Travel Markets Insider Vol. 21 No. 26

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

 

Today’s issue of TMI features some worrisome reports on aviation recovery.
In the latest ASUTIL webinar, two Latin America-based experts– Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC; and Gonzalo Yelpo, Legal Director and General Counsel of ALTA, the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association — report that the region lost half of its air traffic in three months and may not recover to 2019 levels until 2025. Coverage begins on page 1.
In another setback, IATA issued an update this week predicting that international travel will not recover to pre-pandemic levels before 2024, one year later than previously forecast. Page 3.
INNOVATION – TRAINING – COLLABORATION
Companies in the travel retail industry are experimenting with different ways to survive the current environment. Martin Laffitte, director of Bernabel Trading, the duty free concession holder on Buquebus Ferries and Montevideo Port, told attendees at last week’s ASUTIL webinar that the stringent sanitary efforts and onboard services his company is providing have assured his passengers are comfortable enough to shop in the stores. Traffic is down, but Bernabel’s efforts are resulting in a 78% increase in footfall rates, 100% conversion to sales and average tickets more than 12% higher than normal. John Gallagher reports. Full story on page 3.
In another effort to give travel retail stakeholders tools with which to survive during the pandemic, the Duty Free World Council Academy (DFWCA) has created a training course which will provide industry front line sales staff with guidelines on how they can ensure their safety and that of their customers as duty and tax-free stores re-open around the world. The online course is offered free of charge and contains valuable guidelines for all staff in retail shops. Details on page 1.
Innovation and collaboration are more critical than ever today. London-based design agency Portland Design and travel retail blog trunblocked.com have joined forces to launch a 2-day webinar in September aimed at helping to reimagine the future air passenger journey. Ibrahim Ibrahim, Managing Director of Portland, and Peter Marshall, founder of trunblocked.com, have put together an impressive array of experts from inside and outside of the industry who will focus on bold, new and innovative thinking, covering the entire airport experience. See full story on page 5.
ROUNDUP: COVID updates in regional travel
News from The Bahamas, Hawaii, Grenada, the CDC and American Airlines. Page 5.
A TMI SPECIAL COMMENTARY: WATCHES
Watch industry specialist Mark Lewis-Jones looks at how COVID-19 has been accelerating the trend towards online commerce and D2C for high-end time pieces, and how this could impact the category in the travel retail channel going forward. Page 4.
SUPPLY SIDE
Cellularline acquires SKROSS parent Worldconnect to expand presence in travel retail. Page 6
Tito’s Handmade Vodka names Augie Giansante’s Borders Duty Free as new Tito’s agent for Canadian duty free. Page 6
“Socially responsible” Copalli Rum from Belize names renowned mixologists as new global ambassadors. Page 6