Page 57 - Travel Markets Insider October 2021 Final

Special Issue
TFWA
World Exhibition
October 2021

Is recovery ahead as travel markets begin to open?
When borders closed and
travel ground to a halt in 2020, I
doubt anyone, anywhere, could
have fathomed the profound
impact the pandemic would have
on our industries and our lives.
It is only recently, some 20
months since we first heard the
unbelievable news that countries
were shutting their borders, that
major travel markets like the
United States, Canada, and parts
of Latin America are opening for
years. INSIDE INSIDER
International Shoppes celebrates 70
non-essential visitors, bringing
way. At a webinar hosted by their family-owned distribution the Seatrade Global event, which It’s a Silver Anniversary for Tania and
hope that recovery may be on the
the International Association of
Airport and Duty Free Stores
earlier this month, all the
speakers reiterated there is huge
pent-up demand for travel as
people locked down for more than
a year crave new experiences.
This stunning view of the famed Croisette in Cannes was taken during the last
TFWA World Exhibition in 2019. Photo by Michael Pasternak.
And shopping seems to be part of
the experience they are craving,
Happy Silver Anniversary to
as those travel retailers who are
Robert and Tania Bassan of Tairo
International, who have built
open report higher spend levels
just finished meeting in Miami at
than normally seen.
And there are some
company into one of the most
last year had also been cancelled
Robert Bassan’s Tairo International.
positives. Travel Markets
due to travel restrictions. While
Insider is delighted and much
and Mexican duty free markets.
attendance was much lower than
honored to be spotlighting two
The two reminisce over the past
respected entities in the Caribbean in the past—and health protocols
major milestone celebrations
abounded – excitement and
25 years with TMI, revealing how
in the industry in the Americas.
anticipation ran high. Cruise
their customers have become part
of their extended family.
International Shoppes – one of
lines—which were totally shut
the very first duty free shops
In more positives, growing
down for so long – are expecting
in a New York airport – is
powerhouse Rouge Duty Free,
a strong recovery (with many
Rouge Duty Free expands in St. Croix
opportunities for retail).
celebrating its 70th anniversary
another Caribbean retailer, has
bucked the tide, expanding
this year. This accomplishment
We can expect nothing less
is even more momentous when
rather than retreating during the
for the rest of travel retail. See
you realize the company is a
shutdowns. And Essence Corp.
you all soon – either virtually
at the Moodie Davitt Virtual
partnership between two families
talks about how opening new duty
Cannes. (shown) and St. Maarten.
TR Expo or on the Croisette in
that has endured, and prospered,
free doors on the Brazilian border

slowdown.
has helped them weather the
down through three generations.
Congratulations to the
Stay well, The Moodie Davitt Virtual TR Expo
While some of us are getting
Greenbaum and Halpern families
ready to go to Cannes for one
and best wishes for the next 70!
Lois Pasternak, returns for second year with many
enhancements.
of the first physical industry
Editor/Publisher Plus Products-People-Places
gatherings, the cruise sector has
The Insider View
1 October 2021
The most comprehensive coverage on the
duty free and travel retail markets in the
Americas for the last 22 years.
57 October 2021