WORLD CUP 2026

With the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup 26 taking place today, Travel Markets Insider takes a look at some of the immersive, interactive and fun activities taking place at airports in some of the key host cities around the U.S. and Canada, including Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, and Vancouver. Pages 1 & 2.

And make sure to read about the special World Cup hubs that Hudson and The Coca-Cola Company have created in some 200 airport outlets throughout the U.S. Page 8.  

Staying on our soccer theme, MIA has also launched “David,” an up close and personal video portrait of global icon Sir David Beckham, to run through July 27. Page 2.

CANADA

On a much more serious note, Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association reports that the decline in cross-border traffic with the U.S. is even more dramatic than originally thought, in some cases down by 40%. The Association is calling for the Canadian government to take some targeted actions to make the border stores in Canada more competitive with the shops on the U.S. side. Page 2. 



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IN THE TMI SPOTLIGHT

DFA: Duty Free Americas is further expanding its presence in the Middle East, announcing that it has been appointed the Travel Retail partner at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Ras Al Khaimah is the fourth largest Emirates in the UAE. Read more details on page 3.

COACHELLA DUTY FREE. Brittany Williams Leverett, founder of Core Plus Duty Free at Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Florida, has expanded her innovative small-format duty free concept to the West Coast with the opening of Coachella Duty Free at Palm Springs International Airport.

See full story on page 6.  

AIRPORT CONCESSIONS



In more airport news, Avolta has secured an eight-year extension for its retail operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Page 3.

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CRUISE

PRINCESS CRUISES and its retail programs are in the headlines. Princess awarded Starboard the concession onboard eight additional Princess ships, following the retailer’s success with Star Princess. Princess also extended its partnership with Harding+, which covers eight cruise ships, through 2031.

Page 4.

Starboard has also unveiled an Alaska-exclusive retail assortment for Virgin Voyages’ inaugural Alaska season. Page 5.

PeppaRose, producer of cruise exclusive curated collections of destination inspired silk scarves, has officially launched with Harding+ onboard nine ships spanning the Cunard, Princess and Viking fleets. More details on page 5.

MSC Cruises and the MSC Foundation have launched a special onboard program that teaches children and their families about ocean conservation. Page 4. 

SUPPLY SIDE/AT THE POINT OF SALE

Mars Wrigley ITR and Avolta have launched the first M&M’s Experience shop-in-shop in the Americas at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil. Positioned within one of Avolta’s highest-traffic areas, the new M&M’S Experience shop-in-shop is designed to maximize engagement at a key consumer touchpoint, as it delivers designed both immersive brand story-telling and strong commercial performance. Mars Wrigley is further enhancing the traveler experience with its Transaction Zones debuting at Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro and Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. See full story on page 7.

Proximo Spirits Global Travel Retail (GTR) held a series of customer engagement and educational initiatives during Tequila Town, an immersive agave and tequila cultural experience. As part of the activation, the Proximo hosted a dedicated week-long program focused on education, storytelling and experiential brand immersion for bartenders and brand ambassadors representing its tequila portfolio, including Cuervo Tequila, 1800 Tequila, Dobel Tequila, Centenario Tequila, and Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo. Read more on page 8.      

Thank you for your continued readership and support and Stay Well!

Lois Pasternak

Editor/Publisher

Check out the TMI website at: www.travelmarketsinsider.net