Spirit of enterprise

TRI’s analysis of travel and purchasing patterns among Europe’s highest-spending travelling nations shows that while Germans spend the most on travel overall, it is other nationalities—particularly the Russians and Norwegians—who are much bigger spenders in travel-retail. Sandra Newman reports

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TRI reports on the five most important developments in the cigar category this year

Since Japan Tobacco International launched its first Smoking Lounges and Stations in 2002 the initiative has proved a successful way of improving the airport environment, generating revenue for airports and increasing airport exposure for Winston and Camel, writes Gavin Lipsith

Confectionery is now the fourth-largest category in travel-retail—behind fragrances and cosmetics, liquor and tobacco—and it has the second-fastest growth rate. Michael Eaton finds out why confectionery is performing so well by exploring the category management research commissioned by Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) to understand shopper motivations

Niche brands are entering the fragrances and cosmetics market thick and fast but do they justify separate branded space or should they be added to the main product mix? Tina Milton reports

TRI presents an exclusive rundown of the world’s top luxury goods retailers. While there may be a few surprises among the top 20 names, there was no close challenger to the renowned French group LVMH for the number one spot. Duty-Free & Travel-Retail Database & Directory editor Sandra Newman profiles the leaders

A new report from AC Nielsen China suggests that while the Chinese are a golden travel-retail opportunity, China itself may not be. Kevin Rozario reports

Manchester Airport Group in the UK announced plans this summer to make radical changes to its retail strategy, based on feedback from consumers. Lorna Strickland explores the role of research in modern travel-retail planning and canvasses opinion among other operators

The Travel Retail Partnership founder and managing partner Nancy Cockerell enthralled delegates at the European Travel Partnership Symposium staged by Raven Fox in Barcelona last month when she revealed the extent of an unexpected phenomenon: airports as destinations. Michael Eaton reports

Joe Bates charts the rise and rise of Harvey Nichols, from a loss-making business in the 1980s to a forward-looking department store group committed to cutting-edge luxury, and an ambitious expansion strategy both at home and abroad

Middle East Aviation Outlook, published by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), is an exhaustive study of a region that is taking an increasingly more influential role in travel-retail. TRI summarises some of the key findings of a fascinating report

The Design Solution managing director Robbie Gill welcomes an overdue change of attitude towards travel-retail catering and argues that quality airport dining is no longer an oxymoron