Images of the Year (IV)

Lotte Duty Free pays homage to Melbourne’s streetscapes with reimagined arrivals store

Lotte Duty Free unveiled its revamped arrivals store at Melbourne Airport in October, marking the completion of an ambitious phased redevelopment.

The renovation, which began in August 2024, features highly evocative interior design that reflects the Victorian capital’s world-renowned laneways and vibrant street art scene.

The sense of place is enhanced by the incorporation of red brick in the store’s liquor zone, cobbled pavements, signage lanterns and inlaid brass plaques. The beauty side comes alive with dynamic lighting and sleek concrete-render finishes.

Full story here.

A lotus blooms at Navi Mumbai International Airport

On 8 October Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), marking the completion of one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

In his address, Modi (below centre) noted that Mumbai’s long wait for a second international airport had come to an end, adding that NMIA would help position the region as a key connectivity hub in Asia.

He said: “The Navi Mumbai International Airport is a project that exemplifies the vision of a developed India. It is built on the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and its design resembles a lotus flower, makes it a living symbol of culture and prosperity.”

Full story here.

‘Wonders Reimagined’ – Changi Airport Group and Lotte Duty Free wow with WOWS

Changi Airport Group’s annual World of Wines & Spirits (WOWS) returned on 24 and 25 October with its latest dazzling edition themed ‘Wonders Reimagined’, presented in partnership with the airport’s liquor concessionaire Lotte Duty Free.

WOWS 2025 continued the event’s proud legacy as a premier showcase of rare and exceptional wines & spirits.

Full story here.

cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex celebrates third anniversary in style

China Duty Free Group marked the third anniversary of cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in October with an array of festivities designed to create a ‘carnival-style’ shopping experience for visitors.

The vast emporium opened on 28 October 2022, ranking as the world’s largest duty-free store. Since then, it has redefined duty-free shopping from a quick transaction into an immersive destination for retail, leisure, dining and cultural enrichment

Full story here.

Colm McLoughlin remembered on the fairways of Dubai

On 12 November in Dubai, a gathering of family, friends and industry partners saluted the life of one of travel retail’s greatest statesmen, former Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, who sadly passed away on 30 October 2024 at age 81.

A memorial golf tournament at Emirates Golf Course in Dubai, just after the annual MEADFA Conference, honoured and celebrated a life well lived.

Full story here.

Dior unveils largest fragrance and beauty flagship at cdf Sanya

Parfums Christian Dior recently partnered with China Duty Free Group to open the brand’s largest fragrance and beauty flagship boutique worldwide at the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex (cdf Mall) in Haitang Bay.

The expansive 520sq m duplex store introduces the house’s new retail identity (a signature Christian Dior silhouette that revolutionised post-war fashion in the late 1940s), offering travellers an elevated expression of Dior’s multi-axis portfolio, couture heritage and personalised beauty experiences.

Full story here.