INTERNATIONAL. The deadline for the Travel Retail Superstars Awards 2026 is just two weeks away, with entries accepted until 16 November.
The Travel Retail Superstars Awards are travel retail’s only pan-industry, people-focused accolades.
They give critical recognition to teams and customer-facing or back-of-house employees across all travel retail channels.
It might be the staff member the traveller encounters who adds joy to the journey. Or the unsung back-of-house employee. Or the team that collectively makes an incalculable difference to business performance and morale.
A wining nomination invariably focuses on an ‘up close and personal’ story, embellished with the human factor, rather than a generalised tribute.
The programme complements the Food & Beverage (F&B) Superstars Awards, held alongside the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards in Antalya on 3-4 June 2027.
To assist companies preparing to submit entries, here are case studies from last year’s winners:
- Denzil Gomes at Dubai Duty Free, who embraces the African philosophy of Ubuntu as a guiding influence to customer service. “It is the idea that humanity is based on the collective rather than the individual – essentially meaning, ‘I am because we are’. None of us succeeds alone.”
- The EVERRICH team at Taoyuan International Airport, who have built an enviable reputation for turning everyday passenger encounters into meaningful human connections. From assisting upset travellers with lost belongings to administering first aid, repairing damaged luggage and even mending passengers’ shoes, the EVERICH team constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty.
- Montenegro Duty Free HR Manager Ivana Vavic Milic, recipient of the Travel Retail Superstars Awards 2025 Humanity, Leadership & Inspiration – Back Office Award won admiration – and ultimate recognition – for how she nurtures colleagues, shapes culture and helps people realise their potential.
Hosted by The Moodie Davitt Report, the event is run in partnership with an advisory committee of human resources and training specialists who help shape and judge the programme, with winners to be revealed in January 2027.
Led by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, the judging panel also includes Ethos Farm Founder & CEO Sally Alington, Recruit GTR Founder Jilly Brocklebank and Spark Group Founder & President Heidi Van Roon. Together, they will assess nominations spanning airport, airline, downtown and cruise retail.
The Travel Retail Superstars Awards 2026 categories
Star Team – An award that celebrates teams who have pulled together, working seamlessly, enthusiastically and effectively, while inspiring each other and those around them. It recognises teams who have gone beyond the call of duty, together, to make a difference and to get the job done to the highest standard.
Star Individual – This award recognises people who everyone loves to work alongside and encounter in the workplace. For those individuals who always show up both for work and for others, who strive to walk the extra mile, who display integrity and passion, and who communicate with sincerity, friendliness and conviction.
Innovation: Team or Individual – This award is for those who have provided a difference to the business through offering innovative ideas that have been adopted (especially company-wide), and have led to increased efficiency, improvements, profitability or enhanced customer service.
Humanity, Leadership & Inspiration: Team or Individual – An award that celebrates those who have shown that leadership is an action, not just a position, and who encourage good citizenship through compassion and empathy and responsibility.
Women in Travel Retail Superstars – Introduced to the Travel Retail Superstars Awards in 2025, the category recognises the critical role women play across the wider travel retail ecosystem (the same individuals remain eligible for recognition in other award categories).
* For each of the categories, there are awards for four separate regions: Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa.
If your team member, or team, deserves star treatment, please help to highlight and give due recognition to them by nominating here.
The written summary component of entries should not exceed 800 words in total and should cover events that have taken place between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026.
More details on Travel Retail Superstars entry requirements are available on the website. An administration fee of £79 + VAT per submission is payable via the portal. ✈
