Entries are now closed

Join us at the Charity Ball 5 April at the Royal Lancaster, London, where we will announce the winners


Airport Authority of the Year

An airport in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) with a culture supporting travel retail, judged across a range of factors including incentives or financial models conducive to retailers, operational management, support infrastructures and approach beneficial to travel retailers.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best Airport Authority of the Year with the most supportive to travel retail in the EMEA region for activities since 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period
  • Strategy, operations and financial models conducive to thriving travel retail (provide examples of work done to facilitate and encourage the development of the commercial area)
  • A relevant and interesting commercial offer airport-wide 
  • Retailer and customer satisfaction with the retail environment 
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity to improve the customer experience 

Airport Retail Operation of the Year Over 30 Million Pax

The best travel retailer operating at an airport serving over 30 million passengers a year in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment, retail environment and customer service.

This category is now closed
To be considered as the best Airport Retail Operation of the Year (over 30 million pax) commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period  
  • A balanced assortment of interesting products/categories 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the journey  
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity to improve the customer experience 
  • Effective training programmes that help promote staff engagement and enhance product knowledge

Airport Retail Operation of the Year Under 30 Million Pax

The best travel retailer operating at an airport serving less than 30 million passengers a year in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment, retail environment and customer service.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best Airport Retail Operation of the Year (under 30 million pax) commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period  
  • A balanced assortment of interesting products/categories 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the journey  
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity to improve the customer experience 
  • Effective training programmes that help promote staff engagement and enhance product knowledge

Charitable Initiative of the Year

Open to individuals, team efforts or businesses in travel retail based in EMEA that have shown an impressive commitment to charity work through their activities since 1 March 2018, which has had a demonstrable positive impact.


This category is now closed

To be considered as EMEA Charitable Initiative of the Year commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Evidence of charitable activities
  • The relevance of the particular charitable activities/initiatives
  • Evidence of positive impact from charitable activities
  • Evidence of positive endorsement from travel-retail peers 

Cruise Retailer of the Year

The best on-board cruise retailer of any size judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment and customer service operating on any cruise routes in EMEA.

This category is now closed
To be considered as the best EMEA Cruise Retailer of the Year commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period  
  • A product assortment tailored to the cruise channel and evidence of working collaboratively with brands to improve the customer experience 
  • Demonstration of experiential retail tailored to the cruise environment 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the travel journey  
  • Effective training programmes that help promote crew engagement and enhance product knowledge

Downtown / Border Store of the Year

The best border store of any size operating anywhere in EMEA, judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment, retail environment and customer service

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best EMEA Border Store of the Year commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period
  • A balanced assortment of interesting products/categories
  • Demonstration of inventive promotions and retail experiences tailored to the border store environment
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage customers
  • Effective training programmes that help promote staff engagement and enhance product knowledge

Duty Free Experience of the year

The best travel retail consumer engagement/marketing campaign, activation or pop-up in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) since 1 March 2018 of any category, judged against a range of factors including campaign, innovation, activation concept and consumer impact.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best EMEA Duty Free Experience of the Year commencing 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Quality and creativity of activation in concept and design
  • A good match between activation, product and market trend
  • Demonstrate effective consumer engagement, positive reception and sales
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within the trinity and key stakeholders to engage and excite consumers
  • Provide details on the use of tools such as digital technology, promotions, personalisation, staff interaction, edutainment/brand immersion to enhance the experience 

European Travel Retailer of the Year

The best retailer of any size operating anywhere in Europe judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment, retail environment and customer service.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best European Travel Retailer of the Year commencing 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period
  • A balanced assortment of interesting products/categories 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the journey
  • Evidence of working collaboratively with brands and landlords (if applicable) to improve the customer experience 
  • Effective training programmes that help promote staff engagement and enhance product knowledge

Ferry Retailer of the Year

The best on-board ferry retailer of any size judged across a range of factors including profitability, assortment and customer service operating on any ferry routes in EMEA.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best EMEA Ferry Retailer of the Year commencing 1 March 2018 you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period  
  • A product assortment tailored to the ferry channel and evidence of working collaboratively with brands to improve the customer experience 
  • Demonstration of experiential retail tailored to the ferry environment 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the travel journey  
  • Effective training programmes that help promote crew engagement and enhance product knowledge

Inflight Retailer of the Year

The best inflight retailer of any size judged on its activities since 1 March 2018 across a range of factors including profitability, assortment and customer service operating anywhere in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa). 

This category is now closed

To be considered as the best EMEA Inflight Retailer of the year commencing 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period  
  • A product assortment tailored to the inflight channel and evidence of working collaboratively with brands to provide an inventive offer 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the travel journey  
  • Effective training programmes that help promote crew engagement and enhance product knowledge

Middle East & Africa Travel Retailer of the Year

The best retailer of any size judged for its activities since 1 March 2018 across a range of factors including profitability, assortment and customer service operating anywhere in the Middle East & Africa.


This category is now closed

To be considered as the best Middle East & Africa Travel Retailer of the Year commencing 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:


  • Solid sales and effective commercial strategy within this period
  • A balanced assortment of interesting products/categories 
  • The use of innovative marketing and digital tools to engage passengers throughout the journey
  • Evidence of working collaboratively with brands and landlords (if applicable) to improve the customer experience
  • Effective training programmes that help promote staff engagement and enhance product knowledge

New Product Launch of the Year

The best new product in travel retail in any category in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), launched since 1 March 2018, judged against a range of factors including commercial success, quality and brand visibility.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the Best New Product – EMEA commencing 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Quality of the product and its packaging, display or presentation
  • Evidence of commercial acumen in matching product to market
  • Evidence of critical, industry and consumer praise 
  • Solid sales 

New Shop Opening of the Year

The best travel retail shop opened in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) since 1 March 2018, judged against a range of factors including design, retail strategy, financial performance, customer service and media impact.


This category is now closed

To be considered as EMEAs best New Shop Opening of the Year since 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Retail innovation and animation of the environment 
  • Quality of the retail design and concept 
  • An engaging assortment or concept for specialist products 
  • Proof of effective strategy matched to market, for example, through sales 

Supplier of the Year

The best supplier to the travel-retail sector of any size based anywhere in EMEA judged on its activities over the year since 1 March 2018 across a range of factors including quality or service, competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

This category is now closed

To be considered as the Best Supplier - EMEA based on your activities over the year since 1 March 2018, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Evidence of operational excellence in supply travel retailers 
  • The relevance of goods and/or services offered to the industry 
  • Strong commercial performance 
  • Evidence of innovation and meeting evolving market needs