Year in Review: Interviews
Interviews of the Year (II)
Opening a new retail chapter at Schiphol Airport
In one of the biggest transformation projects of the year at a major European airport, a new retail brand, Today Duty Free, came to life in June as part of the Schiphol Group-Lagardère Travel Retail joint venture.
Standout elements include a simplified price promise to all passengers regardless of destination; an enhanced and immersive store design; and a commitment to sustainability and local identity.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Chief Commercial Officer Arthur Reijnhart addresses the milestone launch of the new brand in this interview.
Full story here.
Abdulla Ajmal on oud, modernity and making a mark in niche perfumery
“Ultimately, our mission lives in the details – the warmth of a well-trained beauty advisor, the way a scent is matched to a moment, or how a fragrance becomes a keepsake from a journey.” With this statement, Ajmal Group CEO Abdulla Ajmal sets the tone for a compelling discussion on legacy, innovation and the evolving face of niche fragrance in travel retail.
Full story here.
Niche beauty – a cornerstone category for Gebr. Heinemann
Niche beauty is no longer a passing trend in travel retail – it has become a strategic lever for driving engagement, conversion and differentiation, particularly among younger travellers.
In one of our regular Category Insight supplements (September), Gebr. Heinemann Director Purchasing Perfume & Cosmetics Britta Hoffmann addresses how niche beauty has evolved into a cornerstone of the retailer’s offer.
Full story here (page 16).
Lifting the consumer experience in Lima
Lima Airport Partners Chief Commercial Officer Norbert Onkelbach reflects with pride on the opening of a new terminal at Jorge Chávez International Airport and on a commercial and consumer offer that has shown much promise in its early trading period.
Full story here.
L’Oréal Luxe’s Baptiste Beau introduces a Journey for the Senses
At TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, L’Oréal Travel Retail presented a bold new vision for the beauty category – one defined by emotion, experience and collaboration.
Speaking with The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan, L’Oréal Travel Retail Luxe Division Worldwide General Manager Baptiste Beau outlines how the beauty group is transforming airport retail into what he calls an “entertaining destination” – a place where brands move beyond transaction to create memorable, multi-sensory experiences for travellers.
Full story here.
Redefining the flightpath: Nerissa Polke on going from breakout to breakthrough with Liht Organics
In November, The Moodie Davitt Report presented ‘Redefining the Flightpath: Women in travel retail and aviation speak’, a new podcast series celebrating the women shaping the future of global travel retail and aviation.
In the first edition, Singaporean entrepreneur and Liht Organics Founder Nerissa Polke explains how the brand was born out of a deeply personal journey.
Full story and podcast interview at this link.
EVERRICH Duty Free: A 30th anniversary tributes
In November EVERRICH Duty Free celebrated its 30th anniversary, a landmark occasion for a company that has grown from a small start-up into one of Asia’s and the world’s premier travel retailers.
To honour the occasion, The Moodie Davitt Report proudly published an anniversary book (in print and digital format), accompanied by a recently launched video (with Chinese and English subtitles).
In a key interview within this special report, EVERRICH Duty Free President Kevin Chiang talks passionately about the company’s values, discipline and commitment to the wider good.
Click here to access the full report and film.
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The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 349 | 22 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