Fighting talk

In this issue’s Final Word, CAO Cigars president Tim Ozgener draws parallels between the cigar market and the wine sector and how both are looking beyond their traditional strongholds

Sandra Newman reports on the resurgence of tourism in the US, where growing numbers of tourists from around the world are travelling to shop

Travel shop window

Dufry South America COO José Carlos Rosa has enjoyed an eventful two years at the helm. TRI’s John Gallagher tracks him down to examine how Dufry’s Brazilian operations performed in 2007 and assess prospects for 2008

UK cruise concessionaire Harding Brothers is slowly but steadily gaining ground in the Americas market after winning new retail and spa contracts with some of the biggest cruiselines in the region. Nicole Mezzasalma reports on the company’s latest developments

Take an Irish retailer with a background in Eastern European travel-retail, transplant to the Caribbean and see what happens. Gavin Lipsith speaks to Caribbean ARI general manager Domnick O’Reilly about the operator’s first few months in Barbados

The first year at Vancouver International airport has been a memorable one for Aldeasa’s duty-free team. John Gallagher talks to Aldeasa North America CEO Tony Felany

When executive vice-president and COO Joseph DiDomizio joined Hudson Group in 1992, turnover was about $37m. Last year it reached $630m, and the company’s purchase by private equity firm Advent International makes further expansion inevitable. Michael Eaton asks DiDomizio about Hudson’s non-stop progress

Industry excitement is mounting ahead of the opening of the New Indianapolis airport later this year, despite its small size and lack of international passengers. Joe Bates investigates

The acquisition of Creative Host Services in 2006 gave SSP a valuable stake in the US airport food and beverage market. The specialist travel-retail operator has now rebranded its North American division as SSP America and set out on the expansion trail. Michael Eaton talks to SSP America CEO Les Cappetta

The US domestic market still offers extensive opportunities for luxury brand owners and retailers to increase their share across the Americas region, reports Liz Morrell

Liquid security restrictions are hitting liquor sales hard at The Nuance Group’s recently-revamped stores at Canada’s Toronto Lester B Pearson airport. Nevertheless, the operator is seeing strong growth for local icewine and premium vodka, as Joe Bates discovers

US airport wine bar and retailer Vino Volo is tapping into the nation’s new-found love affair with quality wine, as Joe Bates discovers, when he talks to director of development and marketing Carla Wytmar

The bond between a brand and the person who markets or sells it can be a powerful one. In the first of a new series of interviews exploring the phenomenon, Michael Eaton talks to Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail director of marketing Saul Sola about his relationship with Chivas Regal

Last year’s concert by Avo Uvezian at Zürich International airport to promote Davidoff’s Avo cigars received the seal of approval from many retailers who believe theatre and retail-tainment have a place in duty-free. But as legislation increasingly limits tobacco promotions, Andrew Pentol speaks to operators about out how restrictions have affected their plans

Many cigar suppliers have reported a gradual fall in the average age of cigar smokers over the past few years as consumers switch from cigarettes to cigars much earlier. Andrew Pentol examines the reasons behind this emerging trend and reports on how suppliers are keeping in touch