Moscow-based marketing agency Smart Project has conducted an extensive online travel retail training programme in partnership with family-owned Scottish drinks company William Grant & Sons.
As reported, Smart Project launched the facilitated online training sessions for duty free employees in Russian airports as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. Smart Project CEO Nadezhda Emelianenko described the initiative as a “resounding success” with travel retailers and suppliers.
Four virtual sessions, from 20 to 29 May, focused on whisky brands Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Monkey Shoulder, and Hendrick’s Gin.
The classes attracted over 300 participants from leading duty free retailers, including Dufry, RegStaer, Imperial Duty Free and Kapo Duty Free, in Russia, Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Speakers included Brand Ambassadors Stepan Balabanov (Monkey Shoulder), Alexander Karavansky (The Balvenie) and Andrew Udovitsa (Glenfiddich). Product presentations included virtual tours to distilleries.