Categories 

In response to the challenges our industry faced last year, we have introduced a range of special categories for 2021 to recognise and celebrate how travel retail stakeholders have transformed through the crisis and their initiatives to support the community and do good.

You can view our general criteria for entering the awards here. 

Airport in the Americas with the Most Supportive Approach to Retail

This award recognises the airport in the Americas to best prioritise the need to support its retailers through the turbulence of 2020 and demonstrate a culture committed to travel retail.
This category is now closed
  • A culture and commercial strategy supportive to travel retail
  • An adaptive and flexible approach to strategy, operations and financial models to strengthen and safeguard the airport’s commercial offering
  • The impact of the airport’s actions to navigate challenges on the retail business (can include retailer and customer satisfaction, sales, staff retention etc.)
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity to improve the customer experience

Americas Supplier of the Year

The best supplier to the travel-retail sector of any size operating in the Americas will be one that has provided the best quality of service, competitiveness and customer satisfaction over the challenges of 2020.
This category is now closed
  • Adapting the core portfolio to meet retailer and customer needs
  • A collaborative and supportive approach to meeting inventory challenges
  • Delivery of impactful campaigns and meaningful promotions for travellers in the current climate
  • Evidence of innovation and meeting changing market needs
  • A commitment to growing your category for the overall good of the industry

Americas Travel Retailer of the Year

The Americas Travel Retailer of the Year award recognises the company that has provided the best example to the industry in its efforts to adapt and mitigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Judges will consider factors including an adaptive retail strategy, customer service, CSR, and employee initiatives.
This category is now closed
  • How you have transformed and reinvented your business to maximise performance within this period
  • Adapting the product assortment in line with customer demand/priorities and effective and creative inventory management
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers, drive sales and provide customer service
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity to improve the customer experience
  • Acting as a responsible retailer across staff retention and training, sustainability and CSR

Best New Shop Opening

2020 may have seen worldwide travel come to a standstill, but many companies used that time to take stock and focus on development projects including store refurbishments and build outs, with many opening new stores – from fashion boutiques and speciality concepts to traditional core category stores and new concepts tailored to the evolving and specific needs of travellers during the pandemic. 
This category is now closed
  • Retail innovation and animation of the environment
  • Quality of the retail design, layout format and concept
  • An engaging mix of international brands, categories and local products to meet the demand of the target consumer
  • Demonstrate an innovate offer and expertise for specialist and specific category concepts including new ideas to maximise sales during the pandemic

Exceptional Achievement by a Retailer – Airport / in Airport Retail

This award honours the exceptional achievement/s by a retailer operating at an airport in the Americas against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges of 2020 due to Covid-19.
This category is now closed
  • How your business reacted and adapted to the challenges of 2020 and those particular to the airport retail channel
  • How you have transformed and reinvented your business through this period
  • Please outline your highlighted achievement and how it was executed
  • The impact of your actions on your business/employees/the community/the overall industry

Exceptional Achievement by a Retailer – Cruise / in Cruise Retail

This award honours the exceptional achievements by a retailer operating in the cruise channel in the Americas against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges of 2020 due to Covid-19.
This category is now closed
  • How your business reacted and adapted to the challenges of 2020 and those particular to the cruise retail channel
  • How you have transformed and reinvented your business through this period
  • Please outline your highlighted achievement and how it was executed
  • The impact of your actions on your business/employees/the community/the overall industry

Exceptional Achievement by a Retailer – Inflight / in the Inflight Channel

This award honours the exceptional achievements by a retailer operating in the inflight channel in the Americas against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges of 2020 due to Covid-19.
This category is now closed
  • How your business reacted and adapted to the challenges of 2020 and those particular to the inflight retail channel
  • How you have transformed and reinvented your business through this period
  • Please outline your highlighted achievement and how it was executed
  • The impact of your actions on your business/employees/the community/the overall industry 

Hero Beauty Product of the Year

The Hero Beauty Product of the Year award celebrates the star beauty product in Americas travel retail in the past 12 months, whether that is a new launch or an SKU that has stood the test of time. Judges will be looking for performance highlights, star quality and brand visibility.

This category is now closed
  • Star qualities: appearance, design, packaging, pricing and versatility that goes above and beyond the competition in this category
  • Performance highlights ; please note size and RRP
  • Demonstrate consumer engagement through social media, digital, GTR activations
  • Highlight impactful campaigns and meaningful promotions for travellers in the current climate

Hero Confectionery & Fine Food Product of the Year

The Hero Confectionery & Fine Food Product of the Year award celebrates the star consumables product in Americas travel retail in the past 12 months, whether that is a new launch or an SKU that has stood the test of time. Judges will be looking for performance highlights, star quality and brand visibility.
This category is now closed
  • Star qualities: appearance, design, packaging, pricing and versatility that goes above and beyond the competition in this category
  • Performance highlights; please note size and RRP
  • Demonstrate consumer engagement through social media, digital, GTR activations
  • Highlight impactful campaigns and meaningful promotions for travellers in the current climate

Hero Fashion, Jewellery, Watches or Electronics/Gifting Product of the Year

The Hero Fashion, Jewellery, Watches or Electronics/Gifting award celebrates the most outstanding product across these categories in Americas travel retail in the past 12 months, whether that is a new launch or an SKU that has stood the test of time. Judges will be looking for performance highlights, star quality and brand visibility.

This category is now closed
  • Star qualities: appearance, design, packaging, pricing and versatility that goes above and beyond the competition in this category
  • Performance highlights; please note size and RRP
  • Demonstrate consumer engagement through social media, digital, GTR activations
  • Highlight impactful campaigns and meaningful promotions for travellers in the current climate

Hero Wines & Spirits Product of the Year

The Hero Wines & Spirits Product of the Year award celebrates the star liquor product in Americas travel retail in the past 12 months, whether that is a new launch or an SKU that has stood the test of time. Judges will be looking for performance highlights, star quality and brand visibility.

This category is now closed
  • Star qualities: appearance, design, packaging, pricing and versatility that goes above and beyond the competition in this category
  • Performance highlights; please note size and RRP
  • Demonstrate consumer engagement through social media, digital, GTR activations
  • Highlight impactful campaigns and meaningful promotions for travellers in the current climate

Sustainability Initiative of the Year

For this award, judges will look for one outstanding initiative or campaign implemented in the Americas, however small or localised, that has had a demonstrable positive impact to the environment and shown an impressive commitment to sustainability by the company, teams and/or individuals on a personal level, in the sector.

This category is now closed
  • A powerful brand purpose for your company
  • A demonstrable commitment to sustainability activities by the entrant
  • The relevance of the particular activities/initiatives in global travel retail/ to your category
  • Evidence of positive impact from activities to people, communities and environment

Team of the Year

For this award, companies operating in travel retail can nominate a team within their organisation for its outstanding dedication and work through the challenges of the past year, however small or localised. Judges will look for teams who have made a positive non-commercial impact, i.e. social or environmental.
This category is now closed
  • How and when the nominated team’s activity/s were implemented and the results achieved
  • How the team overcame specific challenges arising from the Covid-19 crisis
  • How the team went above and beyond their roles to impress
  • How this team’s activities made a positive impact to people, communities and the environment