Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 22 No. 7

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

It should come as no surprise that the full year figures from the travel and tourism sectors reached record lows in 2020. In fact, destinations worldwide welcomed 1 billion fewer international arrivals last year compared to 2019, its worst year on record, reports the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Additionally, overall prospects of a rebound in 2021 seem to have worsened, with half of the industry experts surveyed now expecting a rebound to occur only in 2022 as compared to 21% in October 2020. Looking further ahead, most experts do not to see a return to pre-pandemic levels happening before 2023. See more details on page 1.
Continuing the negative trends, U.S. air passenger traffic – which suffered slightly less than that of the rest of the world—nevertheless plunged to its lowest level since the mid-1980s last year. Page 2.
All aspects of the travel and tourism industries are instituting valiant recovery efforts. The Caribbean Tourism Organization, for example, joined with the United Nations World Tourism Organization in a program to address the key challenges its members face in making effective use of statistics to drive the restart of their tourism sectors. Page 2.

In another positive development in the U.S., a second round of airport grants have been distributed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Miami International Airport credits the CARES Act grant for helping it reach 50% of its passenger volume year over year. Airport officials report that Miami had only five passenger airlines operating last April due to the pandemic, but today 29 others have either returned or launched new service. Read more on page 2.
In more developments, Chicago-based MAG USA has been awarded the contract to build and operate an Escape Lounge at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLLpost security in Terminal 3. The contract is a joint venture with Gideon Toal Management and Superior Hospitality Group. MAG USA anticipates this lounge to open near the end of this year. Page 3. Lancôme Travel Retail Americas and Dufry have partnered to open Lancôme’s biggest flagship in South America. The 43sqm store opened at the international departures area of Terminal 3 of São Paulo International Airport (GRU Airport) on January 31, 2021. Full story on page 6.

SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
The event organizers have released an extremely impressive Knowledge Hub agenda, that covers every aspect of the travel retail industry and more. See complete listing on page 5. WITR
Industry networking group Women in Travel Retail (WiTR) is reaching out to members and non-members via a short survey to determine how it can better serve its community. This survey consists of 10 questions and will be emailed to all existing WiTR database contacts . It can also be accessed via this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZYFQP2C WiTR is asking respondents to complete the survey by February 28, 2021. See page 3 for more details. 

PEOPLE

Zachary Sulkes, well known and respected from his many years in charge of Bacardi’s cruise business, has joined Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) as Beverage Category Manager. Page 3. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, has been elected as the new national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. Page 6 

SUPPLY SIDE SPOTLIGHT

The Macallan launches The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection, an art and whisky collaboration with Sir Peter Blake. Page 4. Tariffs exacerbate impact of COVID on Scotch exports


Global exports of Scotch Whisky fell by more than £1.1bn during 2020, according to figures released by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The export figures are the lowest they have been in a decade, as the combined impact of COVID-19 and the 25% tariff in the United States hit distillers hard. See page 6.