Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 23 No. 7

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

BREAKING NEWS:

TFWA cancels live Singapore show as Covid-19 concerns re-emerge; reviews other options

In a significant, but disappointing, development announced today, Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has cancelled its in-person Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conferencewhich had been scheduled to take place in Singapore on May 9-12. 

The announcement stated that the TFWA Board and Management Committee had decided to change the format of the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, and that the decision was taken as a result of the growing concerns regarding the recent developments relating to the Covid-19 situation in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region in general. 

With stricter health and safety measures being reinstated in many countries throughout the region following the advance of the Omicron variant, it became clear that a live Exhibition organized in this situation would not be able to provide the desired level of benefit and support to the industry, said TFWA. 

The Association says that it was reviewing options “to ensure that TFWA can continue to provide the best level of support to the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of the situation.” Further details will follow next week.

TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen, commented:

“It is with great regret that the TFWA Board and Management Committee have decided that the ongoing Covid-related travel restrictions in many key Asian markets prevent us from staging the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore as we had all hoped and worked for. We have done our utmost to maintain the event and were encouraged by the clear demand for it to take place, but we are unable to guarantee that the travel and health situation will improve sufficiently to enable and convince a broad cross-section of the (regional) industry to fully participate.”

Juul-Mortensen went on to thank the TFWA members and exhibitors, and duty free and travel retailers who had committed to this year’s event.  

“All of us at TFWA will now redouble our efforts to bring our industry together in Cannes once more, in the Palais des Festivals, for a truly global TFWA World Exhibition & Conference which will bring our industry together and lay the foundations for a return to growth,” he concluded.

CANADA/US

The fallout from the pandemic is also still being felt on the US/Canada border, where affected communities are imploring the Canadian government to further ease testing requirements that are hindering travel recovery. Barbara Barrett, Executive Director of the Frontier Duty Free Association, moderated a press conference last week where border mayors and travel officials demanded that the government “follow the science” when it comes to testing. This week 15 elected mayors echoed the plea in an open letter to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. See pages 1 & 2.

IAADFS announces that Dag Rasmussen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lagardère Travel Retail, will deliver the keynote address at the start of the 2022 Summit of the Americas on Monday, April 11. Page 1.

WiTR webinar coming March 8th. Following the success of last year’s program, the women’s networking organization starts off the 2022 program with a compelling presentation. See topic and registration details, page 2.

BY THE NUMBERS

IATA: Air passenger recovery to be led by North America. Page 2

IATA: Air traffic recovery by regions. Page 3.

AIRPORT & CONCESSIONAIRE NEWS

First international TSA PreCheck lanes launch in the Bahamas. Page 3.

Hudson. Following the recent opening of Hudson’s first-ever restaurant and bar, Plum Market, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Terminal B, Hudson will begin operating airport Starbucks locations as part of the company’s continued strategic execution on growing its food and beverage business. First locations will open this summer at LGA. Page 4.

Stellar Partners and BuzzFeed announced that they are developing branded airport stores. The agreement will bring a new, data-driven travel experience to U.S. airports and tap into BuzzFeed’s consumer insights to elevate the merchandise strategy, say the companies. First location will open in LGA. Page 4.

PEOPLE

ARRA – Airport Restaurant & Retail Association, elects new Board Chair. Page 4.

MarketPlace Development names new president as Paul McGinn retires. Page 5

Stoli Group GTR Director Jean-Philippe “JP” Aucher seeks new role after business restructure. Page 5.

AT THE POINT OF SALE

DFA launches medical aesthetic brand SkinCeuticals in Macau. Page 5.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Puig reaches 10 million passengers with Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl and Bad Boy Le Parfum campaign in TR Americas. Page 6.