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Efforts to reopen the Americas to travel and tourism are rushing ahead.
CANADA: The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has made the safe reopening of border a key advocacy focus, and has strongly engaged key elected officials on both sides of the border to increase pressure on both governments to work on a plan to safely reopen the Canada-U.S. border. Among these decision-makers are U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins and Canadian MP Wayne Easter. As part of its efforts, yesterday, along with TIAC, FDFA was part of the launch of a national grassroots campaign – openuscanborder.ca. A press conference was held in Toronto with reporters from across the country and over 400 letters have already been sent, reports Barbara Barrett, FDFA Executive Director.
FDFA has also been central to the planning – and is sponsoring– a series of expert panels on the need to reopen the border. The first panel takes place tomorrow, June 10 at 9 AM (ET) with MP Wayne Easter, Congressman Brian Higgins, Althia Raj (Press Gallery reporter) and Beth Potter (TIAC). The panel will be moderated by FDFA’s Huw Williams.
For those wishing to attend and lend their support for the border reopening, the event will be broadcast live on the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Facebook page. The Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/TIACAITC
TRANS-ATLANTIC CORRIDOR/EUROPE
Looking at the international market, UK and U.S. aviation and travel leaders are meeting to call for the re-opening of travel between the two “low-risk” countries, a move that the leaders say is essential to ignite economic recovery. See story on page 1.
Our colleagues in Europe are also gearing up to promote a return to travel and have launched a coordinated #DestinationSummer campaign to urge their policy-makers to lift restrictions across Europe. @ETRC Page 2.
In related news, more than 100 exhibitors have confirmed they will participate in Cannes 2021, reports TFWA. Page 2.
SOUTH AMERICA
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL held a far-ranging webinar this past week examining the complex challenges facing the region, even as Uruguay has re-opened its all-important border stores. The report also presents updates on health, government negotiations, connectivity and travel restrictions as well as the latest m1nd-set research on duty free trends. See pages 1, 4, and 5.
CRUISE
Cruising is inching back in North America—with lots more to come!
Celebrity Millennium set sail from its new homeport in St. Maarten last Saturday—see full story on page 7.
MSC announced its U.S. restart, with MSC Meraviglia to begin departing from PortMiami again in August 2021, and MSC Divina to sail from Port Canaveral beginning September. See page 6.
At last, after a postponement of a year, Carnival’s long-anticipated Mardi Gras arrived in the U.S., making its debut at Port Canaveral on June 4 before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 fans. Mardi Gras is the first eco-friendly LNG-powered cruise ship in the Americas. Page 6.
Update: As of now, the CDC has approved at least eight ships for test cruises in the U.S. sailing from PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida and the Port of Galveston in Texas. As reported earlier, the CDC also approved two Celebrity ships for sailing with passengers who have proved they are vaccinated. Celebrity Edge is scheduled to begin sailing on June 26.
AIRPORTS
The Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA) has issued its third ‘Facing Facts’ White Paper, a continuation of ARRA’s series of white papers discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the airport restaurant and retail industry.
The paper intends to generate rigorous discussion throughout the channel regarding the airport concessions business model and takes a deep look at MAGs and other facets of current concession structures. Part 1 of this series begins on page 3.
In more good news: Emirates is launching new service to Miami and Orlando. Page 2.
LAX celebrates its second grand opening in two weeks with the inaugural ribbon-cutting of its Terminal 1 Extension. Page 3.
Digital platform provider DragonPass International and Plaza Premium Group partner to offer the largest network of airport hospitality services. Page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE
Penderyn – The Welsh Whisky Company – has unveiled a new £5 million flagship distillery in North Wales. Page 5
BEAUTY
Clinique names Melissa Barrera as Global Ambassador while Estée Lauder signs on acclaimed model and activist Adut Akech as its newest face. Page 7.
