News
Welcome to the March-April 2026 edition of The Moodie Davitt Magazine, which carries a special focus on the Americas, as the industry gathers for the Summit of the Americas in Orlando, Florida.
In the run-up to this week’s Duty Free Show of the Americas, 14 March saw a magnificent turnout from the Florida and wider US travel retail community in support of #KickCancerThon.
Dermot Davitt is on location to bring readers an unrivalled quality of coverage from The Moodie Davitt Report which is – once again – a fully paid-up registrant to the event
This week, we spotlight a selection of standout campaigns capturing the renewed energy and commercial momentum of the spring travel season.
Tobacco and Reduced Risk Products
Meet Kamal Moukheiber, Founder & CEO of Bongani Cigars, a financier-turned-entrepreneur on a mission to build a world-class cigar business out of Maputo, Mozambique using African tobacco, African talent and international expertise.
Spirits & Wine
The US and French drinks sector powerhouses confirm they are in talks that could create a global spirits leader with massive scale and brand clout and a balanced geographic footprint.
Airport Hospitality World
We bring you the latest lounge and hospitality services openings from around the world in our popular Airport Hospitality World title.
Themed ‘Beauty in the Air’, the multi-sensory concept turns the space into a travel retail-inspired environment, where visitors can explore different scents, enjoy express makeovers and discover beauty essentials through an array of interactive stations.
Travel businesses anticipate demand will move towards travel within Southeast Asia (64%) amid the escalating conflict, while Europe (24%) remains a preferred destination despite flight disruptions.
The US and French drinks sector powerhouses confirm they are in talks that could create a global spirits leader with massive scale and brand clout and a balanced geographic footprint.
WePurple displayed its multi-disciplinary excellence and innovation with a global fundraising event on 25 February that resulted in £3,000 (US$4,000) being raised for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The revamped programme underlines the show’s evolution as a central platform for innovation, collaboration and industry connection amid geopolitical tensions.
By combining visual impact, strong brand storytelling and digital interaction, the House of Brands concept aims to elevate confectionery into a destination category at the key aviation hub.
Treva transforms fragmented passenger touchpoints into a seamless ecosystem by bringing together retail, F&B, mobility, lounge, parking and transfer services into one platform.
The partners are targeting the launch of 1,000 stores across key Belt and Road countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
The opportunity is for a 19sq m unit located at the Departures Check-in Hall on Level 7.
“At Encalm, we remain committed to delivering consistently high standards and supporting platforms that bring innovation and collaboration to the forefront” says Encalm Hospitality Group CEO Vikas Sharma.
The association noted that Canadian land border duty-free stores remain at a tax disadvantage compared with their US competitors.
Narita Airport, Japan’s international gateway, also introduced the ‘Enjoying your stay’ concept aimed at enhancing convenience and comfort for travellers.
Mumbai brands and Maharashtra sense of place are front and centre at the new Navi Mumbai International Airport, which we toured on Wednesday.
The inaugural SQ201 service is set to depart Singapore at 11:30 (local time) and arrive at 22:20, while the return service, SQ202, is scheduled to leave Western Sydney International at 23:55 the same day, arriving in Singapore at 05:05 on 24 November.
Entries remain open via the dedicated event website as the 10 April deadline approaches, with the awards serving as a key highlight of the Bengaluru event on 7-8 July.
To mark International Women’s Day 2026 (8 March), The Moodie Davitt Report has invited women from across the global travel retail and aviation sectors to participate in Voices of Impact, a special editorial initiative celebrating leadership, empowerment and collective action.
SSP America is elevating the airport’s F&B offer with authentic, community-driven concepts that reflect the diversity and creativity of Phoenix’s culinary landscape.
We feature rolling updates on what already ranks as one of the biggest crises in travel retail history.
Our latest selection of images come on location from Mumbai as Ospree Duty Free marked its second anniversary in vibrant style on Tuesday. UPDATED with video highlights.
