Kappé International has appointed Gemma Whelehan group commercial director, effective from January 1 2003.

A conference has been scheduled for November 19 in Brussels on the EU Commission ruling on the overcharging of interbank credit card charges for retailers.

Dubai Duty Free has released details of the golf tournament, prize-giving and social programme that will take place from December 14?15 at the new Montgomerie Dubai course and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

As Kuala Lumpur International airport gears up for its fifth anniversary, it is looking forward to retendering duty-free concessions and transforming the retail operation. Anna Fenton reports.

KLIA Shopping was launched last month by Malaysia?s minister of transport YB Dato? Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik. The aim of the promotion is to boost awareness of the retail opportunities at the location under the slogan ?real value, real style?.

HDS Retail North America, part of the Hachette Distribution Services group, has won two separate concessions to operate 32 news and gifts stores, and five bookshops at Toronto Lester B Pearson International airport.

As operators seek to add a little local flavour to their airport stores, Belgian Sky Shops has turned to the beer sector for inspiration. In partnership with Interbrew?as well as the Trappist monks of Rochefort?the operator has created an impressive beer area in its store at Brussels Zaventem?s new terminal. John Rimmer discovers a fitting tribute to ?the home of beer?. 

The cross-Channel market has long been one of the beer sector?s travel-retail stalwarts, and CG Hibbert is one of its longest-serving suppliers. But the market is changing fast with the emphasis increasingly on premium brands. John Rimmer talks to the distributor to find out more.

Some operators have hailed the recent increase in the amount of tobacco cross-Channel shoppers can bring into the UK as a triumph.

Although traffic is set to fall 10% this year at Santo Domingo Las Americas airport, duty-free sales are outstripping even last year?s levels, according to operator Inter Duty Free Dominicana and authority Aerodom.

The Dominican Republic?s developing tourism industry has had a tough year.

Waked Internacional is a formidable retail force in Central America, and despite a downturn in traffic, continues to invest heavily throughout the region. Now it may be poised to expand in South America as well. John Gallagher reports

Last week Aer Rianta International?Middle East and its partners secured a nine-and-a-half-year duty-free contract at Seeb International airport in Oman. DFNI talks to the main parties to assess the potential of the location.

The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has elected its new board members for 2002/2003.

OMAN. The already high standards of duty-free retailing in the Middle East will be taken to a new level with the new stores planned by Aer Rianta International (ARI) at Muscat?s Seeb International airport, according to the BAA-led consortium that manages the airport.

MALAYSIA. After nearly five years in operation, re-bidding for the duty free contracts at Kuala Lumpur International airport begins with invitations to tender at the end of December. But competition is sure to be fierce as airport authority Malaysia Airports proposes slashing the number of operators.

CANADA. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) gave operators a boost at this year?s Frontier Duty Free Association show in Vancouver by announcing a full review of its security programme.

UK/INTERNATIONAL. The 2003 Raven Fox Ball, one of the highlights of the industry?s social calendar, will take place in London?s Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday March 7, with all proceeds going to children?s charity Dreamflight.

CANADA. At a glittering gala dinner at this year?s Frontier Duty Free Association convention in Vancouver, Canada?s border duty-free operators rewarded the trade?s leading suppliers, with distributors Peter Mielzynski Agencies and Distributions Denis Fontaine landing the top prizes.

INDIA. Membership of the Indian Duty Free Association (IDFA) has almost tripled since May, but the trade body has yet to enlist the support of the country?s biggest operator, the India Tourism Development Corp (ITDC). At a press conference in Cannes last month IDFA chairman Paul Topping said he hoped ITDC would become a member soon, adding that its support would help the association?s objective of raising the profile of India?s duty-free industry.

THAILAND. King Power International (Thailand), the sole operator of duty-free outlets at Bangkok International airport, is to leave the American stock exchange (Amex) as it consolidates its Thai operations.

By Dermot Davitt  Editor In Chief

CANADA. As the Canadian duty-free trade met in Vancouver this week at the 18th Convention of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), the Canadian government?s controversial tobacco policy continued to provoke lively debate. With tobacco sales at the US/Canada border down an estimated 34% since the introduction of an export tax on Canadian-manufactured tobacco, the FDFA is discussing whether to push for the indexing of duty-free tobacco, which would ensure that further tax increases would hit travel-retail less hard than the domestic market.

MIDDLE EAST. Gulf Air and Abu Dhabi & Al Ain Duty Free have joined forces to offer the airline?s customers flying first or business class the chance to win a total of Dh6m ($1.6m) between now and the end of January.

AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST. Tourvest Duty Free has redesigned the brochures for its inflight duty-free accounts onboard South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Kuwait Airways, its most recent contract gain.

INDIA. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has rejected a request from India Tourism Development Corp (ITDC) for a reduction in duty-free concession fees for its outlets at leading airports.

Vin & Sprit Global Duty Free and Travel Retail (V&S GDF) is to make a fresh push into Americas travel-retail as the company seeks to give impetus to its range of Absolut flavoured vodkas.

Canadian brewer Sleeman is seeking to challenge the dominance of more established brands in the duty-free market with a selection of products aimed at the US/Canada border market.

Liquor distributor Caliber recently entered the North American duty-free market with its range of Italian liquor brands.

Persuading the Indian government to speak out against a ban on duty-free tobacco sales will be one of the priorities of the Indian Duty Free Association (IDFA).

Nat Sherman has had to double its production of Nats?its first cigarillo product?to cope with the unexpected demand since its launch at TFWA Asia Pacific.

Premium cigar supplier Davidoff will introduce its Griffin?s Maduro cigar to European travel-retail markets following its success in the US.

La Prairie has created an innovative product that combines bodycare with fragrance.

ITF Cosmetics, which has an extensive portfolio of brands including Roberto Cavalli, Romeo Gigli and Gai Mattiolo, is to roll out a new fragrance for men under the Gai Mattiolo brand.

Givenchy has enjoyed such success with its first Into The Blue travel-retail exclusive fragrance that it is launching another travel-retail exclusive.

Zirh Skin Nutrition, the men?s skincare line launched in 1995 and partially owned by Shiseido Cosmetics, is set to enter more travel-retail markets.

InterParfums brand Diane von Furstenberg is to include a colour cosmetics range when it is launched next year.

Toms Confectionery Group has doubled its sales in stores on the Germany?Denmark border since switching account responsibility from its export division to travel-retail earlier this year.

Paton?s Macadamia Plantations will focus greater attention on Europe in 2003, with the aim of doubling sales over the next two years.

Guylian has emerged stronger from a ?back-to-basics? cost-cutting exercise implemented last year, according to export and duty-free director Steven Candries.

The Irish Chocolate Company has drawn on its retail experience in operating the Butlers Chocolate Cafe at Dublin airport to launch a range of new lines.

Danish toy company Lego presented a new inflight exclusive at Cannes called Lego Travel Kit.

Daron Worldwide Trading, which specialises in aviation toys and collectibles, has created a Wind Up Crew set exclusively for duty-free.

First-time exhibitor at last month?s TFWA World Exhibition, Florence-based Malo, is already lining up department store deals in South Korea, thanks to newly-appointed agents for the country.

Jean Paul Gaultier has reported continued growth in its accessories business in travel-retail and downtown, largely due to a fast store opening programme, with wholesale and sell-through ?booming?.