LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN. “Latin America and the Caribbean are among the most vibrant travel markets in the world, and that energy is clearly reflected in our business.” So says Avolta President & CEO LATAM & Caribbean Enrique Urioste, reflecting on business performance in 2025 and early 2026.
The LATAM & Caribbean region represented around US$2 billion in turnover for the travel experience player in 2025, almost 90% of this in duty free, with much of the balance in duty-paid sales and a small proportion in food & beverage.
The company manages (as of year-end 2025) 455 outlets in 22 countries. As Urioste notes, “The opportunity for Avolta comes from the region’s diversity; the different countries, travel motivations and strong emotional connection to food, retail and hospitality.”
In 2025, major markets such as Mexico, Brazil and Colombia alongside some Caribbean destinations performed particularly well, benefiting from resilient tourism, improving connectivity and a healthy mix of local, regional and international travellers, he adds.
“We are seeing good momentum supported by our disciplined execution and strong understanding of local customer behaviour.
“[For] 2026, we remain confident. Infrastructure investment, route expansion and the continued growth of regional travel support a positive outlook. Our focus is on markets where we can combine scale with local relevance. This involves bringing concepts, assortments and experiences that feel authentic to each destination, while maintaining operational consistency across the region.”
That commitment is underlined by a strong pipeline of projects – openings, refurbishments and concept upgrades – in Q1 and into Q2. Extending the limited F&B footprint is high on the regional agenda.
Urioste says: “We will continue the development of our F&B portfolio, where local flavour, sense of place and strong brands play a critical part. At the same time we are investing in operational improvements, from store layouts and flow, to digital tools, to make the customer journey smoother and more intuitive.
“Strong collaboration with our airport partners and brand partners remains essential. Together, we are creating spaces that are lively, welcoming and commercially effective, reflecting the character and vibrancy of each market.”
Mexico is among the strongest regional markets for Avolta, with the transformation of Mexico City Duty Free in late 2024 bolstered by a nine-year contract extension secured last year covering regional airports.
Reflecting on the largest location, Mexico City Duty Free, Urioste says: “Since late 2024, we have seen positive signs in terms of shopper engagement, dwell time and overall performance. The new environment better reflects the scale and importance of the airport and offers a clearer, more fluid shopping experience for passengers.
“The next phase is about refinement and optimisation. We are refining assortments, improving category adjacencies and using our detailed data insights to respond more precisely to passenger mix by route, nationality and time of day. We are also working closely with brand partners on targeted activations to stimulate both impulse and premium purchasing.
“Mexico City is one of our most important locations globally, and our objective is to continue building conversion and spend through smart execution, strong partnerships and a customer-focused approach.”
The vastly diverse regional market also presents challenges in its complexity.
“Inflation, currency movements and cost pressures require constant attention, particularly when it comes to maintaining value for travellers while protecting margins,” says Urioste.
“That said, our teams in Latin America and the Caribbean are very experienced in managing these kinds of challenges. Flexibility is key, using product assortment, formats and operational strategies rather than relying on price adjustments alone. Passenger growth and a diversified traveller mix also help to mitigate external pressures.”
He concludes: “Importantly, demand for travel across the region remains strong. People continue to travel with purpose and enthusiasm, and our role is to capture that momentum with offers that are relevant, accessible and genuinely engaging; for this we are leveraging our data lake and translating our knowledge into practical improvements.
“Because of this, our Club Avolta loyalty programme remains central to our strategy.” ✈
