BAHRAIN. Welcome to our rolling coverage of the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) Conference, which takes place this week in Bahrain.
More than 400 delegates are registered for the event, which runs from 27 to 29 November in Manama, hosted by Bahrain Duty Free.
TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER
Concluding the event, MEADFA President Sherif Toulan said: Now is the time to look forward not back. MEADFA is determined to play a central role in the resurgence of duty free and travel retail in the Middle East and Africa region. That role includes defending the interests of our members in the face of regulatory threats and other challenges. As founding members of the Duty Free World Council, we are also keen to support global efforts to defend our industry. As we gather here, it’s good to see passenger numbers that give us grounds for optimism, both in our region, and beyond.”
MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER
The highly-anticipated results for the The Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) Awards have been revealed at the Gala Dinner. The MEADFA Awards aimed to recognise “innovative, dynamic, world-class travel retail specialists” in the region.
The five awards categories were as follows:
Best Retailer Award: Recognises organisations that have demonstrated excellence across their business, continue to innovate in providing outstanding customer service and have provided a notable contribution to the development of travel retail in the region. Winner: Bahrain Duty Free.
Best Marketing Strategy of the Year Award: Recognises organisations that lead with their marketing approach towards adaptable and customer-driven engagement. This award highlights the use of new and innovative platforms using dynamic innovative content to engage with consumers across the industry. Winner: Nestlé International Travel Retail.
Sustainability and CSR Award: Entries can be for one or all of four sub-categories. They are Best Green Achiever, Best Sustainable Brand, Sustainable Retailer of the Year and Best CSR Performance. Winners: Dubai Duty Free, Bitmore.
Customer & Supplier Award: Entries can be for one or all of three sub-categories including Outstanding Achievement in Customer Satisfaction, Innovative Supplier of the Year and Excellence in Supplier Collaboration. Winners: Muscat Duty Free, Merlin Travel Group.
Lifetime Achievement Award: No entry is required. MEADFA will honour an outstanding leader who has made a remarkable contribution to the overall travel retail environment, promoted strong leadership, supports their people, and significantly impacted the overall sustainability, strategy, culture and development of the industry as a whole. Winner: Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin.
Introducing the award to McLoughlin, event MC and former ARI-Middle East CEO Richard Gray said: “This individual has shown great leadership, supported his people and significantly influenced sustainability, strategy, culture and development in the region. He is one of the most important and influential name in our industry.
“He was responsible for setting up duty free shops with a team of ten, and a company that grew from a US$20 million to a US$2 billion business, winning over 700 awards over the years.
“MEADFA is honoured to celebrate his achievement and success. We celebrate Colm McLoughlin.”
Accepting the award on McLoughlin’s behalf, Dubai Duty Free COO Ramesh Cidambi said: “It is an honour and privilege to receive this award on behalf of Mr. McLoughlin. He is said he cannot be here as he is recovering from an operation but he is thrilled to win this award.
“For us this is a memorable award. More than anyone else Colm was responsible for MEADFA being created, for an office being set up in the Dubai Free Zone, and for being there in the early days.
“His achievements in the duty free industry are legendary. We have never seen a person who has served the industry, served Dubai Duty Free, served the Government of Dubai with such dedication, passion and integrity, as he has over the past 39 years.
“From a personal perspective, he is a great boss, he is fearless and he has your back whenever you do something. So we are all very proud that he has won this award, and thank MEADFA and the judges for recognising him this evening.”
The MEADFA Conference began on Monday, with organisers pledging to discuss recovery, vital themes such as sustainability and technology, the emerging African market, regulatory challenge, the cruise sector, supply chain, the Metaverse opportunity and much more, including a special focus on host market, Bahrain.
“It is worth noting that Bahrain International Airport never stopped operating during the pandemic,” said Bahrain Airport Company Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Albinfalah in the morning’s keynote address. “While global travel restrictions saw most commercial flights grounded, the airport played a key role in the Kingdom’s fight against the virus, facilitating the import of PPE and urgent medical supplies and helping repatriate stranded Bahraini nationals.
“Thanks to the exceptional efforts of our people, we overcame all challenges. When the time was finally right, we carried out a safe and seamless transfer of operations to the new facility,” he said of the transition to the Kingdom’s new airport.
Boutique appeal
“Our 210,000sq m new Passenger Terminal is still among the smaller airports in the region. Fortunately, this boutique design works in our favor for several reasons,” he said.
“Many international airports are large, confusing, and even a little overwhelming with few features to distinguish one from another. With Bahrain International Airport, we aimed for quality rather than size, ensuring it is hassle-free, distinct, and very easy to navigate.
“The boutique design means passengers can traverse the arrival and departure areas more quickly than at any other airport in the region, giving them more time to enjoy the amenities Bahrain International Airport has to offer. This includes a wide range of duty free products from leading luxury brands.
“However, not all boutique airports have the same objectives. Unlike Bahrain International Airport, some boutique terminals focus solely on arrival-to-destination convenience rather than the airport experience. With an emphasis on speed, their goals are to streamline the whole transit process and reduce waiting times. This means no shops and very few places to grab a bite to eat.”
What makes Bahrain International Airport unique
He continued: “What makes Bahrain International Airport truly distinct is that it combines the speed and convenience of a smaller airport with the commercial appeal of a much larger one.
“In recent years, airports have begun shifting from a traditional operating model – aimed at processing passengers as quickly as possible – towards a more commercial one, focused on the impact non-aeronautical activities have on revenue growth. This is very much part of our commercial strategy.
“One of our most important goals is to deliver a memorable travel experience. Since the inception of the Airport Modernization Program, we have aspired for our new terminal to be much more than just a waiting area for the next flight.
“Bahrain International Airport’s retail areas are three times larger than the legacy terminal, featuring a broader selection of local and international brands and a diverse range of food and beverage outlets, transforming Bahrain International Airport into a key commercial hub. Among the major new additions are the Bahrain Airport Hotel, an airport clinic, comfortable Arrivals and Departure lounges, an Entertainment Zone, an open-air terrace, and a variety of duty free and food & beverage offerings.
“With 3,300sq m of duty free space in the departures Area, 541sq m of duty free space in the arrivals Area, and 21 cafes and restaurants, the airport caters to the needs of virtually all types of passengers.
“For example, SSP Bahrain – which is a joint venture with Gulf Air Group Holding – operates a range of F&B units at Bahrain International Airport. The units offer a strong combination of local and international brands, many of which made their Bahrain debut, including Jamie’s Deli and Pizzeria from world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver. Bahrain International Airport also houses the first TGI Fridays in an airport in the Gulf, further differentiating us from our regional neighbours.
“Furthermore, the airport’s Souq Al Qaisariya is a unique retail concept that encapsulates the spirit of Bahrain’s traditional markets. It features a wide selection of locally made products and is one of our signature offerings.”
“As the Kingdom’s only international airport, Bahrain International Airport is an important platform for promoting the Kingdom and is a destination in and of itself. With a broad range of local artwork and cultural artifacts proudly on display at its cultural heritage galleries, passengers can experience the Kingdom’s artistic heritage without having to set foot outside the terminal. Featuring the work of talented Bahraini artists, past and present, Bahrain International Airport is a cultural platform that celebrates the Kingdom’s distinct character.
““Bahrain International Airport’s focus on Bahraini art and culture not only spotlights our heritage, but it also makes the airport a more interesting place. This encourages passengers to arrive early and explore everything Bahrain International Airport has to offer, including our impressive duty free area.”
In a rousing conclusion Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said, “Old orthodoxies won’t work in this new world; new thinking and new approaches are needed. Coming together at events such as this is crucial to help the airport retail industry recognise and respond to changing customer needs and expectations.
“The airport retail market will recover. But it will take greater collaboration to ensure we emerge from the pandemic more responsive, more agile, and more financially sustainable than ever before.”
SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER
The Art Hotel & Resort is home to MEADFA 2022, where the finishing touches are being put to the stage, ballroom and garden areas before the Welcome Cocktail tonight (courtesy of Dufry) and main plenary sessions, which begin on Monday.