US. Last week in Orlando, during the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas, Bacardi Global Travel Retail presented its second annual Bacardi Spirit For Life Award, to International Shoppes President Michael Halpern.
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International Shoppes President Michael Halpern with Bacardi Global Travel Retail Managing Director Andrew Carter |
The Award was created to recognise outstanding achievement in travel retail innovation. Each recipient is presented with a custom-designed Bacardi jacket.
The inaugural award was also presented last year in Orlando, to industry pioneer David Bernstein, one of the founders of Duty Free International (now Duty Free Americas) and long-time President of the IAADFS.
“[Michael] has been a pioneer, an innovator and constant contributor to the Americas Travel Retail industry over many decades,” noted Bacardi Global Travel Retail Managing Director Andrew Carter. “His commitment to developing the spirits business at International Shoppes and dedication to growing it into the success it is today makes him a deserving recipient of the Spirit For Life award.”
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Michael Halpern receives his custom-designed Bacardi jacket, as part of his Spirit For Life Award | |
Halpern began his career in the duty free industry with the Samuel Meisel Company in 1970 and grew the business more than +700%. After working in several facets of International Shoppes, he saw an opportunity to develop the spirits side of the business and in 1977 this became a reality when the company began servicing National Airlines with two flights a day. From that very modest beginning, International Shoppes went on to win the contracts at TWA and the Port Authority’s International Arrivals Building, where spirits became a significant portion of the business.
In the past 30 years, International Shoppes has grown into a well-respected powerhouse in the spirits business, enjoying continued growth in both its airport and Diplomatic Division, servicing that trade through the Diplomatic Duty Free Shoppes of New York. International Shoppes is proud to operate the duty free facilities in such prestigious terminals and airports as Terminal One, Jet Blue and American Airlines in New York, and all the duty free facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.
“Receiving the Spirit For Life Award is an honour,” said Halpern. “As I step back and watch my family grow, it is a real pleasure to pass this legacy on to them and to watch them continue to build on the success of the business.”
He added: “International Shoppes would like to thank Bacardi for bringing such great products to market, for its continued innovation, and for giving us the tools to make the business a success.”
About the Spirit For Life Award
The Spirit For Life Award was created in 2010 to recognise travel retail leaders who have enhanced and improved the landscape, partnerships and innovation in travel retail. The Award is presented to an industry professional with a track record for excellence, has held a leadership position in a duty free organisation, committee or outlet and has shown dedication towards improving a particular aspect of travel retail or as a champion for key industry issues.
