise lines continue to look for new ways to restart and survive, as they prepare for record bookings once sailings commence. Crystal Cruises has announced that its Crystal Symphony luxury ship will now sail from a new homeport in Antigua. Page 2. Global cruise retail specialist Harding has signed a new expanded concession contract with P&O Cruises and Cunard that covers all ships across the two fleets. See details on page 2. MSC Cruises, which has carried 60,000 guests in the Mediterranean since it started up sailing one ship last August, announces a summer season with 10 ships from 15 ports in Europe and the Mediterranean. Page 3. LAUNCHES Miami-based fragrance distributor Tairo International held a very successful high-profile promotion for the new Marc Jacobs Perfect fragrance with SEARS Mexico in February, following its launch in travel retail stores throughout the Caribbean at the end of last year. Read more on page 3. |
PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS
The Beauty and Travel Retail industries lost two very special individuals this month, both of whom left a legacy that goes far beyond their business dealings.
Mariano Puig Planas, whose efforts expanded the Puig company’s distribution into global markets, passed away on April 13. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joe Porcelli, whose career spanned brands including Revlon, Lancaster, Coty and Oscar de la Renta. Page 4.
Mondelez World Travel Retail has appointed Tamara Abusara to a new role to enhance communications capabilities. Page 4.
Duty Free Global has bolstered its Americas presence with two high profile appointments: John Gallagher for South America and Michael Pasternak for North America. Page 5.
Curran Zinn is the latest highly respected spirits executive to join WEBB Banks, where her new role is Director of Travel Retail and Key Accounts. Page 6 Former Edrington senior executive Juan Gentile has created his own wine and spirits distribution company based in Miami with a focus on the Caribbean and duty free markets. Page 6
André de Almeida moves on from Loch Lomond and Travel Retail as he takes on a new role outside of the channel. Page 6
DFNI Americas Awards. Two Canadian companies chalked up big wins in this year’s awards. See full list of winners on page 5.
