Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Duty Free Global from Ireland, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
AUSTRALIA. Our latest image selection comes from the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail & Commercial Forum Awards 2025, held at The Ivy Ballroom Merivale in Sydney on Tuesday night, with a high-quality roll call of winners named.
The awards were presented during the AAA Retail & Commercial Forum Gala Dinner, which is among the social highlights of the three-day conference that ends on Wednesday evening.
There were well-deserved individual Career Achievement Awards for Brisbane Airport Head of Commercial Property Development Toby Innes (Airport) and LagardèreAWPL Chief Operating Officer Stav Vafeas (Concessionaire).
Heinemann Oceania was named as Concessionaire of the Year and Broome International Airport won the Airport Retail & Commercial Business Excellence Award, while One Collective Group captured Supplier of the Year.
Key team member awards went to LagardèreAWPL, with Samantha Fryer, Store Manager at Townsville Airport winning the Customer Facing award and Talent Acquisition Manager Maria Kyriacou for Back of House.
The awards, made following a rigorous independent judging process, recognise excellence and achievement across the airport commercial revenues sector in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
The three judges were AirBiz Chairman Greg Fordham, senior retail consultant Stephen Timms and Monash University Research and Strategy Director, Australian Consumer and Retail Studies Stephanie Atto.
Click here for a list of the candidates who made the awards short lists.
The Forum, a collaboration between the AAA, The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, is in its fourth year and focuses on promoting the growth and development of retail and commercial revenues for airports and concessionaires across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
More coverage of the event will follow. ✈
