The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this letter as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click here
NOTE: Registration for ASUTIL’s Nexus 2025 Conference, to be held in Lima, Peru on June 3-6, is now officially open — exclusively for those who attended the Conference in 2024! This exclusive pre-sale for Asutil 2024 attendees is open until February 21. With attendance limited to 300, those interested in being part of one of the most valuable and informative events in the travel retail calendar, should secure their places as soon as possible. Register now! asutil.org/nexus
WiTR+ will be holding its annual Pre-Summit gathering in Miami prior to the official opening of the show on Saturday, March 8th. Stay tuned for additional details.
GIVING BACK
Today’s lead story once again demonstrates the generosity and caring of the travel retail industry. The 10th Annual Duty Free Americas Charity Golf Tournament raised $500,000 for the famous Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which was matched dollar for dollar by donors from the charity. This is the third year in a row that DFA has partnered with charitable organizations to generate a total of one million each. See full story and exclusive interview with DFA Vice President of Spirits & Wine, Jonathan Bonchick, who has been organizing the event since its inception, on page 1.
CONCESSIONS
HKG Duty Free, best known for its border store operations in California and Texas, has entered the airport business with an eight-year duty free contract at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Texas airport has also announced two other new concessions. See the details on page 2.
INDUSTRY NEWS/ASSOCIATIONS
TFWA has announced the speaker line-up for the Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference taking place May 12 in Singapore. Page 3.
The Duty Free World Council Academy has announced that Qatar Duty Free is enrolling 50 of their key team members in the DFWC Academy’s Certificate in Duty Free and Travel Retail program. This will make Qatar DF the largest participant in the program. See page 3 for more information.
Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) has launched its new Airport Workforce Development Accreditation to support the North American airport industry’s efforts to strengthen its workforce of the future. San Francisco International Airport is one of the first five airports to receive accreditation. More information on page 3.
BY THE NUMBERS
ACI World & ICAO have issued a joint passenger traffic, trends and outlook report, which calls for recovery and cautious growth. See highlights of the report on page 4.
SUPPLY SIDE
Paulina Porizkova returns to Estee Lauder as Global Brand Ambassador. Page 5.
Ferrero Travel Market celebrates World Nutella Day. Page 5.
FDA authorize ZYN Nicotine Pouch products in the U.S. Page 5
Tito’s Handmade Vodka appoints Zamora Iberia in Spain, Andorra and Gibralta. Page 5
IN THE TMI SPOTLIGHT
Leading false eyelash brand Ardell to enter travel retail through Premier Global Trading.
Ardell Professional lashes, which was one of the busiest stands throughout the recent Cosmoprof North America Beauty show in Miami, will enter travel retail through Liz Taylor’s Premier Global Trading.
False eye lashes are a huge trend right now and Ardell is the leading lash brand in the world. TMI’s Lois Pasternak speaks with Taylor and Mickey Fenig, Ardell’s Vice President of International Sales, to discover why now is the right time for this hot beauty product to enter the channel. Full story on page 6.
