For years airports have been on the receiving end of over-inflated bids from retailers  desperate to secure premium concession space. Operators shoulder all the risk to pay the minimum annual guarantee, while landlords collect. But since September 11 that space is turning out to be far too expensive for retailers to survive. Adele Wolstenhulme quizzes US airports about the alternatives

Latin America is looking to be the new El Dorado for hard-pushed American travel retailers as newly wealthy Mexicans flock to the border. Joe Bates finds out why Fairn & Swanson, now opening its fourth border store at San Ysidro?s giant Las Americas shopping centre, is so confident of finding gold there

In the 53 years that Fairn & Swanson has been supplying duty-free goods to cruiseships the business hasn?t got any easier.

In troubled times persuading a higher proportion of a smaller number of travellers to spend is what counts. And some retailers have found that tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers, along with a host of others, provide them with an ideal marketing tool. Colin Nicholson reports

Convention and Visitors? Bureaux (CVBs)?will go to large tour operator shows to encourage inbound tourism. In turn retailers such as Macy?s West and Pacific Place are particularly reliant on their CVBs.

From September 2001 to September 2002, airports are forecast to lose $2.3bn in revenues, of which concession revenues will account for $446m across the US system.

Concession structures, the need to move away from old formats and the threat of falling numbers of travellers entering stores were high on the agenda at the 11th ACI Europe Airport Trading Conference, which took place in Paris this month.

Safilo is back in the limelight following a crucial deal with Gucci Group to make and distribute YSL sunglasses. Kevin Rozario talks exclusively with Safilo chairman Vittorio Tabacchi about the move?and compares his strategy with that of his rival, Luxottica chairman and ceo Leonardo del Vecchio

Sunglasses are one of the most exciting categories in travel-retail today. But where is the momentum coming from? Kevin Rozario finds out

In a competitive, brand-driven world the idea of suppliers from different categories entering into sales/promotional collaborations doesn?t come naturally. However, when Neena Dhillon invited suppliers to debate cross-categorisation, she found brand managers willing to cooperate in the cause of increased retail penetration and customer spend

Several suppliers in this TRI debate would entertain working with selected counterparts from other categories so long as retailers play a central role in any such venture.

Argentina is still deep in recession and the government?s banking controls are making life difficult for airport duty-free operator InterBaires. But Joe Bates finds ceo Randy Emch optimistic that the company?s long 27-year concession will pay dividends?eventually

Japanese company Shiseido is delivering on its strategy to become a key travel-retail player in a new link-up with Nuance-Watson (HK) Limited Partnership.

Half a year on from one of the biggest crises to hit the airline industry, it is time to end speculation and assess the real state of international travel. GMC Research provides the facts and the figures

Hawaii?s travel retailers continue to suffer from the severe downturn in traffic. Some believe that retailers such as DFS must end their reliance on Japanese trade if things are to improve. Joe Bates reports

It came as something of a shock last October when suppliers woke up to find themselves in bed with a new retailer called Duty Free Americas. But, as president Leon Falic tells Jane Labous, this could herald great things in the beauty sector

Operational and commercial interests often clash at airports. Ivo Favotto argues that scientific evaluation of the impact of terminal design on retail sales is the only way to resolve such conflicts of interest

The International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) has laid on a wide range of social activities for this year?s Duty Free Show of the Americas.

Aer Rianta director retail Frank O?Connell has been elected chairman of the Travel Value Association (TVA).

Travel-retail people moves and news

US travel retailers have never been more vociferous in their efforts to force airports to rethink the way concession contracts are structured.

While other suppliers were sitting tight to avoid the current downturn, Riviera Concepts brought in Elizabeth Arden to sort out its distribution. While Riviera?s rivals are reining in the expenses, the Canadian company is in the middle of a spate of new launches. Jane Labous tracked down ceo Adrian Ellis to find out what?s going on

This character is a well-known figure in the travel-retail liquor business, and he aims to continue developing the category in his role as Brown-Forman duty-free business development director for the Americas and Asia/Pacific. He shares a few personal thoughts and ideas with TRI.

Cosmopolitan Cosmetics? subsidiary Parfums Rochas has signed a long-term licensing agreement with German company Escada to market fragrances and cosmetics.