UAE. Dubai Duty Free is today marking its 35th anniversary in style, with a special -25% discount on many products over a three-day period that ends at midnight Dubai time. [Note: The Moodie Davitt Report is publishing a special e-Zine to coincide with the anniversary, which will appear today.]
The anniversary discount has seen what the retailer called “a spending spree” at Dubai International and at Al Maktoum International, with final sales figures to be revealed tomorrow.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “The anniversary celebrations spread over three days were fantastic. We are glad to see such positive sales results across all the concourses. Extending a -25% discount to our customers is our way of saying thank you for their support throughout the year.”
The Dubai Duty Free anniversary promotion is now a highly-anticipated event with many travellers choosing to travel on the days when the -25% discount is offered. The first anniversary sale Dubai Duty Free introduced was on its 20th anniversary in 2003.
The 35th anniversary also saw a series of celebrations during the week led by McLoughlin and the senior management team.
These included the official opening of a new Ferragamo shop in Concourse B, with Travel Retail Manager EMEA Alessandra Gaspari attending.
Alan Winchester, Master Distiller of The Glenlivet and Production Manager for Pernod Ricard, presented McLoughlin with a special edition of The Glenlivet 35yo, created for the occasion, and of which there are only 35 bottles available. [An interview with Alan Winchester will appear soon.]
Also visiting on the day was William Grant & Sons Malt Master Brian Kinsman who presented McLoughlin with a bottle of Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1977, which was also specially produced for the 35th anniversary.
Following the presentations, the group conducted two draws for two winners of US$1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and four draws for winners in the Finest Surprise promotion.
The Millennium Millionaire winners were Saudi national Al Otaibi Ali Traheeb and Iraqi Kasim Talib. Talib, a Manager for Government Relations at Eros Group, said he was a regular online buyer of Millennium Millionaire tickets. He said: “My mom and sister both died of cancer; this money will definitely go to charities and organisations that are dedicated to the causes of fighting this disease and those who are coping with or who have survived its effects. Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free for this very timely surprise and happy 35th anniversary!”
Following the Millennium Millionaire draws., four luxury vehicle winners were also unveiled in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise draws. They were American Armand Pastilha, Jordanian Eman Fayez Abusabah, Indian Amit Grover and a Russian, Mr. Prokhorov.
*Watch out for our special e-Zine on Dubai Duty Free’s 35th anniversary, out shortly.
