Page 45 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2024 Special Edition

INSIDER

U.S.V.I.
Rouge Duty Free reports that its two
stores in St. Croix – the original store
in Orange Grove and the Maison Rouge
in downtown Christiansted -- have been
“doing so fantastic,” that Rouge is now
opening a third location adjacent to its
Orange Grove boutique.
“The new space will allow us to
expand into handbags, accessories, beauty
tools from Geske, and Montblanc bags,
and give us more room for fragrance in
the original store,” says Kattoura. “In
February we opened a new Spa Cabine
for the exclusive Swiss skincare brand
Bellefontaine, where we give facials and
treatments, which was very well received.”
Kattoura reports that Rouge is also The elegant new Rouge Duty Free flagship in Tulum, Mexico incorporates textures
pursuing leads for an additional location in and materials of the historical ruins in the Architectural district, synchronized
St. Thomas. with a modern touch and feel.
In St. Barth, the Creed store operated
by Rouge is doing very well, and will “We see business in our two Tulum With the recent Vendôme purchase, Rouge
be celebrating its first anniversary in stores picking up since the opening of the Duty Free is now operating in Trinidad, in
June. This is the only Creed store in the new airport in Tulum and the train from St. Thomas and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin
Caribbean. Cancun,” said Kattoura. “We expect the Islands, in Grand Cayman, Grenada, St.
new direct flights to the U.S. to bring Maarten/St. Martin and Tulum, Mexico
Grand Cayman significant increases,” he tells TMI. as well as operating the only Creed store
Rouge’s Grand store in downtown Kattoura also reveals that Rouge will in the Caribbean in St. Barth. With the
Grand Cayman continues to over-perform be opening a third location in Tulum in the opening this year of six new stores in
and the launch of a new Spa Cabine Hotel Zone before the end of year – it will Grenada, plus one in St. Croix, one on
for Bellefontaine was another success. be a small store in one of the new hotels St. Thomas, one in Tulum, one in Grand
Rouge will be opening a second store in being built on the beach. Cayman and at least two in Trinidad,
Grand Cayman before the end of the year, Rouge Duty Free’s promise to become Rouge is definitely the formidable player in
confirms Kattoura. a pan-Caribbean power is already a reality. the Caribbean duty free market.

Tulum
At the end of 2022, Rouge also Tulum flights from the U.S. take off at the end of March;
opened two locations in Tulum, on the
Mexican Riviera, which is currently one new Maya Tren connects with Cancun
of the hottest destinations in the region.
Rouge Duty Free was the first perfumery Since the new Felipe Carrillo Puerto On March 31, United will begin
in Tulum. International Airport in Tulum, Mexico was nonstop flights from Newark, Los Angeles,
The flagship store is located in the officially inaugurated in December, it has Houston and Chicago. In June, JetBlue will
heart of the Archaeological district, in been handling domestic traffic on carriers begin service out of New York’s John F.
Aldea Zama, and carries an extensive like Viva and Aeromexico. Kennedy International Airport.
selection of fragrances and beauty brands, Now, at the end of March, the new The new direct flights are expected
a vegan skincare line, sunglasses and airport will begin receiving direct flights to be a huge boon to the up-and-coming
accessories. The store also features a from the United States. tourism in the region, complementing that
Beauty Spa Cabine. American carriers Delta, Spirit, of nearby Cancun.
The second Rouge Duty Free location United, American and JetBlue, will begin Tulum is also benefiting from the
is in Tulum Center at the Hunab Lifestyle flying between the U.S. and Tulum on launch in December of the $20 billion Tren
Center shopping area. March 28. Maya (Maya Train) project, which connects
Tourism is expected to boom even Delta will offer service between Cancun and dozens of destinations across
further from the opening of the new Felipe Atlanta and Tulum, American will launch the Yucatán peninsula, including Tulum.
Carrillo Puerto International Airport in with service from Charlotte, Miami and When completed, the train will feature 34
Tulum in December and the launch of Dallas-Fort Worth. stops across the states of Quintana Roo,
the Tren Maya (Maya Train) project, Spirit will operate Tulum routes from Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chiapas.
which connects Cancun and dozens of Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
destinations across the Yucatán peninsula,
including Tulum.

45 April 2024 Summit of the Americas