INTERNATIONAL. Organic growth in the short term, new acquisitions in the medium term and the global management of key supplier accounts will be central to Dufry's growth strategy, according to new ceo Julián Diaz

US. Arrivals shopping in the US and hand luggage restrictions for items bought in duty-free could be considered in a substantial overhaul of US Customs procedures due to be implemented this year

The acquisition of a majority shareholding in Swiss retailer Dufry by Advent International and Areas looks set to change the face of international duty-free. The deal brings together the driving ambition of Boston-based private equity firm Advent and the retail know-how of Elior-owned Areas. And it marks a return to the business of long-time Aldeasa and Operadora de Aeroboutiques chief Julián Diaz. The deal is an intriguing one, but raises as many questions as it answers. In this special report, DFNI assesses the story so far and asks where Dufry goes from here.

When Miami International airport announced its $4.8bn capital investment programme in 1995, the airport's international traffic was booming and duty-free revenues topped $65m. Almost 10 years later, the value of the airport's duty-free business has almost halved. But property manager Adrian Songer tells Gavin Lipsith that when the programme is completed in 2007 the airport will be well placed for long-term growth.

In the aftermath of 2001's terrorist attacks, Boston Logan International airport landlord Massport had to reassess its development plans while it fought to stay in business. But after a solid performance last year, the airport is back in the game. Gavin Lipsith talks to Massport airport concessions manager Sal Amico and BAA Boston vice-president Michael Caro.

Despite rumours of international expansion, takeovers and new business ventures, Duty Free Americas owner The Falic Group has focused on improving its US business since acquiring the retailer almost three years ago. But as the trading climate improves, will the group seek new duty-free opportunities? Gavin Lipsith speaks to Duty Free Americas ceo Jerome Falic.

The Duty Free Show of the Americas is just one function of the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores, which is braced for changes far beyond its new show location in 2005. On the eve of its last ever Orlando event, Gavin Lipsith speaks to the organisation's executive director Michael Payne and government affairs specialist Jon Kent.

In New York, a city renowned as a cultural melting pot, Irish travel-retail group Aer Rianta International and Vienna-based operator Saveria are creating a unique airport retail blend. DFNI talks to ARI-Sardana general manager John Kilmartin about progress landside at JFK terminal 4

Argentina's economy has taken a battering over the past few years. From the boom of the '90s to the bust of 2002, the country's duty-free operators have been dragged along in tow. But as stability returns, prospects for the sector are looking brighter. John Gallagher talks to operators London Supply and InterBaires.

Uruguay, long regarded as "the Switzerland of Latin America", found itself suffering alongside its neighbours during the regional economic crisis of 2002-3. Now its duty-free trade is sharing in a regional upswing. John Gallagher reports on the changing fortunes of the Uruguayan industry.

Latin America represents Aldeasa's biggest market outside its native Spain. But a regional economic crisis, an Argentinian currency devaluation, and the euro's strength against the dollar have left sales in the doldrums and pushed costs up. Yet in Chile, the tide seems to be turning. The economy is growing strongly again, and sales at Santiago International airport are recovering. John Gallagher talks to Aldeasa Latin America director Daniel Montero.

Brazilian operators have endured a rollercoaster ride of recession and plummeting sales in recent years. But as signs of recovery begin to emerge, leading duty-free retailer Brasif is confident that a significant change in fortunes is imminent. John Gallagher reports.

In recent years the retail landscape in Paraguay has changed dramatically, forcing some operators to diversify. But as conditions improve and the government promises to introduce vital fiscal reforms, prospects for the country's retailers are the best they have been for years. John Gallagher reports.

Following last year?s conference in Cancún, Latin American duty-free association ASUTIL is holding its next annual conference - once again jointly organised with DFNI publisher Raven Fox - at another beachside venue, Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. DFNI talks to secretary-general José Luis Donagaray.

Since the travel industry hit hard times in 2001, one region has kept its head above water more comfortably than most. Caribbean cruises have benefited from a reluctance among north American holidaymakers to travel too far afield, and Duty Free Caribbean, with its Colombian Emeralds jewellery stores, has capitalised on the increasing popularity of the area. Jonathan Brown talks to regional director Peter Allan.

As Estée Lauder's plans for worldwide brand development take shape, the company's top travel-retail executives talk to Tina Milton about the beauty house's five-year strategy for growth.

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control acts as a guide to how signatory nations should work towards reducing tobacco consumption. But because the recommendations are just that, states are free to apply the guidelines as they see fit. And on the US-Canada border, US retailers now find themselves at an advantage over their Canadian counterparts as a result. Jonathan Brown reports.

Destination merchandise is on its way back into the limelight. Lorna Strickland looks at how the category has finally caught the attention of Latin American operators and consumers alike.

Last year Portland Design and The Edrington Group teamed up to produce one of the most eye-catching travel-retail displays of recent times, for Edrington's The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky. Using this award-winning example, DFNI examines the dos and don'ts of successful in-store design for travel-retail.

The white paper on the future of airport retail contracts, published in the aftermath of last year's Trinity Forum industry conference, provided the liveliest debate at the 13th ACI Europe airport trading conference and exhibition, held in Dublin on March 1-3. Retailers and suppliers gave the assembled airports the clearest indication yet that change must come. John Rimmer reports.

VENEZUELA. Motta Internacional, exclusive duty-free concessionaire at Maiquetía International airport in Caracas, is to open a renovated 1,100sq m (11,800sq ft) store in early April

US. Luxury branded boutiques will be central to Duty Free Americas' (DFA) strategy as it redevelops several airport stores this year

INTERNATIONAL. The Global Travel Retail Summit 2004, to be held on April 19-20 at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, has attracted a strong line-up of speakers and delegates

ASIA/PACIFIC. Well-known industry figure Nick Hillyard has joined low-cost Asian airline Air Asia as a duty-free consultant.

INTERNATIONAL. The 13th ACI Europe Airport Trading Conference and Exhibition in Dublin earlier this month featured a lively debate on the existing tender model in airport retail, in which operators and suppliers called on airports to instigate change

US. Fairn & Swanson retail division Baja Duty Free is planning its sixth store along the US?Mexico border

CHINA. The new terminal three under construction at Beijing Capital International airport (BCIA) for the Olympic Games in 2008 will have 12,850sq m (138,315sq ft) of retail space

TUNISIA. Hamila Free Shops is to create a new distribution base to handle its contract for Philip Morris cigarettes in Tunisia, as the company seeks to expand its presence in duty-free and domestic retail

Not since the days of the early Christian Church has the word "trinity" aroused such passions. But in these godless times, the debate is aeronautical, not theological

Dunbar leaves Nuance North America; Scorpio Distributors appoints Groom as commercial director; Raven Fox names managing director; Cadbury restructures in travel-retail

Operators attending this month's Duty Free Show of the Americas will be making their way to Orlando with mixed emotions about the state of their industry

ASIA/PACIFIC. Fluctuations in the value of the US dollar, pound sterling and the euro are straining relationships between retailers and suppliers across Asia/Pacific

US. Miami International airport is hoping that security issues do not affect interest in its duty-free tender, to be announced at the end of March

UK. Low-cost carrier easyJet has unveiled a new duty-free gift concept, easyKiosk, created in partnership with Alpha Inflight Retail

INTERNATIONAL. Boosted by an improved performance from its retail division, LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton achieved a 9% increase in operating income for 2003, amounting to E2.2bn ($2.75bn) on sales of E12bn ($15bn).

SWITZERLAND. The Nuance Group will be operating 20 retail outlets at Zürich airport's new Airside Center terminal from mid-September

MEXICO. Airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) wants its commercial revenues to expand to 25% of total turnover, from the present 15%, as part of its ambitious growth plans

CARIBBEAN. San Juan cruiseship port concessionaire SMT Puerto Rico Duty Free is close to completing a full-scale renovation of its shops on pier 4, the biggest of the piers in the port

Haleybrooke International is confident that the improved travel climate in north America will lead to a successful second appearance at the IAADFS show in Orlando this month

Ferries slash liquor prices

On the eve of the IAADFS show in Orlando, the US's largest duty-free operator Duty Free Americas (DFA) has reported that its liquor business is recovering from last year's downturn

US distributor Chase International plans to exploit the potential of the buoyant north American duty-free liqueur market at this month's IAADFS show with the launch of Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur

Cayman Island-based supplier and retailer Tortuga Rum Co has launched two aged, dark rums to celebrate its twentieth anniversary

Brazilian distributor Brex Group will be exhibiting a new caipirinha cocktail kit at the IAADFS show in Orlando later this month

Award-winning Middle Eastern operator Beirut Duty Free has ambitious plans to promote its range of malt whiskies and open a new imported wine area later this year

Belgian Sky Shops (BSS) has reported strong sales increases in key liquor brands after the introduction of a more streamlined programme of promotions

Leading French tobacco supplier Altadis has reported encouraging figures for 2003

Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has reported that tobacco will be well represented at this year's TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore, to be held from May 18-21

Nat Sherman bridges the Gulf

Estonian ferry operator Tallink has collaborated with Scandinavian tobacco supplier House of Prince to develop its tobacco concept on new ferry Victoria

Tobacco sales at Dutch operator KLM Tax Free Services' airport stores have suffered in the early part of this year from the relative strength of the euro against the dollar

L'Oréal has confirmed plans to acquire a luxury beauty brand amid its recent flurry of acquisitions at mass-market level, including Yue-Sai and Mininurse

Growth in the men's fragrance category has boosted sales at South African concessionaire Tourvest Duty Free

Parfums Christian Dior international director travel-retailing André de Bausset has predicted a rebound year following "nearly flat" results in travel-retail in 2003

Italian beauty company Eurocosmesi has entered a three-year partnership with distributor Pierre Caunac in a bid to accelerate its duty-free roll-out

L'Occitane is set to appoint its first travel-retail manager to oversee the beauty brand's expansion into continental Europe and Asia/Pacific

Skincare brand Matis plans to increase its duty-free presence across the Americas in 2004 from its Brazilian base

Revlon's year-on-year sales are predicted to grow by 30% to 40% in 2004, according to managing director global travel-retail & Asia/Pacific distributor markets Art Miller

US airport pampering concept Massage Bar has revealed plans to open two to three sites a year across the Americas

Lauder celebrates

Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) will back Cailler with its biggest ever brand investment this year and is keen to reach agreement on mega-promotions with key operators in the Americas during the IAADFS show in Orlando this month

Confectionery and fine food is becoming a core category at British Columbia border shop operator West Coast Duty Free Store following a sustained period of rising sales

Masterfoods International Travel Retail (MITR) has revealed the Celebrations 825g tall jar as its best-selling sku

Cadbury Schweppes International Travel Retail is working on a raft of new launches to follow Classic Selection after examining the findings of an extensive consumer research programme

German coffee specialist Tchibo has introduced ground and instant variants of its new Davidoff Café Espresso 57 to meet different consumer demands across travel-retail

North American electronics supplier Eton has appointed Pasco as its agent for worldwide duty-free sales

MTC-Vodafone has opened a store in the arrivals lounge at Bahrain International airport

Distributor of plush and licensed toys Alfa Brands is preparing its new collection, to be launched and previewed at this year's Duty Free Show of the Americas in Orlando

The electronics category is one of the main beneficiaries of the business upturn in Latin American duty-free. Argentinian retailer London Supply has enjoyed strong sales in the category at its stores, especially in the Iguazu Free Zone shopping mall at Iguazu Falls

H Stern Jewelry and Precious Stones has won the tender to operate the jewellery concession at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International airport terminal three

Scorpio Distributors has taken over the licence to distribute Police watches and sunglasses in worldwide inflight markets

Swiss watch brand Frédérique Constant has increased its presence in central Europe with a new alliance with Kievrianta at Kiev Boryspil airport

Sunstone has announced the international launch of its Vanessa Michaels sterling silver jewellery collection, previously available only in the US

In time for the Baselworld show in April, Austrian crystal supplier Swarovski has extended its Crystal Time range of watches

Raymond Weil adds sparkle; Nike D-Line launched; : Alfex expands Bango

German silversmith Thomas Sabo will make its debut at Orlando this year, following what the supplier called "excellent" progress in travel-retail

UK jewellery specialist Hot Diamonds has revealed plans to expand in travel-retail in the near future following encouraging results in the channel

Bvlgari is launching a new travel-retail exclusive line after redesigning its stores

Hugo Boss is to give Boss Woman a makeover later this year in an attempt to add momentum to the brand

Swiss Army Brands will introduce its Victorinox Apparel menswear collection in travel-retail in Orlando this month

Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF) is reviewing its fashion business and revamping its brand positioning in a bid to maximise sales per square metre - and the company's suits offer is set to be a casualty of the reorganisation

Having increased its travel-retail presence since 2003, Trussardi is now focusing on Asian markets and is set to unveil at least three locations in the region in 2004

Canada's Cosmoda Corp has launched several new products in travel-retail for spring/summer 2004