UAE. Dubai Duty Free has its big win at the recent Frontier Awards in Cannes, where it won its tenth Airport Retailer of the Year award. The awards were hosted by DFNI-Frontier magazine, with judging by a seven-strong panel of senior industry executives.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “We are thrilled to receive our record tenth Frontier Airport Retailer of the Year Award. This award will always be treasured as it is a testament of our hard work and commitment despite the challenging year. I would like to thank the organisers and the judges for their support and I join our Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum in dedicating this Frontier award to each and every member of our staff.”
Judges highlighted Dubai Duty Free’s “continuing achievement both in terms of its sales as well as strengthening its position as an innovative and expanding retail operation despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
In addition, Dubai Duty Free along with other travel retailers was presented with a special collective award for Outstanding Contribution to recognise frontline staff in the industry.
Our earlier story on the awards, with a list of winners, can be found here.
Dubai Duty Free won its first Airport Retailer of the Year award in 1985 – at the first Frontier Awards ceremony- and again in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company has also won in other categories over the years including Best Marketing Campaign in 1986, 1990, 2009 and 2015.
In 1986, Colm McLoughlin was presented with the Duty Free Person of the Year award and in 2004 a special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in recognition of his significant role within the duty free industry. Former Dubai Duty Free President George Horan was also presented with the same award in 2016 following his retirement in June that year, after 33 years with the company. In 2019, Dubai Duty Free’s Emiratization Officer Muna Hassan was named as a recipient of the Talent of Tomorrow Award.
