Page 1 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2025 Special Issue

SPECIAL ISSUE
March 2025

Uncertainty blurs future of travel retail in Americas
and beyond INSIDE INSIDER

After only one month in
office, President Donald Trump
has sent shockwaves across
global markets as he proposes
tariffs on myriad product
categories, accelerating fears of a Essence Corp launches Rihanna’s
trade war that could disrupt travel Fenty Beauty across nine
and trade for the foreseeable Caribbean islands
future.
Despite talks the Trump
administration has held with
Canadian and Mexican officials,
the U.S. president recently
stated that he would end the
30-day suspension of tariffs that
were initially set to take effect EDGExecution brings that
in February, reports the AP. extra EDGE to experiential
Trump plans to tax imports from activations throughout the
Mexico at 25% as well as most Avolta completely renovated is flagship duty free store in Mexico City’s Benito Juárez Americas
goods from Canada, with energy International Airport. See interview with Enrique Urioste, President and CEO LATAM
products such as Canadian oil and the Caribbean, Avolta, on page 44.
and electricity being tariffed at a
lower 10%. The new tariffs could presents his views on what might parties benefit.
begin as early as the first week in happen in the future if such tariffs In Latin America,
March. are imposed and the effect on duty Argentina’s beleaguered
In addition, the U.S. free and travel retail inventory. economy may finally be seeing
president also stressed that his See page 82. some recovery, while Brazil is
intended “reciprocal” tariffs were Despite the uncertainty struggling for stability, writes
on schedule to begin as soon as of the political and economic John Gallagher from Buenos
April, with Europe as one of the environment, airports across the Aires.
targets. Products from American Americas continue to invest in In our main feature in this Ally Grodd’s Propelle +
and Scotch whisk(e)y, to luxury new infrastructure. And as new issue, Essence Corp talks to TMI Konnect finds the right people
goods, among other items – such facilities open, airport authorities about its historic multi-island to activate your brands
a critical element of the duty free are announcing who will run the simultaneous launch for the
mix – might well be impacted. concession space. TMI features highly coveted Fenty Beauty by
The booming cruise industry extensive coverage of airport and Rihanna across the Caribbean.
– which is becoming more and concessionaire news in this issue. A year-long in the planning,
more important for travel retail – The Caribbean is a major the massive undertaking faced
is also being threatened with new focus in this issue also – with challenges ranging from logistics
taxes, and saw their stocks tumble most islands reporting record and coordination, to weather
in response. tourism even as international and materials, but ended up
What will these tariffs mean competition increases. Cruising being one of the most successful
for the duty free and travel retail – such a key source of Caribbean initiatives ever in the region. Campari Group GTR launches
Aperol’s largest activation in
businesses that depend so much visitors – is also growing South America
on travel and cross-border trade? strongly, and the cruise lines are All this and more, Inside Insider.
Sean Gazitua, president of increasingly working closely Lois Pasternak
global logistics company WTDC, with the destinations to ensure all Editor/Publisher Plus Products-People-Places
The Insider View
1 March 2025 Summit of the Americas