world travel retail awards

The Spirits Business

The travel retail masters 2022 results.

As international journeys become more commonplace again, our panel of judges put the most special offerings from global travel retail to the test in SB’ s annual competition, with impressive results.

This year feels like the first one in which travel has been possible since Covid‐19 brought the sector to a screeching halt in 2020. From brand activations and new product launches to international trade shows and high‐end boutiques, the global travel retail (GTR) channel is back in action, and there is much to explore.

The reopening of travel retail is not without its challenges. However, the channel continues to provide a truly international shop window for travellers – and brands are chomping at the bit to get their products noticed.

New launches this year span everything from the Secret Speyside Scotch whisky line from Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail and the oldest bottling from Tamdhu to the travel retail debut of the Tales of The Macallan Volume I , The Laird of Ester Elchies (1659‐1715) in the brand’s GTR boutiques.

But as brands vie for shelf space, does the quality of those products already available in the channel suffice? To answer this question, a panel of experts gathered at the Novotel Hotel in London Bridge to judge The Travel Retail Masters 2022.

The judges comprised: Bernadette Pamplin, freelance drinks writer, and founder of the Under the Ginfluence blog; David T Smith, spirits consultant, writer and co‐founder of the Craft Distilling Expo; Herchelle Perez Terrado, director of Drinks Partnership; and Dimple Athavia, founder of All Things Drinks. The panel was led by Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business magazine, and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions .

In the opening Low & No‐Alcohol heat, Ceder’s Classic showed its Gold credentials with its “bright citrus notes and botanical notes” that would “mix very well”.

Moving onto the Vodka flight, a Gold medal was bestowed upon Royal Mash Vintage Vodka 2020. The judges enjoyed its “very clean nose” and picked out flavours akin to “cake batter, with a spicy finish”.

Athavia said: “I liked the palate, it was smooth and delicious – reminiscent of sake distillate. You could make a nice long drink with those flavours.”

Gentle elderflower

The judges then took on a flight of gin, awarding two Master medals. The first went to Siegfried Rheinland Dry Gin, celebrated for its “bright citrus nose with gentle elderflower”, which led to prominent notes of “juniper and citrus” on the palate. “Very well made, the nose jumps out of the glass,” the judges enthused.

Green Man Wildwood Gin also secured the top Master award after impressing the panel with its “very classic juniper‐led nose, bright, fresh and zesty”. On the palate, “citrus flavours and botanical sweetness” left a lasting impression.

A pair of Gold medals was also enjoyed in this round. Bulldog Gin gained a Gold award for being “juniper‐forward, lovely and complex”. Silent Pool Gin also garnered a Gold medal for its “light lemon aroma and herbaceous flavours”. Two Silver medals were awarded to Sir Edmond Gin and Nordés.

Pamplin was pleased to see two Masters in the flight: “You want something a bit more special and high quality in travel retail, and that’s exactly what you got with the Master medals.”

Perez Terrado added: “This selection explored the facets that gin can bring to travel retail, from the classic juniper‐led gins to sweet, ripe fruits. That’s offering the customer some diversity at least, and not just ‘same same’. That can often happen with gin; this shows that gin is still winning.”

Cognac Camus XO collected a Gold medal in the Cognac heat. It impressed the panel with its “buttery shortbread aroma” complemented by “raisins and fresh tobacco”. The palate brought “delicious caramel sweetness, leading to raisins, gentle spice and great balance”.

The biggest flight of the competition was Scotch Whisky, which presented a medley of blended whiskies, blended malts, and single malt bottlings. Three more Master medals were celebrated in this heat. Glen Grant 10 Years Old was one of the Master recipients.

Athavia raved about this whisky’s “tropical, fresh juicy character”, while Smith hailed how “accessible” the whisky would be to a spectrum of drinkers. Glenmorangie The Tribute also secured a Master medal, with notes of “sticky toffee” on the palate and overall a “nice mouthfeel and good balance”.

Douglas Laing & Co entered its Remarkable Regional Malts Miniature Gift Pack into the tasting, which the judges agreed took the drinker on a journey across Scotland. Hugely impressed by the gift pack, a Master medal was awarded to the group of miniatures.

“The experience, the variation of whiskies, to even be able to have that in your portfolio, was very good,” enthused Athavia. “There was consistent quality across the board.”

Douglas Laing & Co also scooped a Gold medal for The Gauldrons Global Traveller’s Edition. The whisky presented aromas of “light smoke and apricot”, leading to “vanilla, a touch of white pepper heat, and a long finish”.

Two Golds were awarded to whiskies from The Glenmorangie Company. Gold‐winning Glenmorangie The Elementa was enjoyed for its “quite oily palate”. The judges found notes of “brioche, woodiness, and gentle warming spice”.

Glenmorangie The Accord was also accepted into the Gold ranks. The whisky was praised for being “deep, rich and full‐bodied”, with flavours of “medjool dates, baking spices and a little gingerbread”.

Smoke and Sherry

In addition, Johnnie Walker Island Green won a Gold medal for its “rich oily intensity” and hints of “smoke and Sherry”. Gold medallist Talisker Dark Storm also secured a Gold medal for delivering notes of “light smoke, orchard fruits and caramel sweetness”.

Completing the Gold haul in this flight was Glen Grant 12 Years Old, which was enjoyed for aromas of “light smoke and tarte Tatin” on the nose. When sipped the whisky offered “a nice mix of fruitiness, apples, raisins and gentle spice”. Two Silvers concluded the flight: Johnnie Walker Triple Cask, and Talisker Surge.

Athavia noted about the flight: “It was interesting to see lots of blended malts, and really interesting to see a lot of peat and smoky characters coming through.”

Perez Terrado was also impressed. “I was surprised by the ‘entry‐level’ whiskies. The 10‐year‐old blended malt was giving some of the others a run for their money. And, actually, as a style of whisky, it shouldn’t be dismissed. Blended malts aren’t as well known, but there are opportunities to be explored there.”

In the World Whisky contingent, a Gold medal was awarded to Maison Villevert’s Talbert Celtic Whisky, a blend of whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, France and Germany. Tasting notes included ”slight biscuit notes, peppery spice and dried fruits”. Bulgarian brand Black Ram gained a Silver in this round.

The final heat of the day, Rum, presented the final Master medallist: Equiano Original. The rum was lauded for its “nice complexity and fruitiness, woody, nutty and fragrant, with a balanced sweetness”. “This had fantastic flavour for 43% ABV,” said Smith. Stablemate Equiano Light secured a Gold medal, liked for its “bright fruity notes on the palate – papaya, pineapple and a touch of Demerera sugar”.

Gold‐winning Takamaka Overproof had “a lot of power” on the palate, with “some lovely grass, fruit and coconut notes”. Two Ron Carúpano bottlings also received Gold medals. Ron Carúpano 21 Reserva Privada picked up a Gold medal for hints of caramel, coffee ice cream, and a touch of amaretto on the finish”.

Meanwhile, Gold‐winning Ron Carúpano 18 Reserva Limitada offered “good balance”, making it “ideal for sipping or mixing”. Santa Teresa 1796 brought the initial tasting round to a close with a solid Silver medal.

The Master winners were then poured again and sampled by the judges to determine which product was most deserving of the Travel Retail Taste Master title. This title is particularly tricky to decide, given the vast assortment of products up for consideration. However, the judges agreed that the ‘best in class’ award should go to “really complex” Equiano Original.

The panel said this year’s entries provided much to be excited about as travel returns. Next time you find yourself at the airport or on board a cruise ship, these impressive medal winners are well worth exploring.

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Frontier Awards: the ‘ultimate platform’ to showcase innovation

By Kapila Ireland in Brand News , Events News , Global , Latest News , Lead Stories , People News , Retail News October 6, 2020 Comments Off on Frontier Awards: the ‘ultimate platform’ to showcase innovation

Winners’ Lounge: Lotte, Mondelez, Heathrow Airport and Whyte & Mackay share their wins

The  2020 Frontier Awards  took place last week as a live broadcast revealing winners from across the travel retail industry.

Airports, retailers and brands from around the world entered the awards to showcase their commitment, hard work and success stories against the backdrop of an extremely difficult year for travel retail. If you missed the original live broadcast, you can still watch it below:

We caught up with some of the winners following the event in our second installment of the Frontier Awards Winners’ Lounge.

This year’s Border, Downtown or Non-Airport Retailer of the Year, Sponsored by Foreo , went to  Lotte Duty Free’s Main Store.  Judges were impressed with the sheer scale of Lotte’s main store and implementation of activations.

“We would like to thank the judging committee, the organisers for the awards, and DFNI. It is such a great honour to be recognised for our performance throughout the previous year. The Frontier Awards is obviously the most prestigious award within the travel retail industry. The award is a huge motivation that can bring us tenfold energy to pursue our goals and values and help us hold tight during this difficult time,” a company spokesperson told us.

Jaya Singh pictured far left at last year’s awards when Mondelez also won Supplier of the Year

For the second year running,  Mondelez World Travel Retail was awarded Supplier of the Year.   Managing Director, Jaya Singh , who is extremely proud of his team for their outstanding work helping defend the company’s Best Supplier title, told DFNI : “It is a clear recognition of our commitment to continuous engagement with industry stakeholders, especially when it really matters, to seize opportunities of the future.

“Praise at the Frontier Awards in any form is the industry’s ultimate feedback to one’s efforts, whereas being chosen the Best Supplier is the highest possible achievement.”

He added: “For us, the Frontier Awards are the ultimate platform to recognise, showcase and celebrate innovation, creativity and executional excellence in the channel. By highlighting past achievements, it helps us raise our standards and inspire us all in shaping the future of this unique retail environment.”

“The Frontier Awards are the ultimate platform to recognise, showcase and celebrate innovation, creativity and executional excellence in the channel  —  Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director, Jaya Singh

Heathrow Airport was recognised in two categories this year, winning the Airport of the Year accolade, sponsored by King Power, and Collaboration of the Year for its Destination Beauty campaign with partner Dufry.

Destination Beauty

Heathrow Retail Director Fraser Brown commented: “In both cases my initial reaction is one of great pride as I know we are competing with some extremely high-quality entries from some of the industry’s best airports and retailers.

“For myself, to have Heathrow Retail applauded in this way by our peers is always extremely gratifying and is certainly a source of pride for Heathrow itself where our retail operation is valued as a vital aspect of giving great passenger service.

“Above all it’s great for our retail team members to have their immense efforts recognised and awarded.

“The Collaboration award is equally gratifying because genuine collaboration between all the stakeholders involved in Dufry’s Destination Beauty initiative at Heathrow was essential to its great success.”

This year’s Supplier Campaign of the Year award went to  Whyte & Mackay Travel Retail  (team photo pictured top) for its campaign for The Dalmore which judges said “ticked all the boxes” for its great product, excellent consumer engagement, adaptable and digitally connected.

“I was thrilled and honoured to receive the news, not only for myself, but for the wider team as it truly was a team effort,” said  Trade Marketing Manager Athena Lau. ” Our Marketing team are passionate and committed to Travel Retail and our brand and, given what we are all experiencing in our industry at present, this wonderful recognition is the perfect boost for morale.”

Lau, who said winning a Frontier Award is comparable to winning an Oscar, added: “We, as a team, are so grateful that all the hard work and creative thinking put in place to drive penetration, conversion and spend with our customers is paying off.

“For our company, this is further confirmation that consumers are finding our campaigns relevant as, on top of this award, The Dalmore is the fastest growing Luxury Single Malt globally. To be recognised by the industry as a smaller player places Whyte & Mackay Travel Retail as a driving force in the industry.  This award demonstrates that with creativity and the right mindset, all is possible.”

Tagged with: Frontier Awards Heathrow airport Lotte Duty Free Mondelez World Travel Retail Whyte & Mackay

ABOUT THE TRAVEL RETAIL SUPERSTARS AWARDS

Welcome to the third edition of the Travel Retail Superstars Awards, an annual awards for travel retail employees across airport, airline, downtown store and cruise sectors. The awards will once again shine the spotlight on the thousands of frontline and behind the scenes heroes and heroines who have helped keep the industry going throughout 2023.

The deadline for submissions to the Travel Retail Superstars Awards 2023 run by The Moodie Davitt Report has been extended until 31 October.

The Awards ceremony will be held virtually on 13 December.

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Travelers’ Choice Awards 2024 reveal the top hotels in the U.S.

Three new categories are included this year

The reviewers have spoken: Tripadvisor has revealed the 2024 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Hotel Awards. The awards, given to the top one percent of the 1.6 million hotel listings on Tripadvisor, represent the absolute best places to stay in the world. While no U.S. hotels made the cut for best in the world, the best U.S. hotels are certainly high in the rankings. The awards this year also include three new best hotel categories: pet-friendly, sustainable and wellness-focused.

The number one hotel in the U.S. is the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica. Located within walking distance from the Santa Monica Pier, this eco-friendly boutique hotel offers ocean views, premium amenities, and personalized attention from staff. At number two is the Luma Hotel in Times Square, followed by FivePine Lodge & Spa in Oregon, The Bryant Park Hotel in NYC and Hotel Emma in San Antonio.

The awards are also given in categories including luxury, B&Bs and inns, family-friendly, and more. New this year are the awards given to the best pet-friendly hotels, most sustainable hotels, and hotels with a focus on wellness. The best pet-friendly hotel in the U.S. is Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale. Pets are on every floor and in the outdoor garden sitting area. No U.S. hotel has made it to the top 10 list for wellness or sustainability, but the awards are bucket-list worthy for international travel.

"Our Best of the Best Hotels are marvels, acclaimed by thousands of travelers for their remarkable service, stunning design, and wealth of amenities that redefine what it means to have an exceptional hotel experience," said Dan Mitchell, vice president and general manager hotels, Tripadvisor.

The Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. View all the awards for Best of the Best Hotels in all categories here .

• Gerrish Lopez Contributor, New Orleans

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Press Release

April 24th 2024

Appriss Retail Wins “Fraud Prevention Solution Provider of the Year” in 2024 RetailTech Breakthrough Awards Program

International awards program recognizes standout retail technology companies, products, and services around the world.

Appriss Retail , a leading provider of data and analytics solutions designed to reduce retail losses, decrease returns, and provide a more seamless consumer experience, today announced it was selected as “Fraud Prevention Solution Provider of the Year” in the annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards. The program is conducted by RetailTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout retail technology companies, products, and services around the globe.

Appriss Retail is an industry-leading intelligence and analytics platform driven by AI. The technology provider offers two primary solutions: Secure and Engage. 

Secure provides retailers with actionable insights which helps retailers to proactively address fraud and shrink. It offers a comprehensive view of in-store and online operations, enabling retailers to take an omnichannel approach to preventing loss. The module helps retailers identify inbound and outbound sources of shrink and loss including warehouse shipments, customer returns, waste, and theft.

The recently released Secure Workbench feature offers an intuitive dashboard that helps a variety of business users across departments pinpoint situations, people, places, products, and processes that need attention. By utilizing more than just the reporting functions, businesses can proactively identify and prevent fraud.

Engage is a behavior-based recommendations solution that analyzes consumer patterns to provide a consistent, personalized experience during the returns and claims and appeasement processes while safeguarding profits. Engage identifies fraudulent activity by evaluating linked transactions and providing approval, warning, or denial recommendations. Engage can review point-of-sale, web commerce, and customer support center adjustments to determine if a behavior is normal for the retailer’s business or not.

“Our technology is designed to help retailers maximize their profits while managing their risk through real-time decision making and active risk assessments. We work closely with our customers to navigate the landscape of fraud and risk, and develop capabilities to unlock greater agility and profitability,” said Michael Osborne, CEO, Appriss Retail. “This award from RetailTech Breakthrough is a testament to our customer satisfaction and value. We’ll continue our ongoing, innovative approach to solving market challenges, reflected in solutions that address fraud and risk head on.”

The mission of the annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industry’s most comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the top companies, services, and solutions in the retail technology industry today. This year’s program attracted thousands of nominations from over 12 different countries throughout the world.

“Appriss Retail solutions make it easy to stay abreast of market conditions and predict and mitigate in-store and online retail challenges like fraud. The retail industry changes rapidly, along with shopper behavior and market trends, making it difficult for retailers to anticipate challenges without solutions designed for their needs,” said Bryan Vaughn, managing director, RetailTech Breakthrough. “Appriss Retail’s Secure and Engage solutions not only address critical issues like shrink reduction, fraud, and abuse but also empower retailers to make data-driven decisions to maximize profitability. We’re thrilled to award them ‘Fraud Prevention Solution Provider of the Year!’”

About Appriss Retail

Appriss Retail provides AI-driven analytics and real-time, integrated recommendations focused on identifying and mitigating theft, fraud, and abuse, while shaping positive experiences for profitable consumers. Used by more than 60 of the Top 100 omnichannel retailers, the company’s SaaS solutions improve retail profitability by reducing fraud and abuse, minimizing ecommerce claims and appeasements, and preventing losses caused by employee theft and turnover. For more information about Appriss Retail, visit www.apprissretail.com .

About RetailTech Breakthrough Part of  Tech Breakthrough , a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is the premier awards and recognition platform devoted to honoring excellence in retail technology companies, services and solutions around the world. The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of retail technology companies and products in categories that include store management, digital displays, checkout automation, workforce tools, smart dressing rooms and more. For more information visit  retailtechbreakthrough.com .

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Media Contacts

Matthew Boncosky Ketner Group Communications (for Appriss Retail) [email protected]

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This Island Has the Best Beach in the World, According to Travel Experts

Bora Bora takes the No. 1 spot.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Niklas Flindt/Getty Images

The best beach in the world is often selected for its beauty — places where the water is so clear it appears turquoise and the sand is so soft it feels like powdered sugar. But it takes more than physical beauty to make a great beach. A great beach should welcome everyone , regardless of its background, identity, or abilities. A great beach should have an energetic vibe — or at least a luxurious one. And finally, a great beach should have some sort of cultural significance, be it historical or modern-day pop culture.

These factors (and more) were considered by BeachAtlas , a London-based startup that’s known for its beach guides. This year, when selecting the winners of the Golden Beach Award 2024 they took a broader perspective — shining a light on beach gems that offer more than beautiful views and soft sand. Then, they invited travel experts and influencers from around the world to rank the final list.

The result is a list of 100 beaches that have it all: classic beauty, party and lifestyle, inclusivity, community, natural diversity, and cultural significance. Topping the list is Bora Bora , an island group in French Polynesia with the best beach in the world. 

As BeachAtlas describes, Bora Bora is “where your wallet whispers ‘help’ but your Instagram screams ‘heaven.’ Dive into crystal-clear waters by day and snap postcard-perfect sunsets by night.”

Bora Bora is a name that’s synonymous with beauty, luxury, and seclusion. Its total land area is just 12 square miles and it’s tucked protectively inside a bright blue lagoon and a barrier reef. The main island is marked by two dormant volcanoes that rise from the center of the island, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, and are surrounded by several motus, or small islands, that are often too small for anything but a handful of beach chairs.

Small stretches of sand circle the main island of Bora Bora, including the main public beach, Matira Beach, which is widely considered to be one of the best on the island. No matter where you decide to post up, you’ll be treated to views over the lagoon’s artificially bright blue waters, waving palms, stilted overwater bungalows , and the towering peaks of Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. 

In addition to Bora Bora, BeachAtlas selected 99 beaches that stood out for their role in history, the communities they foster, or the inclusivity they provide. Below are the top 10 pics:

• Boulders Beach, South Africa
• Waikiki Beach, U.S.
• Copacabana, Brazil
• Maya Bay, Thailand
• Black Sand Beach, Iceland
• Glass Beach, U.S.
• JBR Beach, UAE
• Skeleton Coast, Namibia
• Omaha Beach, France

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Celebrating Excellence in Travel Technology

Latest news, world travel tech awards reveals 2023 winners at dubai ceremony.

World Travel Tech Awards – the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in the travel tech sector – has unveiled the winners of its 2023 programme at a glittering gala reception, held at Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE.

Save the Dates

The vital dates for your 2024 diary!

Does your travel technology brand have the cutting-edge services and an all-conquering customer experience to be a world leader? If so, we invite you to participate in the annual World Travel Tech Awards.

Nominee Resources

Being short-listed for a World Travel Tech Awards™ nomination provides you, the Nominee, with the ideal opportunity to promote your potentially award winning products and services ahead of your competitors.

2023 Winners

Meet the 2023 winners — truly outstanding achievers and leaders in their respective fields — who have risen above the competition to lift the 3 rd annual World Travel Tech Awards™ trophy.

Winner Resources

Receiving a World Travel Tech Award™ is a world-class achievement that provides you, the Winner, with the ideal marketing tool to promote your award-winning products and services ahead of your competitors. Find out more about your eligible products:

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Qatar Airways to Participate in ATM Dubai 2024 with the World’s First AI Digital Human Cabin Crew, Sama 2.0

The ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ will offer industry experts the chance to interact with the latest generation of its revolutionary digital innovation at the Arabian Travel Market Dubai, from 6 to 9 May 2024

Sama 2.0 embodies the future of travel technology, raising the bar for exceptional, world-class service and hospitality across the global travel and tourism sector

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways, the multiple award-winning airline, will participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai, offering visitors the chance to meet and engage with its world-leading AI-powered digital human cabin crew, Sama 2.0, from 6 to 9 May 2024.

Aligning with ATM’s 31 st edition theme of ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, the national carrier of the State of Qatar will invite industry experts and travel partners from across the Gulf region and beyond to engage with Sama 2.0 – the second generation of the world’s first AI-powered digital crew.

By answering questions in real time, Sama 2.0 is the future of exceptional service and hospitality in the travel and tourism industry, assisting travellers in designing curated travel experiences, and empowering them to find answers related to Qatar Airways FAQs, destinations, support tips and more.

To ensure seamless interaction with Sama, customers and passengers can easily chat with her through QVerse , Qatar Airways’ immersive digital platform, or conveniently via the Qatar Airways app.

Qatar Airways will also unveil its brand-new exhibition pavilion at Hall no. 2 ME1450 during the four-day event, which is the premier international travel and tourism event in the Middle East, attracting both inbound and outbound tourism professionals. The state-of-the-art stand will feature a multi-sensory pod that offers a fully-immersive dive into the exceptional luxury and comfort of the award-winning Qsuite. This will allow visitors to experience first-hand the revolutionary innovation and technological advancements that set Qatar Airways apart in the travel and tourism sector.

Additionally, visitors will be able to roam the airline’s Qverse via a Virtual Reality (VR) experience to explore the cabin interior of Qatar Airways’ aircraft, including the award-winning Business Class - Qsuite, the Economy Class cabin, as well as navigate Hamad International Airport (HIA), the ‘World’s Best Airport’ as voted by Skytrax in 2024, along with Al Safwa First Class Lounge and Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge.

Sama 2.0. and the Qatar Airways team will be on-hand to assist guests and trade partners at ATM Dubai, Dubai World Trade Center, Hall no. 2 ME1450, from 6 to 9 May 2024.

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for the tenth time at the 2023 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, 'Best Airline in the Middle East', 'World's Best Business Class Lounge' and 'World's Best Business Class Lounge Dining' at the prestigious awards held during the 2023 Paris Air Show. Qatar Airways is an unprecedented seven-time winner of the 'World’s Best Airline' voted by Skytrax (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022). As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was recently voted the 'World’s Best Airline Website' by World Travel Tech Awards.

Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

Qatar Airways currently flies to nearly 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In 2024, Hamad International Airport also received the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ accolade for 10 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the second year in a row.

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Travel Retail Awards: Confectionery & Fine Foods; Wines; Spirits finalists

By Charlotte Turner | Tuesday, 9 August 2022 13:37

The Travel Retail Awards 2022 ceremony will be held on Monday 3 October, during the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, France.

We are now delighted to reveal the next round of finalists for this year’s Global Travel Retail Awards, vying for trophies in the following categories; Best Confectionery and Fine Foods Product; Best Wine Product and Best Spirits Product.

Yesterday we revealed the list of finalists for the Beauty and FAWJ categories and this morning we published finalists in Electronics, Travel Accessories & Children’s products.

For the list of Beauty finalists click here.

For the list of FAWJ finalists click here.

For the list of finalists in Electronics, Travel Accessories & Children’s products click here.

Congratulations to all those on the list, as voted for by consumers. You can find out more about how The Travel Retail Awards are judged by reading our recent article.

Stay close to our website for more awards finalists being revealed this week. Scroll to the bottom for full timetable.

The fourth round of finalists are:

Best Confectionery and Fine Foods Product

Al Nassma Chocolate – Samha camel milk chocolate coated and filled dates

Alfred Ritter – Ritter Sport 100g Nut Selection Tower

Chocdecor – Belfine Unicorn & Dragon Lollipops

Cloetta – The Jelly Bean Factory 36 Flavour Mix 175g Tube

Ferrero – Ferrero Rocher Tablets white chocolate

Food2Smile: Represented By Brands of Style – Food2Smile – Ready to Smile Box

Haribo – MAOAM -MaoMixx

Haribo – Travel Parade

Lindt & Sprüngli – Lindor Milk Bag 100g

Mondelez World Travel Retail – Toblerone Bundles

Nestlé ITR – KitKat Senses Tablets

Perfetti van Melle – Mentos Clean Breath Peppermint Tin

Perfetti van Melle – Mentos Jumboroll Fanta

Ricola – Assorted Sugarfree 75g Tins

Walker’s Shortbread – Chocolate Chip Share Bag

Whittard of Chelsea – Cocoa Creations Hot Chocolate Gift Set

Best Wine Product

Bottega – Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC

Henkell & Co – Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Brut

Henkell & Co – Segura Viudas Organic Brut

Treasury Wine Estates – Penfolds Champagne Brut Rosé NV

Best Spirits Product 

Anora – Koskenkorva Climate Action

Anora – Linie Aquavit

Anora – Valhalla Herb Liqueur Shot

Anora – Skagerrak Nordic Dry Gin

Bardinet – Beehive Brandy XO

Beam Suntory – Jim Beam Lineage

Brown-Forman – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Travelers – Sweet & Oaky and Bold & Spicy

Delamain Cognac – XXO Grande Champagne

Distell International – Amarula Vegan

Douglas Laing & Co – Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts Global Traveller’s Edition Miniature Pack

Equiano: Represented by GMAX – Equiano Original

G & J Distillers (Part of Quintessential Brands Group) – Greenall’s Original Paper Bottle (Greener with Greenall’s)

G & J Distillers (Part of Quintessential Brands Group) – Opihr Aromatic Bitter European Edition

Glen Moray Distillery  – Glen Moray Signature 15yr

Ian Macleod Distillers – Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin

Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Royal Salute 25

Schraml – Die Steinwald-Brennerei e.K. – Stonewood Drà Bavarian Single Malt Whisky

SomPriya Fine Spirits – Somrus

SPI Spirits – Cenote Blanco Tequila 40% ABV

SPI Spirits – elit Vodka 40% ABV

SPI Spirits – Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Bourbon Whiskey 45.4% ABV

Whyte & Mackay – Jura Islanders’ Expressions Collection No.1

William Grant & Sons – Grant’s Triple Wood 12 year old

William Grant & Sons – The Balvenie Cask Finishes – GTR Exclusive Range

Yoshino spirits – Umiki Blended Malt & Grain Whisky

Tickets can now be purchased at this link  travelretailawards.com .

A new feature for 2022 is the ‘Highly Recommended’ accolade, which will be awarded to finalists that consumers ranked within the upper benchmark of the judging process.  

Early bird tickets, available until 12 September 2022 are £185 per person +VAT (20%) and £1,665 +VAT (20%) for a table of 10.

Thereafter, tickets are available for £250 per person +VAT (20%) and £2,250 +VAT (20%) for a table of 10.

The 2021 Global Travel Retail Awards took place in September last year at the inaugural TR Consumer Forum in London.

Stay close to the website for more awards finalists being revealed this week.

Wednesday 10 August Morning 

• Best Airport for Retail Environment
• Best Airport for Customer Service
• Best Digital and Social Media Offer
• Best Airport For ‘Sense of Place’
• Best Airport Food & Beverage Offer

  Thursday 11 August Morning 

• Best Sustainable Supplier

  Friday 12 August Morning

• Best Sustainable Initiative at an Airport, Airline, Cruise & Rail company

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• women in travel

How Thailand lured the White Lotus producers away from Japan and plans to cash in on the show's popularity with tourists

As fans eagerly wait for a new lot of guests to check into the White Lotus, a behind-the-scenes drama has been unfolding to secure the filming location of the Emmy-award winning show.

The series has been so incredibly lucrative for the first two destinations it featured that some have dubbed it "The White Lotus effect".

A show ostensibly about tourists has in turn been a boon for tourism in Hawaii, where online interest in the Four Seasons Maui jumped by 425 per cent after the first season aired.

And in Sicily, where Jennifer Coolidge was famously stalked by murderous gays in season two, the production is estimated to have resulted in over 32 million euros ($52.8 million) worth of spending and a 300 per cent jump in online searches, according to travel site Expedia.

So when rumours surfaced of a "high profile" showrunner  — believed to be White Lotus creator Mike White — scouting locations in Japan, Thai authorities swept in to try to woo the team to South East Asia instead.

How Thailand lured The White Lotus away from Japan

Tourism Authority of Thailand Executive Siripakorn Cheawsamoot said they were proactive in their attempts to lure the popular show to the kingdom.

"We approached the White Lotus production team and then we talked with them about trying to bring their budget costs down with potential partners," he told the ABC.

"There are two kinds of incentives. Firstly, cash incentives with rebates and then in-kind incentives as well."

In-kind incentives are non-cash incentives, and can include things like offering services for free.

"A lot of partners in the private sector offered their services, sometimes complimentary, some on an agreement," Mr Cheawsamoot said.

He explained that hotels were provided to the actors and film crew to stay in. Transport and airfares were some of the other perks.

But the real clincher was the Thai government's recently beefed-up film incentive program, which offers a cash rebate of up to 20 per cent for foreign film productions.

In an effort to attract more film and TV productions, the government decided in 2022 to waive the personal income tax for foreign talent for five years, meaning the stars of season three — which include Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Aimee Lou Wood — won't pay Thai tax while working on location.

Thailand's gain was Japan's loss and at last year's Toyko Film Festival, local producer Georgina Pope lamented the lost opportunity.

She pointed to the Thai government's generous film incentive system, which she claimed added up to $US4.4 million ($6.6 million) in savings for the White Lotus project.

The financial details have not been disclosed and the Tourism Authority of Thailand did not confirm that number but Mr Cheawsamoot agreed the sweeteners offered to the White Lotus team would have amounted to millions.

Tourism authorities and local businesses say it is worth the money that was spent.

They expect to see many times that figure in return in the form of visitor numbers and increased spending.

"In terms of economic returns, we've got high hopes," Mr Cheawsamoot said.

Seeing big stars at your local restaurant

While many guests on Koh Samui have no idea what's going on beyond the sign of the Four Seasons hotel, the crew have been spotted around the island.

Already, searches on Expedia for Thailand have jumped by 50 per cent since the announcement that filming would take place in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok.

Local restaurant owners Olive Lamlert and Patrick Moukarzel have had several visits from White Lotus cast and crew.

"It's very cool and very surprising. And the nice thing is that they came back because they like it. So that means a lot," Patrick said.

The couple say some stars of the show have also popped by.

"I was excited because it was Aimee [Lou Wood] who plays the role of Amy in Sex Education and she's super famous. I'm a big fan!" said Olive.

"And then it was Walton Goggins who is in a lot of HBO series and [2015 superhero film] Ant-Man."

Olive and Patrick are also big fans of the White Lotus series itself.

As former hotel workers, they said they could relate to the battles depicted within the series, which features a dysfunctional hotel chain and the challenges of dealing with inhospitable guests.

"It reflects what we used to do and what we had to deal with the guests," Olive laughed.

"The headache ones, the difficult ones, the nice ones, the drama … although maybe not as much drama as in the show."

Patrick said everyone on the island was excited about the potential economic impact of the series.

"It will be very very good, not only for Samui," he said.

"When you come to Thailand, you come to Samui, you go to Bangkok, you will visit another city or small island. So the whole country will benefit."

The downsides of a big show coming to town

While it's hoped the show will bring in more tourism dollars, some locals are worried about the possible impact of more people arriving on Koh Samui.

Parts of the island have been gripped by a water shortage crisis, which has been blamed on drought conditions and a surge of tourist arrivals post-pandemic.

There's also been an ongoing issue with waste disposal on the island as it struggles to keep up with the 200 tonnes of trash produced per day.

Late last year, Koh Samui had reportedly accumulated about 200,000 tonnes at its main landfill site and authorities were left with no option but to export the problem to the mainland.

Local environmentalist Anon Vatayanon said the Thai government needed to have a plan in place to manage the impacts of tourism on the environment.

"Samui became popular because of its nature — the sea, sand and sun," he said.

"The most important thing is that we protect our main selling points … how we manage wastewater, the quality of the water, the environmental impact from road use and air pollution.

"The movie industry wouldn't be filming here if the environment wasn't nice. If we lose it nobody will come here."

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot from the Tourism Authority of Thailand said any boost in tourism would be managed sustainably.

"Sustainable tourism is our key focus for this coming year," he said.

"That's been the key focus for the Department of Tourism to control and communicate with the filming crew."

'Set-jetting' shaping travel itineraries around the world

Thailand is no stranger to big film and TV productions and the big waves of tourism that often follow.

People still flock to James Bond Island where The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed in the 1970s and Maya Bay is still recovering from the impacts of 2000 adventure drama The Beach.

The Leonardo DiCaprio film sparked controversy due to the impact of the shoot and the influx of tourism on the once pristine sands of the bay at Koh Phi Phi Leh.

The area was eventually closed to visitors in 2018 to allow it to recover from the damage caused by millions of tourists.

But authorities say much has changed in the 24 years since the cult movie was released and many lessons were learnt.

They're now hoping to cash in on a trend known as 'set-jetting' where tourists choose locations based on films and TV shows.

The phenomenon has been attributed to a US$200 million dollar boost to Croatia's economy thanks to Game of Thrones and a 50 per cent increase in inbound tourism to New Zealand following the release of The Lord of the Rings.

According to analysis by travel website Expedia, 44 per cent of travellers last year drew inspiration from movies and TV shows, far outpacing the influence of social media at just 15 per cent.

Last month, a post on the White Lotus official Instagram page promised "unforgettable experiences are in the making at #TheWhiteLotus."

"We are eager to welcome new guests to our resort in Thailand."

Thailand is eager to welcome them too.

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