In memoriam: Alberto Motta Sr

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The chairman and founder of Motta Internacional has passed away less than a month after celebrating his 90th birthday

One of South American duty-free's founding fathers, Alberto Motta Sr, has passed away, aged 90. Motta, chairman and founder of Panamanian retailer Motta Internacional, was an instrumental driving force in the foundation of the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores, of which his son Alberto Motta Jr is now president.

Motta devoted almost 60 years of his life to the duty-free industry, opening the company's first duty-free shop in 1949 at Panama City airport, and in 2005 was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the first Raven Fox Awards for Travel Retail Excellence in the Americas.

Motta Internacional said that funeral services will be held today at the Kol Shearith Israel cemetery in Panama. The group said that its offices would close today for the services, but would be open tomorrow "with the spirit and verve characteristic of our founder".