Heinemann supercharges cruise retail presence

Heinemann Americas has launched a bold new cruise retail concept onboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, delivering first-at-sea exclusives and redefining immersive shopping at sea.

With 10 retail venues onboard, the vessel features exclusive Royal Caribbean logo merchandise, fine watches and fashion jewellery, fragrances and cosmetics, as well as vintage luxury leather goods and timepieces. A standout highlight is a collection of prestige and rare spirits, crafted to surprise and captivate connoisseurs.

The beauty offer onboard Star of the Seas

The new retail offer builds on the success of Icon of the Seas, with a focus on curated exclusivity, elevated design and category innovation across four distinct store formats.

The liquor experience onboard Star of the Seas introduces several first-at-sea features, including personalised backwalls for Macallan, Hennessy and Patrón, a dedicated Johnnie Walker gondola, and a limited-edition Louis XIII monogrammed box hand-decorated exclusively for the ship, with only 30 pieces available globally. Among the rare offerings is a bottle of Loch Lomond 50yo, one of just 100 worldwide, retailing at $34,999. The store also debuts multiple exclusive barrel programmes, such as Angel's Envy – selected by Heinemann’s team as a first-at-sea – and the rare O.F.C Bourbon 1985.

Luxury timepieces are available in branded shop-in-shop formats from Cartier, Hublot, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Longines, Rado and Norquain, a new brand for Heinemann. Swiss Crown complements the offer with a curated selection of pre-owned Rolex watches.

Cartier's shop-in-shop onboard Star of the Seas

Meanwhile, the logo merchandise store presents a new collection designed exclusively for Star of the Seas, featuring fashion-forward apparel, collectibles and a children’s line. The Vineyard Vines x Royal Caribbean co-branded range – introduced on Icon and Utopia – returns with a refreshed capsule, adding a familiar and updated touch to the retail experience.

“With Star of the Seas, we continue our mission to elevate cruise retail through storytelling, exclusivity and unforgettable experiences,” said Nicolas Hoeborn, CEO of Heinemann Americas. “This launch is a testament to our strong partnership with Royal Caribbean and our shared vision for the future of travel retail.”

The Collection store offers second-hand Louis Vuitton merchandise

Together with Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas ranks among the largest cruise ships in the world, measuring 365 metres in length and accommodating up to 5,610 guests and 2,850 crew members. It is the sixth Royal Caribbean vessel to feature Heinemann’s retail offer, following Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

TFWA welcomes top brands to Cannes fair

Tax Free World Association (TFWA) is welcoming leading brands such as Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Coach, Zegna, Bally and Ralph Lauren to the 2025 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference.

This year’s fair takes place from 28 September to 2 October 2025 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Familiar names in luggage and leather goods such as Bally, Bric’s, Tumi, Samsonite and Delsey have also confirmed their participation in this year’s edition.

Powerhouses including Lacoste, Longchamp, Paul & Shark and Victorinox will have a bigger presence this year, while making a welcome return will be Furla, Napapijri and Coach, joining regular exhibitors Lancel, Coccinelle and Le Tanneur. A strong presence is also expected from leading eyewear groups including EssilorLuxottica, Safilo, Thélios, Marcolin and De Rigo.

The 2025 edition will also see a significant upswing in the number of brands showing at the Harbour Village with 30 official boats confirmed, up from 19 last year. For the first time, the Harbour Village will be fully integrated within the exhibition.

Top travel retailers including Avolta, Lagardère, Gebr Heinemann, 3Sixty, Dubai Duty Free and Qatar Duty Free have confirmed large delegations, while major international airports, airlines and cruise operators will also be attending.

Delegates will hear from high-calibre speakers during the TFWA Conference on Monday, 29 September. Two workshops, World in Flux: Travel Retail Amid Today’s Geopolitical Realities and Next Horizon: Charting the Future of Travel Retail, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Innovation on show

The new Innovation Square will host the two workshops in addition to private evening events. TFWA’s ONE2ONE meeting service will provide opportunities for exhibiting brands, key buyers, airports and trade agents to focus on business. The exhibition halls will be open from Monday afternoon through to Thursday.

Registration remains open until the first week of September.

TFWA President Philippe Margueritte said: “It’s gratifying to see that so many of global travel retail’s most prestigious brands are planning to join us once again in Cannes for what is undoubtedly one of the most important events in our calendar. We look forward to welcoming these high-profile established names plus new game-changing tastemaker brands to TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in September."

TFWA reveals more Cannes fair details

Leading retailers, landlords and distributors have confirmed their attendance at TFWA World Exhibition, held from 29 September to 3 October 2024, including international operators Avolta, Gebr Heinemann, Lagardère Travel Retail, CDFG, Dubai Duty Free, DFA and DFS.

International airports, airlines and cruise lines have also registered delegates at an early stage this year, while brand regional distributors such as Bluebell, Luxasia, Overseas Distribution, Eternal and Beauté Luxe Duty Free have confirmed they will send substantial delegations to Cannes.

Among this year’s suppliers are L’Oréal, LVMH Beauty and Estée Lauder in fragrances and cosmetics; Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Suntory Global Spirits in wine and spirits; and Hermès, Giorgio Armani and Zegna in fashion.

Other big names include EssilorLuxottica, Safilo and Thélios in the eyewear category; Swarovski and Thomas Sabo in jewellery; and Ferrero, Mars, Nestlé, Kusmi Tea and Fauchon in confectionery and fine food.

This year will also see the return of Philip Morris International after an absence.

During the conference on Monday starting at 09:00, and a workshop session entitled Reimagining Travel Retail which will run on Tuesday from 08:00, delegates will hear from a high calibre range of speakers. The exhibition halls will be open from Monday afternoon to Thursday.

The inspiring TFWA i.lab will offer exhibition visitors the opportunity to explore fresh ways to engage the travelling consumer, while the TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service will provide plenty of opportunity for exhibiting brands, key buyers, airports and trade agents to focus on the serious business of the week, TFWA said.

The networking programme will begin with a pétanque tournament on Sunday morning, sponsored by Haribo and Bloom Dead Sea Life.

Also on Sunday, a blind football and wheelchair rugby tournament will be organised by Stade Toulousain Wheelchair Rugby Association and m1nd-set.

This will be followed by the Nuit Blanche opening cocktail party held at the Carlton Beach from 19:00. The dress code is smart-casual with "a touch of white", TFWA said. Access to all networking events is complimentary for badge holders.

The TFWA Lounge will return with both after-work and night-time sessions taking place on Monday and Tuesday between 18:30-21:00 and 22:00-01:00.

A highlight of the week will be the Starry Night closing party to mark TFWA’s 40th anniversary, which will take place on Wednesday evening from 20:00-02:00. Attendees are invited to dress in their glamorous best with "a dash of gold".

TFWA thanked all sponsors of this year’s event, including the main partner of the TFWA Lounge, Qatar Duty Free, TFWA Lounge sponsor Mondelēz International, and product distribution sponsors Santa Margherita, Heineken, Crafter’s, Duty Free Global, Nemiroff Vodka, Perfetti Van Melle, Wonderful Pistachios and Seeberger.

TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said: “In my final year as President, the delight of hosting such an inspiring event has not faded. I, like many others across the industry I’m sure, am very much looking forward to meeting with colleagues as we mark TFWA’s 40th anniversary.”

To see the full event programme, see: https://www.tfwa.com/programme/tfwa-world-exhibition-and-conference/2024.

A Rolex retailtainment experience on the seas

German duty-free operator Gebr Heinemann, through its 100% subsidiary Heinemann Americas Inc, has debuted 14 retail venues onboard Royal Caribbean International’s new ship Icon of the Seas. In a significant development, the shopping experience spans pre-loved luxury goods from leading brands Rolex and Hermès.

The stores offer an exclusive selection of Royal Caribbean branded logo merchandise, in addition to fine watches, fine and fashion jewellery, spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and vintage luxury leather goods and watches.

Prestigious brands include Chanel in the beauty category, while Cartier and Hublot watches are being offered in a multi-brand store. This store also includes certified pre-owned Rolex. Notably, the first-at-sea Omega boutique has been introduced.

The Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the Seas

Brands new to the cruise channel include Sunday Riley, Bond No.9, Parfums de Marly, Kylie Cosmetics, Supergoop, Sol de Janeiro and Casamigos. A store offers certified pre-owned luxury handbags with exclusive models from Hermès, Louis Vuitton and others, as well as watches. Here, guests can purchase unique and rare products. The selection features a co-branded collection with US clothing label Vineyard Vines and an Icon of the Seas-exclusive Woodford Reserve whiskey.

Strategically positioned throughout the ship, the stores are found in key areas like the vibrant Royal Promenade, the picturesque Central Park and the family-friendly Surfside. These retail spaces provide guests with immersive retailtainment experiences, according to Gebr Heinemann. A team of 35 are on hand to help.

Nicolas Hoeborn, Managing Director of Heinemann Americas Inc, enthused: “We are thrilled to be able to equip this stunning ship with such a diverse and exceptional retail offering. Guests can expect a spectacular assortment and unforgettable shopping experience aboard Icon of the Seas.”

Discussing pre-owned luxury products, Hoeborn added: "Our certified pre-owned products offer luxury brands at affordable prices, great quality, variety and availability. Pre-owned luxury also makes a lot of sense from a sustainability perspective, as these products contribute to the careful use of resources."

The Central Park fine watch stores onboard Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas set sail on its maiden voyage from Miami to the Caribbean in January. The ship is 365 metres long and can accommodate 5,610 guests and 2,850 crew members. As a result of a 2019 tender, this is the fourth Royal Caribbean ship awarded to the travel retailer, which also operates on Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

As a result of the successful partnership that began in 2019, Icon of the Seas is the third new-build launched by Heinemann Americas since the pandemic.

“This achievement firmly cements the travel retailer’s standing as the leading expert for new-builds within the industry,” the company said.

Diageo unveils ‘irreplaceable’ special edition

Diageo has launched into travel retail Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen, the second in a series of special-edition Blue Label whiskies. It contains what the company calls “irreplaceable ‘ghost’ whiskies and other incredibly rare whiskies” from the Johnnie Walker Blue Label reserves.

At the heart of this limited edition lies the highly sought-after Islay single malt, Port Ellen – a ghost distillery that shut its doors in 1983.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen

Eye-catching holographic and lighting displays

Anna MacDonald, Marketing and Innovation Director, Diageo Global Travel, said: “As a limited edition, this is a unique and rare offering for the travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Consequently, we anticipate that the addition of highly sought-after Port Ellen stocks will mean this exceptional whisky won’t be available for long.”

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen follows the exciting release of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora last year. Each edition in the series offers a fleeting opportunity to savour the depth of character of whiskies from distilleries whose spirit lives on in their dwindling stocks.

For Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his small team of expert blenders, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare series is an exciting exploration of flavour. “These whiskies deliver a fascinating glimpse into another world, exploring the unique, inimitable character of whiskies from a small number of iconic, closed distilleries that lend something very special to every drop of Johnnie Walker Blue Label,” Beveridge said. “It’s really interesting to be able to put a spotlight on the character of these whiskies.”

Even though the Port Ellen distillery is now silent, Beveridge recaptured the memory of the precious cargo of smoky Island single malts that was once carried on ships sailing from this famous distillery by balancing its unique character with other rare whiskies.

In selected airports, interactive retail activations are set to inspire and educate travellers on the origins of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.  Eye-catching holographic and lighting displays will capture and showcase the ghostly spirit, and a personalised gift wrapping service will include a calligraphy style hand-written note inspired by the scripted ghost distillery names found on the bottle.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen (43.8%abv) is available globally and in selected airports at £300 (US$399) for a one-litre bottle. Each bottle is individually numbered.

Diageo unveils rare 40yo whisky for connoisseurs

Liquor giant Diageo has unveiled The Singleton Glendullan 40 Year Old whisky to offer connoisseurs a “truly exceptional whisky experience”.

This 40-year-old single malt from the Glendullan distillery is exclusive to travel retail in Asia, and is available now, retailing at US$2,300. It is the first release from the distillery’s Forgotten Drop Series, which promises to reveal some spectacular limited-edition whiskies drawn from reserves uncovered by The Singleton’s Master of Malts Maureen Robinson.

The Singleton Glendullan 40yo whisky campaign

Only 600 bottles available

This rare spirit, the oldest liquid ever released from the Speyside distillery since its founding in 1897, has been bottled at cask strength of 58.6%abv to experience it in its purest form. The special limited release of only 600 bottles is available exclusive to travel retail outlets at airports in Singapore (Changi) and Taiwan.

Maureen Robinson, Master of Malts for The Singleton portfolio, said: “The Singleton Forgotten Drop Series is an exciting collection to curate. We have been exploring the deepest corners of our warehouse to find hidden treasures that, due to the stocks, we could never release widely. The amount of time these liquids spent maturing in this type of cask makes it so precious. It’s whisky for whisky lovers and The Singleton Glendullan 40 Year Old is a stunning liquid to launch with.”

The distillery, with its large, unusually shaped stills and light distillation technique creates a fresh and delicate spirit. Ageing exclusively in refill American oak casks brings subtle, honeyed hints that complement the distillery’s signature sweet vanilla and orchard fruit flavours. The spirit has a sweet and spicy profile featuring hints of honey and a gingery sweetness, finishing with a spiced, lightly salted nutted oak.

Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel, said: “The Singleton Glendullan Forgotten Drop Series will offer a collection of limited releases for our whisky connoisseurs in travel retail. We’re delighted to introduce this series and work with our Master of Malts Maureen Robinson to unveil such a rare and perfectly crafted single malt.” 

Trending now… Diageo launches new CÎROC flavour

Diageo is celebrating the latest luxury addition to the collection of CÎROC vodka flavours: CÎROC French Vanilla. The new variant pairs the rich and creamy taste of French vanilla with the smooth texture of CÎROC.

CIROC French Vanilla vodka

Vibrantly tangy ingredients

CÎROC Global Brand Director Natalie Wills said: “We’re always seeking to bring new, fun and luxurious celebratory experiences to our consumers. CÎROC French Vanilla is going to do just that – its intensely indulgent and versatile flavour profile lends itself incredibly well to the hottest trending cocktails, perfect for celebrating.”

The all-year celebration flavour is being launched with a hero CÎROC-Star Martini serve. 

Wills continued: “A combination of smooth vanilla vodka mixed with an array of vibrantly tangy ingredients, topped off with a dash of Champagne, makes the CÎROC-Star Martini the ultimate celebration cocktail. CÎROC French Vanilla offers an intensely luxurious route to creating the ultimate CÎROC-Star Martini, which is why it is our new hero serve for French Vanilla.”

CÎROC French Vanilla and the CÎROC-Star Martini will be rolled out in the on- and off-trade across global markets and will be available in travel retail from October 2017 in one-litre bottles with 37.5%abv.

The launch of French Vanilla is the latest news from the CÎROC #ONARRIVAL campaign, putting CÎROC at the heart of celebratory arrival moments within fashion and popular culture.

The brand recently strengthened its position in the super-deluxe vodka category, with a 5 percentage points share gain globally (Source: IWSR 2016).

Wills concluded: “CÎROC French Vanilla taps into the developing consumer interest in luxury and meets the growing consumer demand for ultra-premium flavoured vodka, while capitalising on the growing popularity and dynamism of CÎROC.” 

Johnnie Walker House makes Middle East debut

Diageo has announced the opening of a new Johnnie Walker House showcase store at Bahrain Duty Free, in collaboration with leading operator Aer Rianta International (ARI). It is the first permanent Johnnie Walker House to be launched in the Middle East.

The 15sq m standalone store, located in the newly renovated Bahrain Duty Free Departures area, joins an elite network of Johnnie Walker luxury whisky embassies worldwide, including Mumbai, Singapore, Amsterdam and recent successful launches in Beijing and Seoul Incheon airports. There are several flagship stores in the domestic channel, including Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul, continuing the brand’s mantra of Keep Walking.

Johnnie Walker House at Bahrain Duty Free

Key location for super-deluxe Scotch whisky

Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel, said: “We are delighted to extend our Johnnie Walker House footprint to travellers in Bahrain for the first time. The Middle East is a key location for super-deluxe Scotch whisky and therefore critically important to the Johnnie Walker House global expansion strategy.”

Built around the theme of ‘Whisky Conversations’, Johnnie Walker House Bahrain’s features include a whisky scent bar where travellers can appreciate the liquid’s subtle flavours and aromas, as well as exclusive personalisation and gifting opportunities through unique gifts with purchase and customised labelling.

To celebrate the launch, the boutique will offer a number of limited editions, including John Walker & Sons Master Blenders Collection and the limited-edition designs of Johnnie Walker House Willow Collection. The full Johnnie Walker colours range is also available.

Impactful retail theatre

Andre Chong, Global Head of Johnnie Walker House, said: “Travellers are increasingly looking for luxurious shopping experiences that both educate and inspire them, and with the opening of Johnnie Walker House Bahrain we continue to respond to this demand as we step up our investment in luxury retail activations.”

He added: “Exclusivity is integral to Johnnie Walker House, and Johnnie Walker House Bahrain is no different. It offers shoppers an unforgettable experience; we tell the story of our spirits through knowledgeable brand ambassadors and impactful retail theatre, fulfilling our ambitions to bring joy back to the journey by helping to make the purchasing process one of ease.”

The luxury boutique has been constructed with an architecture that merges innovative design with the story of the brand, immersing travellers in a part gallery, part museum experience which captures the rich history of the whisky-making experience.

Bassam Al Wardi, General Manager of Bahrain Duty Free, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Diageo to open the first permanent Johnnie Walker House in the region. Bahrain Duty Free and ARI are committed to providing customers with engaging brand experiences in a luxury environment and this stunning whisky emporium realises this aspiration. It’s a fantastic addition to our recently renovated Departures area and the perfect showcase to entice our growing passenger base to explore and enjoy this iconic brand.”

Davidoff gives TFWA visitors the Royal treatment

Oettinger Davidoff AG celebrated this year's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes with 300 luminaries from across the world of travel retail. And there was lots to celebrate.

The Swiss cigar specialist jointly hosted the now-legendary Masters’ Evening with Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus and Nicaraguan rum brand Flor de Caña. Guests enjoyed a culinary soirée with hors d’oeuvres, pralines and chocolates and rum-based cocktails. Davidoff’s new cigar line, Yamasá, which celebrated a new earthy-spicy-sweet experience, was highly appreciated by the invited aficionados, who included Philippe Schaus, Chairman and CEO of world-leading travel retailer DFS Group.

Distinguished guests at Davidoff Masters' Evening in Cannes

New benchmark store opens in mainland China

MJ Rabbit spoke with Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard at the TFWA show in early October, where the firm introduced its brand-building Discovery Experience on an impressive new stand. This year, it’s all about the Chinese consumer, thanks to the company’s acquisition of a majority in Bluebell Cigars Asia and its joint-venture collaboration with Sparkle Roll Group, which is distributing its cigars and accessories in China. The new partnership is going very well, says Hoejsgaard. “We’ve just seen the first fruits of our collaboration two weeks ago. A full-concept flagship retail space opened on September 4 at the Oriental Plaza mall in downtown Beijing. This is a benchmark store for the Davidoff brand.”

To mark the store opening, Davidoff is hosting a number of events in restaurants and bars and has linked up with the Johnnie Walker Houses in Beijing and Shanghai. Pairing events that match cigars with whisky, rum and Cognac are also being held.

Speaking about Chinese tastes, Hoejsgaard notes that this demographic group generally enjoys bigger and stronger cigars than the Americans. The sales mix is proving similar to the US and Europe, with Perfecto, Robusto and Toro formats proving popular. Hoejsgaard is seeing the global trend for shorter cigars also happening in China. Davidoff’s consumer research has found that enjoying a cigar is aspirational and a sign of success.

Top-end presentation: Davidoff Royal Release box of 10 cigars

Chinese New Year gifting

For the Chinese New Year of the Rooster in 2017, Davidoff will launch a limited edition of 10 cigars in gift packaging, which will be launched in key airports. Some 8,000 boxes are available worldwide, retailing at around $400 per box.

A new family of accessories is also being introduced for Chinese New Year, featuring a leather cigar case and a double blade cutter. China is a “vastly bigger” accessories market than other regions, observes Hoejsgaard, adding that the amount of shelf space devoted to accessories is much bigger in the Chinese market because the number of cigars permitted to be sold is smaller. “Over 50% of our sales are accessories, compared to 10% in the rest of the world,” he says.

As elsewhere in the world, the Chinese love the sense of ritual and ceremony around enjoying cigars. Davidoff recently unveiled a global social media campaign under the tagline #myritual, which aims to bring together cigar aficionados in their shared rituals associated with cigars.

So what about the opportunities presented by the Chinese consumer today? “The Chinese market is the single biggest opportunity in years to come – they are an incredibly important customer in travel retail,” he enthuses, adding that 45% of the company’s business comes from mainland Chinese visitors. Hoejsgaard also cites the example of the Davidoff store in Lucerne, Switzerland – a popular tourist destination for the Chinese traveller – where 2-3% of customers are Chinese, and yet they account for over 15% of its business in the store.

Davidoff Royal Release ashtray

The unveiling of Royal Release cigars and accessories

Next month (November) sees the introduction of Davidoff’s new Royal Release cigars and accessories, a top-end presentation featuring 10 cigars handmade with rare tobaccos in a royal blue lacquered box. Two formats are available, Salomones and Robusto. The cigars retail at between $80 and $100. 

The Royal Release lighter is manufactured by ST Dupont using a 500-stage quality controlled process, while the royal blue ashtray is mouth-blown by Murano glass blowers.

Lastly, in other travel retail news, Davidoff will open a new walk-in humidor at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2E in January 2017.

Johnnie Walker Houses debut in Beijing and Seoul

Three Johnnie Walker House stores have opened their doors in travel retail to showcase the world-leading Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky brand, Diageo Travel Retail has announced. They include the first ever co-branded luxury space between Johnnie Walker and Shui Jing Fang, China’s first distillery of its favourite white spirit Baijiu, at Beijing Capital International Airport, and the opening of two Johnnie Walker boutiques at Seoul Incheon Airport. A range of exclusive and rare malts will also be available in all three stores.

Following the success of the Johnnie Walker House launches in airports including Mumbai, Taipei, Singapore, Auckland and Amsterdam, the new Houses in Beijing and Incheon are “multi-sensory embassies for luxury blended Scotch whisky”, Diageo said.

The new Johnnie Walker House at Beijing Capital Airport

Inviting travellers on a sensorial journey

There are now 15 Johnnie Walker Houses in travel retail and five in the domestic channel, all designed to educate and inspire travellers. Striking design features include a whisky scent bar, where people can appreciate the liquid’s subtle flavours and aromas; a luxury mentoring and engagement zone where brand ambassadors invite travellers on a sensorial journey to touch, taste and smell the elements that make up Johnnie Walker and Shui Jing Fang in the Beijing travel retail boutique; as well as a range of rare malts releases available in both Beijing and Incheon.

At Beijing Airport, passengers can also immerse themselves in a whisky constellation wall dedicated to the Johnnie Walker Art of Blending, and providing a comprehensive index for single malt Scotch whiskies.

Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to extend the Johnnie Walker House footprint in Asia Pacific and bring three Johnnie Walker Houses to life in partnership with our customers in Beijing Capital International Airport and Incheon International Airport. This reinforces our long-term commitment to the travel retail channel, providing travellers with a luxurious and inspiring shopping experience in one of the most exciting travel retail regions worldwide. Both airports are key travel hubs, handling a combined 60m passengers a year, which make them critically important in the Johnnie Walker House global expansion strategy.”

Nayager continued: “We are also delighted to provide Shui Jing Fang a collaborative platform in the travel retail environment in Beijing Airport, as well as range of rare malts releases available in both Beijing and Incheon. Travellers are looking for innovative luxury shopping experiences that both educate and inspire them. The Johnnie Walker House encapsulates this for the brand.”

The interior of the Johnnie Walker House at Bejing Capital Airport

Johnnie Walker House at Beijing Capital Airport

The Johnnie Walker House at Beijing Capital Airport launches in collaboration with Sunrise Duty Free and is located in the prestigious Terminal 3 Departures terminal. It is the first ever co-branded luxury space between Johnnie Walker and Shui Jing Fang, China’s first distillery of its favourite white spirit, Baijiu.

The 150sq m luxury standalone boutique is located in the airport’s departures terminal, making it the largest boutique opening in global travel in Asia, following the success of the Amsterdam Schiphol House – the flagship for Europe.

To celebrate the launch, the Beijing Capital boutique offers a number of limited editions only available at the House, including Johnnie Walker House Zodiac Collection, Fu Lu Shou Limited Edition, Five Gods of Wealth Series Limited Edition, Johnnie Walker House Exclusive Collection and 1920 Epic Dates Collection. Also available are a wide range of offerings from Shui Jing Fang and rare malts releases, including The Singleton of Glendullan.

Johnnie Walker House at Seoul Incheon Airport

Johnnie Walker House Seoul Incheon Airport

The Johnnie Walker Houses in Seoul Incheon Airport launch in collaboration with Lotte Duty Free and are open to passengers departing from the East Main: ICN Lotte L1 and Concourse Main: ICN Lotte L6 terminals.

The East Main standalone space is 16sq m and the Concourse Main store spans 64sq m. The travel retail boutiques follow the opening of Johnnie Walker House Seoul, which opened its doors in 2013 and is located in the luxury retail district of Cheongdam, an area known for leading-edge fashion and lifestyle trends.

To mark the openings, Johnnie Walker House Zodiac Collection and Johnnie Walker House Exclusive Collection will available to purchase in both East Main and Concourse Main boutiques. Among the rare malts releases are The Singleton of Glendullan.

Andre Chong, Global Head of Johnnie Walker House, said: “The Johnnie Walker Houses are our global embassies for luxury Scotch whisky. Innovation and exclusivity is integral to the Houses, with a collection of unique liquids displayed and a number of limited editions available to purchase. We believe it’s important to educate consumers of our brand story, heritage and craftsmanship, and these Houses will provide travellers with the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the history of the brand and enjoy first-class retail experiences beyond Johnnie Walker Houses in Beijing and Seoul."

Celebrity Cruises bartender wins top Diageo contest

Andrej Malic of Celebrity Cruises has been crowned Diageo Global Travel’s best bartender at the lavish Diageo Reserve World Class final held last month in the Diageo Bar 396 in Miami.

Judged by a panel of industry experts including Julio Cabrera, Master Mixologist, David Molina, Head Mixologist for Diageo Bar 396, and Marcy Rudershausen, Senior Master of Whisky for Diageo, Malic proved outstanding showmanship and innovative cocktail creation.

Malic, aged 27, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, saw off competition from thousands of cruise line bartenders from three of the world’s leading cruise lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises, in the biggest year in Global Travel yet for Diageo Reserve World Class.

Andrej Malic mixes his Old Spice Fashion, featuring Bulleit Bourbon

Championing the skills of cruise line bartenders

Malic and his fellow competing bartenders were judged on a range of elements of their craft, showmanship, creativity, bartending knowledge and the overall delivered drinking experience. He captivated the judges with his American whiskey signature serve: Old Spice Fashion, featuring Bulleit Bourbon.

He will go on to represent Diageo Global Travel at the star-studded World Class Bartender of the Year Competition in Miami on September 26-29, 2016, to battle it out against 59 of the world’s best bartenders for the coveted World Class Bartender of the Year title.

Malic, a leading bartender onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium, said: “This is without doubt the best moment of my career to date. I’m hugely delighted and grateful to be recognised by Diageo Reserve World Class and to have won the Diageo Global Travel Final. I’ve been inspired and challenged by many talented bartenders over the last few weeks and I’m really looking forward to using the skills and knowledge that I’ve developed through the program to represent Celebrity Cruises and all cruise line bartenders at the grand final of the World Class competition, right here again in beautiful Miami."

Sandra Vaucher, Director Global Cruise and Airlines at Diageo said: “World Class is on a mission to inspire people to drink better, and it’s fantastic that we can offer this experience onboard our partners' ships. This competition allows us to recognise and champion the skills and craftsmanship of our cruise line bartenders. We want to congratulate all of our finalists and wish Andrej the very best of luck at the World Class Global Final in September."

Cornelius Gallagher, Associate Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises, said: “As an exceptional member of our team onboard Celebrity Millennium, Andrej inspires our guests to enjoy a taste of the world’s best drinks. We know these unique drinking experiences really do make our vacationers’ overall luxury experience when they sail with us. We wish him the best of luck in the World Class Final and are confident his craftsmanship and talent will wow the judges once more.”

Lagavulin bicentenary edition lands in travel retail

Lagavulin single malt Scotch whisky has been distilled by Scottish islanders for 200 years. Marking this milestone year, the distillery has launched a special limited-edition bottling of Lagavulin 8 Year Old in honour of Britain’s most famous Victorian whisky writer, Alfred Barnard. The product is now available in travel retail outlets, retailing at around $88.

Lagavulin 8 Year Old special edition whisky

In the late 1880s, Alfred Barnard, the first ever whisky journalist and traveller, sampled an 8 Year Old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, describing it as “exceptionally fine”.

Famous for its nose of Hebridean peat smoke with richly textured and complex flavours, Lagavulin 8 Year Old has a long, sweet and power-driven finish. The launch of this limited-edition bottling kicks off the start of the distillery’s bicentennial activities that include bringing people to Islay and bringing Islay to as many people from around the globe as possible.

Diageo GTME Global Marketing Director Peter Fairbrother said: “Single malts represent the fastest-growing segment of the whisky category in travel retail, growing 12.5% in the last recorded year and now valued at $800m. Diageo has the largest portfolio in this flourishing category and we are proud to own over 40% of the industry's inventory. With this breadth to our portfolio, we are delighted to be able to bring rare and special whiskies – such as this limited edition Lagavulin 8 Year Old – to travellers across the globe.”

Haig Club puts its stamp on special bottle promotions

Diageo has launched its first Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky Limited Edition Design bottle in a series of large-scale airport activations for the travel retail exclusive product. 

Diageo's Haig Club promotion at Singapore Changi airport's Raffles Long Bar in Terminal 3

Body art stamping brings whisky notes to life

In London Heathrow, Haig Club took over large interactive screens to stream themed content. The new bottle was displayed in a dedicated area and brand ambassadors interacted with passengers through a body art stamping activation.

The fun body art activity was designed to bring the flavour notes of the whisky to life in a sensory way. Brand ambassadors stamped shoppers hands with scented ink, inspired by the different notes in the whisky, delivering the flavour profile of sweet toffee, floral and spice notes in a surprising way.

In addition to these activities, Singapore Changi featured an ultra-premium Long Bar presented by the Raffles luxury hotel in Terminal 3. At the bar, guests were offered cocktails including the Haig Clubman. Global brand ambassador Will Thompson made an appearance during the peak Chinese New Year weekend to meet and greet travellers.

A promotion also ran in Changi around the key gifting period of Chinese New Year: shoppers who purchased the one-litre bottle of Haig Club Limited Edition Design received a free 5cl bottle of the whisky.

Launched late last year, the striking Limited Edition Design is the first in The Decanter Series. The bottle is crowned with a blue, diamond-shaped stopper.

The striking new bottle is now available in limited quantities in travel retail, priced at £39. The one-litre size was created exclusively for travellers, and a 70cl version is available in domestic stores.

Diageo GTME Global Marketing Director Peter Fairbrother said: “We know that customers and shoppers alike want easy access to exclusive and superior gifts and they are looking for engaging experiences which go beyond the bottle. This is why we were delighted to give shoppers the opportunity to sip a delicious cocktail and pick up a bottle for themselves or a gift for others, in the luxury surrounds of the Raffles Bar in Changi airport. Our investment in this activation, plus the dedicated brand spaces we created in London Heathrow and Singapore Changi airports and activity in Manchester and London Gatwick airports, shows our commitment to innovating for the channel.” 

Johnnie Walker's first-ever blended malt Scotch is set to "transform category"

Johnnie Walker, the the biggest-selling spirits brand in travel retail, will launch a new malt whisky blend as a travel retail exclusive from July 2016.

Retailing at $60 for a one-litre bottle, Johnnie Walker Island Green showcases the same blended malt craftsmanship as Johnnie Walker Green Label, but with a greater influence of smoky, maritime malt whisky, the company said. As the first blended malt, travel retail exclusive from the Scotch powerhouse, Johnnie Walker Island Green is set to transform the category, helping Scotch drinkers explore malts through a trusted and well-known brand.

Johnnie Walker Island Green blended malt Scotch whisky

Game-changing launch in travel retail

Doug Bagley, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel & Middle East, said: “The launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green is a true game-changer for the Scotch whisky category in travel retail. For the first time ever, we are able to offer our customers an exclusive blended malt whisky from the biggest spirits brand in the channel, strongly supported with the backing of Johnnie Walker investment and marketing activation.

“Malts is the fastest-growing category in travel retail, growing at twice the rate of the overall Scotch category, but the scale of variants, ages and flavours can be overwhelming to shoppers. Research shows that seven out of 10 malt shoppers drank blended Scotch before entering into malts, so we believe the launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green will act as an incredible signpost for those shoppers who want to explore the category. As a travel retail exclusive, Johnnie Walker Island Green also offers these consumers access to something special which they cannot buy elsewhere.”

Intense flavour experience

Johnnie Walker Island Green is said to capture the distinctive style of individual mature malts from the four main whisky regions of Scotland with added prominence given to island malts. As with Johnnie Walker Green Label, it seeks to offer the character of single malt but with a wider flavour experience.

Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender, said: “We wanted to preserve the character of each of the malts in this whisky but at the same time create a different, more intense flavour experience for travellers.”

Stuart Morrison, one of the Johnnie Walker blending team, said this had been achieved by giving Caol Ila from the island of Islay a greater influence in the blend. He said: “The added prominence of the smoky, maritime nature of Caol Ila has been very carefully balanced with robust fruity Highland malts including Clynelish, lighter Lowland malts represented by Glenkinchie and the characteristically sweet and fragrant Speyside style of Cardhu.”

The full-bodied blend has flavours of peat-smoke combined with a rich, fruity sweetness and the warmth of pepper and spice. It is best explored either neat or on the rocks.

New Zacapa rum set to delight adventurous palates

Diageo and Ron Zacapa have announced that the latest edition to its family of rums, Zacapa Edición Negra, is now available in travel retail stores worldwide.

Zacapa Edición Negra rum

A gifting opportunity 

Inspired by traditional Mayan rituals, this slow-aged artisanal rum is described as a true expression of Guatemalan heritage and culture. 

The new spirit showcases a different Zacapa flavour from the sweet butterscotch notes identified in Zacapa 23, to create a distinctive and remarkable chocolate taste.

The new bottle is designed to stand out from the crowd and enhance the gifting opportunity.

Diageo brings joy to Cannes

Diageo held an event at the TFWA World Exhibition in October to celebrate the new Johnnie Walker global marketing campaign, Joy Will Take You Further, which gave an insight into how the campaign’s ethos will shape its wider plans for travel retail. The campaign champions the power of joy in driving progress, and the event featured a lively panel discussion on the potential of joy on the shoppers’ experience, the joy of giving and how joy was harnessed to create a new short film for Johnnie Walker, called The Gentleman’s Wager II. Guests at the event in Cannes were shown an exclusive trailer of the new film, introduced by Oscar-nominated Italian actor and star of the film, Giancarlo Giannini.

Guests at Diageo's Joy Will Take You Further event in Cannes

The joy of giving improves our well-being

Joining Giannini on the panel were Dr Matt Killingsworth, leading psychologist and happiness expert; Doug Bagley, managing director of Diageo Global Travel & Middle East and Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director for Diageo Global Travel & Middle East.

Dr Killingsworth explained the background to the Joy Will Take You Further campaign and the science of happiness. He explained how the study of joy and progress shows us that happiness makes success more likely. At the event a short film of an experiment developed in partnership with Dr  Killingsworth, who studies human happiness, was shown. The experiment – called Gratitude – showed how those who buy gifts for others gain more from the experience than those buying gifts for themselves.

The results were impressive, with 69% of those who shopped for others experienced increased levels of well-being. Commenting on this, Dr Killingsworth said: “What this experiment shows us – albeit with a limited sample size – is that the joy of giving actually improves our well-being. A large body of scientific research demonstrates that greater well-being, in turn, makes people more successful at work and in their personal lives. In other words, joy will take you further.”

Interesting juncture for travel retail

Bagley commented: “We’re at a really interesting juncture for travel retail. Passenger numbers and average spend are increasing year-on-year, with new airports opening rapidly to meet the demand. Yet while the channel is growing, there are a number of challenges which make it increasingly competitive, and consumers are faced with a growing number of competing distractions at airports. The reality is that of 100 people who go into an airport, currently only 12 will buy alcohol – so that’s a huge opportunity for us and our customers.”

He continued: “To leverage this opportunity, and particularly the important gifting market, we believe that we need to bring joy back to the journey for travellers. We’ll do this through celebrating the joy of giving, creating disruptive and engaging shopping experiences and an unrivalled ease of shop – all underpinned by our growth drivers premiumisation and differentiation, with innovation at the heart of all we do.”

The Gratitude experiment can be viewed at www.youtube.com/johnniewalker. The social media hashtag is #JoyWillTakeYouFurther.

Diageo boosts The Singleton footprint

Diageo is releasing three variants from The Singleton of Glendullan brand as travel retail exclusives from this month: The Singleton of Glendullan Classic, The Singleton of Glendullan Double Matured and The Singleton of Glendullan Master’s Art. The Singleton is a family of light and delicate single malts, hailing from the Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown distilleries in the highlands of Scotland. Each is known for a subtle complexity, and all three travel retail exclusives are described as smooth, rich and balanced. Bottled at 40%abv and available in a one-litre edition, they are best enjoyed neat or over ice.

The Singleton of Glendullan range is exclusive to travel retail

Accessible and instantly enjoyable

The Singleton of Glendullan Classic, retailing at $60 per bottle, is a balanced single malt which captures the character of the Glendullan distillery. It is matured in carefully selected casks to ensure fresh and fruity flavours, including fresh green apples and pears. The Singleton of Glendullan Double Matured ($89), has been matured separately in European and American oak casks and then married in a special cask to allow the flavour and complexity to develop. This process creates a rich, refined and rounded taste experience with ripe fruit notes. The Singleton of Glendullan Master’s Art ($160) is crafted by Master of Malt Maureen Robinson in small batches and in limited quantities. This distinctive whisky is finished in selected oak casks conditioned with muscat for a rich, indulgent and smooth spirit. It is deep and complex with rich, sweet and spicy notes.

Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “We are expanding our footprint to meet global demand so that consumers can pick up at least one expression of The Singleton, no matter where they are. With a heritage of over 100 years of whisky-making craftsmanship, The Singleton variants are designed to be accessible and instantly enjoyable from the very first sip.”

In addition to these three exclusives, The Singleton of Glen Ord, a richer expression of The Singleton style, and The Singleton of Dufftown, regarded as the most well-balanced expression of The Singleton style, are also available in travel retail and domestically.

New whisky celebrates Singapore’s Golden Jubilee

This summer, Diageo launched a further edition in the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection, celebrating Singapore, ahead of August’s SG50 celebrations marking the nation’s 50th birthday. This new release, embellished with a Jeff Nishinaka-inspired design, brings to life the iconic Singapore skyline.

A striking window display for the Singapore edition of Johnnie Walker Blue Label's Cities Collection

Handcrafted paper sculpture

Large-scale activations of the Cities Collection were hosted by travel retailer DFS and Changi Airport Group at Singapore Changi airport, including a striking window display featuring Jeff Nishinaka’s Singapore cityscape handcrafted paper sculpture in Terminal 3, and displays in all departures and arrivals stores in all terminals. 

Exclusively available at Changi airport

Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “Following the success of the 2013 Johnnie Walker Blue Label Skyline Collection, and the recent launch of the Dubai edition of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection, we are immensely proud to offer this Singapore SG50 Limited Edition Design, in close partnership with DFS and Changi Airport Group. This series beautifully brings to life some of the most iconic travel destinations in the world, therefore it is only fitting that it is exclusive to travel retail. As such it serves as a unique souvenir of a great journey or to mark an historic occasion: Singapore’s Golden Jubilee.”

The Singapore edition of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection is exclusively available at Changi airport, retailing at S$288.

Johnnie Walker launches biggest global campaign

Johnnie Walker, the number one Scotch whisky in the world, has launched its largest ever global marketing campaign. Joy Will Take You Further will launch simultaneously in more than 50 countries and will reach nearly 270m consumers around the world within the first weeks of launch. Joy Will Take You Further is an evolution of the brand’s Keep Walking campaign and represents a new perspective on personal progress. It brings to life the concept that joy can be a catalyst to the progress people seek, and aims to promote the idea that finding joy in the journey is part of the recipe for success.

Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button stars in Johnnie Walker's new brand campaign

Encouraging shoppers to find joy in their journey

The campaign features stars from the worlds of sport and entertainment such as Formula 1 World Champion and McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button, Oscar-nominated actor Jude Law, Chinese actor Zhao Wei, US rock band OK Go and Mexican supermodel Montserrat Oliver alongside a cast of extraordinary achievers who share the brand’s view of how happiness in life is a fuel for success.

In travel retail the campaign will be brought to life through a number of airport activations. This will include offering travellers exclusive insights into the joy of blending as well as encouraging our shoppers to find joy in their journey.

Syl Saller, chief marketing officer of brand owner Diageo, said: “The launch of Keep Walking marked a fundamental shift in the way Scotch was marketed and kick-started a decade of transformational growth for both Johnnie Walker and the category as a whole.

“I am hugely excited about the potential of this new campaign to drive Johnnie Walker forward to the next decade of growth. It is rooted in deep consumer insight and tells true stories of people who have truly walked with joy. At Diageo, we believe in building brands with purpose - meaning that goes beyond product benefits - and this is a great example of an incredibly strong idea that is brought to life with outstanding creative.”

Significant investment in customer experiences

Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, added that the new campaign challenged the conventional wisdom that success guarantees you happiness and instead celebrates the fact that happiness actually helps people achieve success. He said: “Johnnie Walker has always stood for progress - it’s been the story of our whisky since our founder John Walker started it all nearly 200 years ago, right through to today as the best-selling spirits brand in travel retail. What two centuries of experience have taught us is that progress doesn’t have to be an endless uphill journey. We can enjoy the steps we take and the more happiness we find in them the more likely we are to achieve our goal. Evidence is confirming a conviction that sits at the heart of our brand: Joy Will Take You Further.”

Developed in partnership with the brand’s global creative agency, Anomaly, Joy Will Take You Further brings to life the art of blending and the blenders who create the world’s most iconic Scotch whisky through a significant investment in mentoring and customer experiences, in addition to a new television commercial, print and digital advertising, point of sale materials and engaging digital content.

The new Joy Will Take You Further television commercial from Johnnie Walker can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9R9YtaoYAE

Diageo opens whisky embassy at Changi

Diageo and DFS Group have launched a Johnnie Walker House retail showcase in the leading travel retailer’s new Wines & Spirits flagship store at Singapore Changi airport. This is the seventh addition to the liquor firm's expanding international network of whisky embassies and the first in southeast Asia, following the success of the flagships in Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Chengdu, as well as travel retail theatres in Taipei and Mumbai airports.

Johnnie Walker House at Singapore Changi airport

Strategic location 

“With global airport sales growing by more than 12% every year since 2009, and the strategic location of Singapore Changi airport as a travel hub, Johnnie Walker House Singapore is set to be a game-changer for the luxury spirits segment,” said Doug Bagley, managing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East. “We combine our revolutionary hospitality concept with our successful travel retail model, providing an enticing experience to modern luxury consumers during the golden hour before they board.”

The design of the Singapore outlet in Terminal 3 is inspired by the combination of two elements. The first draws from the rich, progressive travel heritage of epic ocean voyages that took Johnnie Walker from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world, making it the world’s first global brands. The second is the custom in luxury retail of using trunk shows to provide tailored, exclusive experiences to valued clients.

Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s senior vice president, Global Merchandising – Spirits, Wine, and Tobacco, said: “Our long partnership with Diageo has been instrumental in creating the ultimate destination for the best in wines, spirits and tobacco at Changi airport. It is our shared vision to bring personalised and unique shopping experiences to the traveller.”

Johnnie Walker House Singapore's whisky constellation wall

Tactile in-store environment

When travellers step into the Johnnie Walker House in Singapore, they are transported into a retail theatre of a large-scale luxury steamer trunk. The tactile environment of leather, copper, marble, bronze, wood and steel finishing help bring to life the history, provenance and pioneering spirit of Johnnie Walker.

In addition, a multi-sensory retail setting, complete with a signature scent ambience emitting the six flavour characteristics of Blue Label, instantly transport travellers to the Scottish Highlands. Also on offer are exclusive “theatrical mentoring” sessions, which are immersions in the brand and products, led by brand ambassadors; a tasting bar where people can enjoy whiskies from the brand’s Super Deluxe portfolio; and a whisky constellation wall dedicated to the art of blending.

To mark the opening, a limited-edition Blue Label will be exclusively available at Changi airport. The ivory-coloured bottle features the landscape of Scotland and the skyline of Singapore in the brand’s hallmark willow design. The collectible was illustrated by Dawn Ng and pictorially depicts the historic journey of Johnnie Walker from Scotland to Singapore – from the time John Walker & Sons was established in 1820, in Kilmarnock, to 1885, when Johnnie Walker whiskies had made their way to Singapore.

For the first time in southeast Asia and Singapore, Johnnie Walker House Exclusive Collections will be available at retail. They include: John Walker & Sons Master Blenders Collection, Johnnie Walker Epic Dates Collection, Johnnie Walker House Five Gods Of Wealth Series Limited Edition, and Johnnie Walker House Zodiac Collection.

Visit www.johnniewalkerhouse.com