Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 27 No. 5

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

OPERATOR NEWS

The biggest news of the past week was the announcement that New York-based International Shoppes was awarded the 10-year duty free and specialty retail contracts at Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG), the main airport in Maui. The new concession award comes on the heels of incumbent concessionaire DFS’s January announcement that it was exiting the Hawaii market “after 63 remarkable years.”

TMI had the opportunity to speak with iShoppes co-CEOs Scott Halpern and Matthew Greenbaum about the new concession contracts. “With this contract, iShoppes is now officially across the entire United States of America, from sea to sea,” quipped Halpern. See full story on page 1.

DUTY FREE AMERICAS also has reason to celebrate, after once again hosting a very successful Charity Golf Tournament that helped raise one million dollars for Cancer Research, in partnership with the Miami Dolphins Foundation’s Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC). The day featured an 18-hole scramble golf tournament, tennis tournament, and an evening reception with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and raffle. DFA thanks all sponsors, participants, and supporters for making the 2026 Golf Day a success. More details on page 2.

Giromondo, the duty free operation owned by Ricard Guasch, is opening a new Dôme store at ZOFRI Mall, located in Iquique, later in the 2Q. The opening represents a key milestone in the company’s long-term expansion across strategic travel retail and duty free destinations in Latin America. The Iquique opening builds on the momentum generated by Giromondo’s Caracas launch in June 2025, reinforcing the group’s commitment to developing innovative retail concepts in high-potential markets and free-trade zones. See the story on page 2.

ASSOCIATIONS

TFWA Asia Pacific: registration is now open for the 2026 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, taking place in Singapore from May 10-14. The event will introduce a new layout, new services, a new culinary aspect plus myriad networking opportunities and a compelling conference program. Page 3.

Duty Free World Council Academy: 15,000 students have completed Travel Retail courses to date. Read how you can be a part of this initiative. Page 3.

SUPPLY SIDE NEWS: CONFECTIONERY

Hershey: The Hershey Company, which introduced a new visual identity at the 2025 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes, is translating its new ‘Take the Taste With You’ platform into measurable in-market performance. The company reports that early activations across key airport hubs are driving stronger shopper engagement and improved sell-out. Page 4.

NITRNestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) is strengthening its focus on the Americas, identifying untapped opportunities in the region for long‑term confectionery growth in global travel retail and good conditions for renewed category momentum in the region. More details on page 5.

Ferrero: Ferrero Travel Market reports that its “Celebrations Begin With A Golden Gift” campaign –a premium in-store gift-wrapping experience supported by a coordinated media presence across all participating airports –which ran from October 2025 and concluded in January, has generated excellent results for the group across all participating travel retail locations. Page 5.

SUPPLY SIDE: SPIRITS & WINE

DAOU Vineyards and Duty Free Global announce global distribution partnership. Page 6.

CVH Spirits appoints Blue Caterpillar as exclusive Travel Retail Americas distributor. Page 6.