CUBA. Walid Saleh, Managing Director of Phoenicia Trading (Afro-Asia), the acclaimed cigar store retailer at Beirut Airport (and partner in Beirut Duty Free) and the world’s leading Cuban cigar distributor, has been named Habanos Man of the Year.
The businessman, based in Lebanon and Cyprus, received the award during the annual Festival del Habano on 2 March at the gala dinner. Saleh is a long-time aficionado of Cuban cigars. Interviewed last year by The Moodie Report he noted: “I usually smoke different brands and different sizes depending on the time and the occasion. But as long as it is a Cuban cigar I consider it a great one.”
 |  |
Left: Habanos Co-President Buenaventura Jiménez hands over the trophy to a proud Walid Saleh; Right: He is applauded back to his seat by Phoenicia Trading President Mohamed Zeidan | |
Phoenicia is best known for its long-established and successful joint-venture distribution relationship with Cuban cigar house Habanos (extended to a number of new markets in 2005, including Africa, the Middle East, all Arab countries, Turkey, Iran and some European countries including Greek, Malta and Cyprus).
It also runs travel retail’s most acclaimed – and most spectacular – cigar area, featuring the world’s first airport duty free Casa del Habano shop, at Beirut Airport. The Frontier Award-winning 450sq m cigar area embraces two walk-in humidors, including one for vintage and limited-edition lines, and a VIP lounge. Remarkably it accounts for almost 25% of total duty free sales at the airport.
Phoenicia has signalled its intentions to expand its duty free presence beyond Lebanon in recent times, bidding aggressively on contracts in Egypt and Singapore. In February it was the highest bidder for the cigar concession at Singapore Changi Airport’s new Terminal Three.
Saleh is the second successive well-known travel retail executive to win the Man of the Year award. Last year the accolade went to Fred Kiang, Chairman of Sunrise Duty Free in China.
 |  |
Left: Taking the plaudits – Altadis Chairman Antonio Vasquez and Altadis Cigars General Manager Fernando Dominguez (right) congratulate Habanos Man of the Year Walid Saleh; Right: Walid Saleh with Bassam Audeh, a Director of Cyprus-based distributor IBCS Trading & Distribution Company | |
MORE STORIES ON PHOENICIA TRADING
Phoenicia Trading heads DFS with aggressive bid for Changi T3 wine concession – 28/02/07
Phoenicia Trading backs Changi ambition with strong bid for T3 cigar concession – 23/02/07
