Year in Review: Inclusion
Inspiring inclusion
We salute examples of diversity and inclusion initiatives from across the travel retail and aviation communities in 2025.
Mitti Café on expansion trail with continued Adani Group support
Adani Group’s ongoing support for Mitti Café continued to pave the way for its expansion, with outlets announced in early 2025 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and the soon-to-be-operational Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The café, founded by Alina Alam, is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through skill development and employment opportunities.
The first airport Mitti Café was launched at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru – this subsequently led to other airport openings, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International in Mumbai and Chaudhary Charan Singh International in Lucknow.
Full story here.
‘Accelerating Action’ on International Women’s Day
8 March is International Women’s Day, a momentous day of celebration and action in the global and travel retail calendars, centred around championing women’s achievements amid the move towards a gender-equal world.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 was ‘Accelerate Action’, which highlighted the urgency of implementing swift and effective measures to achieve gender equality.
In partnership with leading travel retailer ARI The Moodie Davitt Report hosted a campaign and homepage makeover to mark the occasion, with other industry initiatives also featured in our broader coverage during that week.
Full story here.
Recognising an inspiring initiative
Cafe Yanımda by TUM at Istanbul Airport is redefining what inclusion looks like in airport hospitality, with high-level recognition coming through the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year at the annual Airport Food & Beverage + Hospitality Awards in Barcelona in June, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report.
The judges hailed the concept as “a fabulous initiative truly living by the company’s values”, praising its “absolute commitment to diversity and inclusion” and its role in ‘normalising’ the employment of those with special needs while enabling them to serve customers.
Full story here.
Chicago airports introduce accessibility tools
In September the Chicago Department of Aviation announced a roll-out of accessibility resources, including sensory maps and videos, to make travel easier for neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive passengers at O’Hare and Midway international airports.
The sensory maps on FlyChicago.com serve as visual guides to O’Hare and Midway airports, marking areas by sensory intensity to aid travellers in planning routes that meet their individual needs and comfort.
The maps identify areas in each terminal with high, medium or low sensory input, along with security checkpoint locations and typically crowded spots.
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Dubai Duty Free leads inclusive travel as world’s first Autism Certified airport retailer
In October Dubai Duty Free was named the world’s first Autism Certified airport retailer by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
This recognition highlights the retailer’s commitment to extensive staff training and promoting an inclusive and welcoming shopping experience for autistic and sensory-sensitive customers.
Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi said, “This milestone is a testament to our commitment to delivering inclusive service to our diverse customer base.
“It aligns with Dubai Duty Free’s broader efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusivity across our operations. This achievement reinforces the organisation’s belief that travel should be a safe and welcoming experience for everyone.”
Full story here.
Why Dubai Airports is saying ‘We All Meet the World Differently’
In a LinkedIn post in October, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths described with justifiable pride how the progressive UAE company had just launched the next phase of an ambitious accessibility strategy.
How ambitious? Here’s your answer: a ten-year plan to make Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International the world’s most accessible airports by 2035.
“This goes beyond infrastructure,” Griffiths said. “It’s about rethinking the entire airport journey so that every guest, whatever their needs, feels respected, supported and welcome.”
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ATÜ Duty Free named among ‘Best Workplaces for Women’ in Türkiye
In a signal of its progressive gender-balancing policies, ATÜ Duty Free was named among the best places for women to work in Türkiye in October.
The travel retailer was one of 36 organisations – selected from a long list of 355 – as ‘2025 Best Workplaces for Women’, compiled by the Great Place to Work Türkiye Institute.
The final list was based on feedback from over 200,000 employees and Trust Index survey data. The research singled out employers that adopt an inclusive and trust-based workplace culture. ATÜ also ranked highly among 13 companies in the category of companies with over 500 employees.
Full story here.
Aeroporti di Roma stages powerful performance against gender-based violence
On 25 November we showcased how an inspiring dance performance transformed Italy’s busiest airport into a powerful stage for awareness and solidarity.
To mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on that date, Aeroporti di Roma and the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma partnered for a powerful choreographic performance titled ‘Voglio essere l’ultima’, or ‘I want to be the last one’.
The performance’s title echoed a powerful message of hope; a call for a future in which no woman faces violence again.
Full story here.
The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 349 | 23 December 2025
The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 6 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (MA Travel Retail). © All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the Publisher. To find out more visit www.moodiedavittreport.com and to subscribe, please email kristyn@moodiedavittreport.com