SINGAPORE. WH Smith has won the toys/games/children?s gifts/creative learning concession at Singapore Changi airport terminal one East.

ITALY. Milan airport authority SEA is to almost double its duty-free offer at Malpensa airport terminal one with a third, non-Schengen satellite store

LATIN AMERICA. Duty-free operators in the Mercosur trading area are now posting monthly double-digit sales rises as they emerge from the worst crisis to hit the region in many years.

Enrique Urioste, chief executive of Argentina's biggest duty-free retailer InterBaires, has had a testing couple of years, with the Argentinian economy rocked by crisis and revenues plummeting. But thanks to a three-way partnership of management, suppliers and staff, the company is back on its feet and confident of strong, sustained growth

It's a critical year for European members of Airports Council International (ACI). As traffic returns to growth after 18 months of stagnation, airports are renewing investment in much-needed capacity. But they also face rising costs for extra security as the challenge of squeezing ever more from their commercial revenues grows harder. In his final year as director-general of ACI Europe, Philippe Hamon talks to DFNI editor-in-chief Dermot Davitt.

Asian travellers, the lifeblood of most international luxury fashion brands in travel-retail, are still an endangered species in most airports. But better exchange rates and a more positive mood mean improved prospects in 2004.

Since LeSportsac took off as a must-have brand for fashion-conscious Japanese, the US accessories manufacturer has stepped up its marketing efforts in the region. Kevin Rozario speaks to ceo Tim Schifter about the domestic market initiatives that have paved the way for travel-retail expansion.

In the first in a regular new series, DFNI and RFH Consumer Insight join forces to investigate purchasing motivations and habits among consumers in travel-retail. Drawing on exclusive statistics produced and analysed by RFH Consumer Insight president Dr Ian Cesa, we begin by turning the spotlight on the UK traveller. Further insights into the UK traveller will appear in DFNI April 1.

CANADA. Duty-free sales at Canadian airports slipped 5% in 2003 to under C$150m ($112.6m)

PHILIPPINES. Duty Free Philippines (DFP) has outsourced the supply and operation of its beauty concession at Manila airport to Hong Kong-based company Landmark Management

SWITZERLAND. Travel-retail supplier Niclas is to expand its operations further following its purchase of Zürich-based retailer Dolmetsch

SOUTH AFRICA. Tourvest Duty Free is planning to expand its land-based operations, in addition to its aggressive pursuit of further inflight contracts

MIDDLE EAST. Gulf Air, whose inflight duty-free programme is managed by Aer Rianta International-Middle East, unveiled its latest brochure in February, with a raft of new products and a prize draw central to the offer

CHILE. Following last month?' opening of at Antofagasta airport, Aldeasa is continuing its expansion plans in Chile with renovations in its speciality outlet at Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International airport

VIETNAM. Imex Pan-Pacific is to open three new border shops this year to capitalise on traffic on the Indo-China Highway that links Vietnam with Laos and Cambodia

US. Duty Free Americas (DFA) is to relocate its store at Boston Logan International airport's foreign flag carrier facility, terminal E

SWITZERLAND. Spanish adult entertainment company Private Media Group is planning its next move with The Nuance Group

Bookings are flooding in for the Global Travel Retail Summit 2004, to be held at the Hotel Okura, Amsterdam on April 18-20

Voting has begun for the Raven Fox Awards for Travel-Retail Excellence in Asia/Pacific 2004, which return this year to their regular home in Singapore

SOUTH AFRICA. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is to open a new duty-free arrivals store at Cape Town International airport within the next six months

FRANCE. Aéroports de Paris and retailer Aelia plan to open a specialist men's beauty store at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CdG) airport

IRELAND. Aer Rianta International (ARI), the overseas arm of Irish airports group Aer Rianta, could come under the joint management of separate Dublin and Shannon airport boards under new proposals to break up the group

If any region epitomises the fresh optimism gradually gaining momentum in this trade, it's Latin America.

FRANCE. Following the publication of Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur's AFCOV Index last month, president Alain Falque has called for a fresh approach in marketing to travellers

Destileria Porfidio will unveil three new super-premium rums at Orlando later this month

Japanese plum liqueur supplier Choya Umeshu plans to expand its duty-free business from its Asia/Pacific stronghold into Europe this year

Fonbelle Americas has signed an agreement with Baron Philippe de Rothschild to distribute selected products in the north American duty-free market

Diageo Scotland has unveiled the first portable Scotch whisky testing kit - the authenticator

Elit, Stolichnaya?s eagerly awaited entry into the growing super-premium vodka category, will have pride of place at Cyprus-based distributor SPI Spirits' Orlando suite later this month

Distilleria Bottega is to unveil a vapourised grappa at this month's IAADFS show

Alfa Brands is hoping for a successful Orlando show and is confident that 2004 will see a return to a positive business climate

The World Health Organization (WHO) has scaled up its threat to duty-free tobacco sales in a move that has sent shockwaves through the global industry

Japan Tobacco International is to introduce its new Camel Travel Pack Towers at the Duty Free Show of the Americas in Orlando later this month

Parfums de Paris is to expand its inflight business in a bid to increase its fragrance sales by 15% in value in 2004, according to Parfums de Paris international marketing manager Alexandra Bechter

Riviera Concepts is set to introduce a new men's fragrance to the duty-free market

Designer Parfums is to re-introduce the Charles Frederick Worth women's fragrance Je Reviens at the TFWA Asia Pacific show in May

Paris Roses de Bois women?s fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent Parfums, Lancaster Group unveils Davidoff Cool Water Deep,Scarlett Johansson promotes new Calvin Klein fragrance

L'Oréal skincare brand Kiehl's has the potential to enter the stand-alone store market, according to L'Oréal Luxury Products Division international travel-retail marketing director worldwide Jean-Michel Bostroem

Guerlain is to focus its Asia/Pacific skincare strategy in 2004 on Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

L'Oréal Paris has announced plans to open two new travel-retail stores in the coming year, the first at Montreal Dorval in May

Puig brand Paco Rabanne has unveiled a skincare line for men called Eau de Paco Rabanne Pour Homme

Versace unveils Lights of Glamour spring 2004 cosmetics range, Clinique introduces Colour Surge lipsticks travel-retail exclusive set, Essenza di Zegna introduces all-over shampoo and grooming pouch kit

The chocolate and candy tender for Singapore Changi airport terminal two departures and transit lounge is set to end the stranglehold of incumbent operator Swizzle

Chocolaterie Guylian will preach a multipack message in Orlando later this month

Bonardo Travel Retail introduces 2004 lines

Chase International president Chase Donaldson is bullish about prospects for confectionery in the US as it prepares to unveil new lines for Hawaiian Host and Lily O?Brien?s

Japanese electronics supplier Sony is to release a mini-disc player that holds 45 hours of music on a single disk

French electronics supplier Thomson has expressed its intention to move forward in duty-free markets this year

Plush toy supplier Russ Berrie has developed a new character concept called Rodney Camel

North American gifts supplier Daron Worldwide Trading is now licensed to supply nautical toys inspired by Carnival Cruise Lines' "Fun Ship" cruise vacations

North American travel company pb travel has launched a fleece travel blanket which will be entering duty-free and domestic markets this month

A new merchandising unit to be used at Vienna airport to promote DVDs from adult entertainment company Private was unveiled in February

Carta Mundi plans duty-free releases to coincide with James Bond and Harry Potter film releases

Liz Claiborne jewellery hopes to boost its presence in travel-retail with the launch of new collections from Liz Claiborne and Monet at Orlando

Monaco-based Misaki's top European designers are busy finalising its latest collection, according to the company

Swiss Army Brands Inc (SABI) will be present at Orlando, with a new range of watches bearing the famous Swiss Army branding

Flik Flak launches Olympic children's models, luxury watches from Croton Watch Company feature exotic animal skin straps

Longchamp is introducing its first collection designed out of house as part of a new strategy to develop a creative link with the arts

Asprey & Garrard is preparing to diversify into travel-retail this autumn, coinciding with the launch of its second ready-to-wear autumn/winter collection under the creative direction of Hussein Chalayan

Pashma is extending its reach with a new distribution deal for Abu Dhabi Duty Free before the summer, with another set to follow in Bahrain

Danish fashion house Sand is encouraging travel-retail buyers to take a more comprehensive approach when choosing their selections for the autumn/winter season