The Latin America Report

Brand-owner The Edrington Group and distributor Rémy Cointreau Travel Retail Americas will use the IAADFS Duty Free Show (booth 113) next month as the launch pad for Brugal 1888rum in the Americas duty free and travel retail market.

Brugal 1888 is expected to receive an enthusiastic welcome from travellers at airports in North, Central and South America, says The Edrington Group.

Brugal 1888 1L will retail in the Americas travel retail at $49.99.

Delegates attending the IAADFS Duty Free Show are invited to a special reception to present Brugal 1888 on Monday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Gaylord Palms Hotel. Transport will be available at the front of the Marriott Hotel from 5:50 pm.  There will be a special appearance by Gustavo Ortega representing the Brugal Family.

The conference website for the South American Duty Free Association (Asutil) is now online (http://conferencia2012.asutil.org)
Re-scheduled to the new dates of May 30 to June 2 in Iguazu, Argentina, the conference website offers a registration link as well as links to three of the host hotels. An early bird registration fee of US $500 for Asutil members and US $650 for non-members is available until April 10. All participants also have the option of reserving a booth to showcase products or services.
This year’s theme ‘Duty Free: a waterfall of opportunities’ reflects the conference location near the spectacular Iguazu Falls, with 275 cascades along almost two miles of the Iguazu River.
Last year more than 300 delegates representing airport operators, suppliers and duty free operators from around the world registered for the event.
The three-day Asutil conference is comprised of guest speakers and networking time. Registered delegates will be provided the names, categories and emails of buyers attending the conference. It is up to delegates to arrange their own meetings during networking time. The list will be made available online April 20.
Conference organizers offer a full-day social activity on the final day of the event.

Brazil’s Guarulhos airport in São Paulo opened its newest terminal yesterday.

According to Infraero, Brazil’s national airport authority, Terminal 4 can handle 5.5 million passengers a year, bringing the entire airport’s capacity to 31.4 million yearly. Guarulhos is Brazil’s busiest airport.

To guide passengers through the new terminal, Infraero employees will wear a yellow vest bearing the words, ‘Can I Help?/May I Help You?’

Terminal 4 Guarulhos Airport was built at a cost of USD 49 million and has 12,200 square feet of operational area.

Mexican airport operator ASUR announced today it will make a bid, together with Advent International, on the Brazilian airport concessions.

To speed up necessary infrastructure improvements in the country ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, the Brazilian government announced late last year it would allow public companies to submit bids for various projects

Included are Brasilia, Guarulhos and Campinas airports, which the winning bidder must maintain, operate and expand.

However, winning bidders must form a joint venture with Brazil’s airport authority Infraero, with the winner becoming the majority shareholder.

Groups are permitted to bid for more than one airport, but may only be awarded one concession.

Brazil’s aviation agency ANAC will evaluate the bids on several factors including the concession fee offered.

ANAC will make public the concession fees offered by each bidder on February 6.  After this, the top three bids will then participate in a live public auction, with the winner announced the following day.

ASUR currently has concessions to operate, maintain and develop airports in Cancun, Merida, Cozumel, Villahermosa, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Huatulco, Tapachula and Minatitlan in the southeast of Mexico.

Advent International is a global private equity firm and first began investing in South American companies in 1996. To date Advent has invested in 40 Latin American companies in seven countries, according to information on its website.

Update 10:30 pm EST: Brazil media is reporting that at least 11 groups have submitted bids for the airport concessions. Along with Asur and Advent International, groups include a consortium of Banco BTG Pactual SA (Brazil investment bank), Ferrovial SA (transportation infrastructure investor, Spain) and Queiroz Galvao SA (construction company, Brazil), as well as another group including CCR SA (construction company, Brazil) and Flughafen Zuerich AG (operators of Zürich Airport, Switzerland).

Copa Airlines will begin non-stop service in June from Panama to four new destinations: Recife, Brazil; Liberia, (Guanacaste), Costa Rica; Las Vegas and Curaçao.

Last year Copa Airlines transported 8.8 million passengers and experienced a growth in capacity of more than 20 percent over 2010.

“Our sustained growth in the past few years has reinforced our position as the leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo services and made an impact on the business and tourism development of Panama and Latin America,” said Copa Airlines CEO, Pedro Heilbron. “We have opened doors to important key markets in the region with connectivity to 59 cities in the Americas.”

Copa’s achievements have been possible because “of our talented personnel, as we point out in our corporate campaign,” Heilbron added. “We will continue to strengthen our leadership position by offering the best service, flight frequencies and destinations for our passengers.”

Heilbron said that Copa Airlines will continue to add routes as well as enhance schedules and connections in 2012, and expects to transport 10 million passengers and increase capacity by 20 percent.

World of Patria International has diversified its product range with two new charging items from powerpacksales.com. The new line will be introduced at the Duty Free Show of the Americas in March (booth 1300).

“Yes our forte is as a travel retail distributor of premium and super premium spirits and wines, along with beer, but we are also representing Fazer Confectionery and Ted’s Cigars in specific regions and do feel strongly that we are in a strong position to develop our business to become – over time – a one-stop cross-category shop,” says WOPI director Andy Butcher.

WOPI  will  be showcasing an Iphone 4 Charger and Case and a Solar Powerstore, which can be charged with direct sunlight.

Avianca and AeroGal airlines collectively flew 11 percent more international travellers in 2011 compared to the previous year.

The Colombian and Ecuadorian carriers, which operate under AviancaTaca, confirmed an  order of 51 new Airbus A320 jets this week, the largest single order yet in Latin America according to French manufacturer Airbus.

Last year the carriers flew 20.7 million passengers. On routes within Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, the airlines carried more than 11 million passengers, an increase of 23.4 percent over 2010.

Good news for retailers in Panama. The New York Times has named the Central American country as the top destination of 45 places it recommends visiting in 2012.

Referring to the country’s booming economy, the newspaper said the U.S.-Panama free trade agreement signed last October will further boost an international exchange of people and currency.

Upscale hotels and expansion of the canal are just two of the many projects which will proceed this year. Other Latin countries which made The New York Times’ list of must-visits this year include Chiloé Island, Chile, Paraty, Brazil, Chilean Patagonia, Puebla, Mexico, and Nosara, Costa Rica.

Brazil’s airport authority Infraero has awarded a US$24.5 million tender to a consortium for the refurbishment and expansion of Rio de Janeiro state’s Macaé airport, according to local newswire BNamericas.

Infraero awarded the contract to a three-company consortium comprised of construction firms CVS, Tejofran and CCI.

The tender includes building a new passenger terminal and support building at the gateway as well as a new car park and access road.

L’Oréal products tailored for the Brazilian and Latin American markets could soon be conceived in Rio de Janeiro.

The L’Oréal Group has had operations in Brazil for 50 years and plans to set up its Latin American Research and Innovation Center in Rio de Janeiro.

The cosmetics company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state and city of Rio de Janeiro to build a Research and Innovation Center on Bom Jesus Island, in an area adjacent to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Technology Park.

The laboratory will serve to accelerate the growth of innovative products tailored for the Brazilian and Latin American markets that may potentially be marketed in other locations around the world, says the company.

“The move to build a laboratory in Brazil is in line with L’Oréal’s globalization strategy of meeting every beauty inspiration by providing the most local innovations for consumers and adapting to each culture’s specific needs,” says Didier Tisserand, Managing Director of L’Oréal Brazil.

Brazil is a very high growth market and its extraordinary diversity and rich cultural heritage are an endless source of inspiration, says Tisserand.

A new airport terminal in Costa Rica will finally open on Thursday.

Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia will be able to handle 1,500 passengers an hour.

However, concessionaire Coriport faces $500,000 in fines by the Civil Aviation Authority because of the delays, according to the local newspaper The Tico Times. The terminal was scheduled to open last October.

Coriport has six months to propose a plan to remodel the old Liberia airport terminal and expand airport services, according to The Tico Times.

Starting in June, Copa Airlines will connect Liberia with South America via a flight through Panama’s Tocumen Airport.

The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced that its member airlines carried 11.7 million passengers in November, up 7.2 percent from the previous year.

The number of passengers carried year-to-date increased 3.7 percent, reaching 126.8 million passengers.
ALTA has more than 25 member airlines and represents more than 90 percent of the region’s commercial air traffic.

A new airport terminal in Costa Rica is complete but as the peak travel season to the region has begun, the airport has yet to welcome a single passenger.

The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia was scheduled to be operational Oct. 1, but according to Costa Rican newspaper The Tico Times, the government has not approved the opening.

A press release issued by the aviation authority stated a number of issues needed to be addressed, but did not mention specific problems.
Concessionaire Coriport S.A. won the 20-year concession to build and operate the terminal and spent $41 million on construction.

Local coffee firm Café Britt spent $1 million on three commercial spaces in the airport. Café Britt CEO Pablo Vargas told The Tico Times the company hired and trained 20 new employees to work at the new stores. Although the employees have been relocated to other Britt operations, keeping them on hold generates a monthly loss of $17,000.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board, in 2010 more than 225,000 passengers arrived through Liberia. The current terminal can only accommodate about 900 passengers an hour and long line-ups are common.

The merger between two South American airlines has cleared one of its final hurdles.
Last week the Brazilian government’s anti-trust authorities approved the merger between Chile’s LAN Airlines and Brazilian carrier TAM. Known as LATAM, the carrier will be the largest in South America, and the second largest worldwide by revenue.
LATAM will employ 40,000 people and serve more than 45 million customers a year, with flights to more than 115 destinations in 23 counties.
The companies hope the merger to be finalized in the first quarter of 2012.

Heineken Global Duty Free and its Latin America distribution partner, MONARQ Group, are celebrating their association with one of the key travel retail operators in South America, by launching an exclusive off-trade Heineken DraughtKeg promotion.

The promotion is part of a series of global initiatives to mark Heineken’s involvement to develop with its Travel Retail partners concepts that bring additional value to the shopper experience as well as excitement to the beer category.

This promotion, which is the first of its kind for Heineken DraughtKeg, is supported by tailor-made point of sale materials including Heineken branded eye-catching shelves and gift with purchase, says Robert de Monchy, managing director at Monarq. It will appear in the central plaza of London Supply’s 5000m2 travel retail outlet in Puerto Iguazu, located in the border area of Brazil and Argentina, from November 1st through to November 30th 2011.

Carlos Candeias, Global Account Manager Americas for Heineken Global Duty Free says, “We’re excited to partner with Monarq and London Supply on this unique opportunity to showcase one of our innovative beer systems. This partnership has all the ingredients to elevate the shopper experience, create the right awareness for the Heineken DraughtKeg and show our leading position in the beer category.”

Adds de Monchy, “The central plaza concept is a truly unique promotion that creates an engaging in-store destination and re-enforces that London Supply is an excellent partner in building premium brands in Duty Free”.

Etihad Airways has set 2015 as its date for arrival in South America.
In an interview with Flightglobal, the company’s CEO said the airline is expanding its routes worldwide, and intends to be in the South American market in about three years.

Brazil announced further details of the concessions up for bid at Guarulhos, Brasília and Viracopos airports in a conference call Thursday afternoon.

The Latin America Report took part in a call with Brazil’s Secretary of Civil Aviation Wagner Bittencourt who said it was essential the country involve private firms in order to have airports ready for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Bittencourt said Brazil wanted to ensure first-class facilities for travellers and completion of projects for the FIFA games, so it is seeking investment from the private sector.

Brazil’s first-ever airport concession was granted earlier this year for São Gonçalo do Amarante airport in Rio Grande do Norte.

Guarulhos, Brasília and Viracopos were also among the airports chosen for a private concession model because they account for the highest passenger and cargo demand, and therefore have the greatest need for investment, said Bittencourt. Combined, these airports are responsible for 30 percent of Brazil’s passenger traffic, 57 percent of cargo and hold 19 percent of Brazilian aircrafts.

The auction of the three airports will occur simultaneously at the São Paulo Stock Exchange. Foreign investment is welcome but a company cannot bid for more than one airport.

• São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport calls for a US$740 million bid for a 20-year contract and 10 percent of the airport’s gross yearly revenue to be given to the National Civil Aviation Fund (FNAC) for investment in the regional aviation system.

• Viracopos-Campinas International Airport, approximately 100 km northwest of São Paulo, offers a 30-year contract for a minimum $499.14 investment and 5 percent of the airport’s gross annual revenue given to FNAC.

• Brasilia airport in the country’s capital city, calls for a US$492.21 million bid for a 25-year contract and 2 percent of revenue given to FNAC.

Current contracts at airports, such as duty free and food and beverage, will be honoured by the new management, said Bittencourt. As well, companies who do not complete airport facilities in time for the 2014 FIFA games will be fined.

However, winners of airport bids will not be the sole operators. Infraero, a Brazilian public corporation that has traditionally run Brazilian airports, will be a shareholder in all concessions and maintain up to 49 percent of the capital stock, said Bittencourt. “Infraero will be a relevant partner,” stressed Bittencourt. Infraero’s participation in the governance of airports will be proportional to its shareholding, with decision-making power on relevant topics, which will be established in a shareholder agreement. As well, employees currently working for Infraero who choose not to work for the new concessionaire, will be guaranteed a job with Infraero, said Bittencourt. Unions are currently negotiating benefits and guarantees for Infraero staff.

Bittencourt said the Brazilian federal government believes that the partnership with the private sector through the airport concessions will result in enhanced investment, the exchange of new, innovative ideas and the guarantee of industry best practices. As well, he said the airport improvements will attract new airlines to Brazil, increase competition and hopefully continue to help airfare prices fall.

Global passenger traffic increased by an average of 40 percent from 2003 to 2010; in Brazil alone, passenger traffic increased by 118 percent during the same period. From 2009 to 2010, global passenger traffic increased by an average of 6.6 percent, and 21.3 percent in Brazil.

As the country works towards playing catch up with demand at its airports, a connection tariff for airlines will be established to increase funds for the Brasilia, Guarulhos and Congonhas airports in order to enhance infrastructure development. Other tariffs that have already been established will be maintained at the same prices, and there will be no tariff increases for passengers. The concessionaires will collect the tariffs, with the federal government setting the prices.

Brazil’s National Agency of Civil Aviation (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC) has begun the concession bidding process by publishing the concession notice and contract, which will be available for public consultation for one month.

The winner of the concession will be the highest bidder (the highest bid above the minimum price set by the government) who will provide the agreed amount to the federal government through an annual payment of fixed and variable amounts on the revenues generated by the airports.

Ownership of the facilities built during the concession, such as hotels, will return to the federal government at the end of the concession period.

Airports that are being renovated, either through private concessions or state-run Infraero include:

Brasilia

Total Airport Investment US$492.21 million includes:
• Renovate and expand south passenger terminal
• Estimated completion: December 2013
• Terminal size from 81,200 m2 to 171, 200 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 26.5 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 21.3 million
–open for concession process

Campinas

Total Airport Investment US$499.14 million includes:
• Construction of new passenger terminal and upgrade existing terminal
• Estimated completion: December 2013 and October 2013 respectively
• Terminal size from 25,215 m2 to 103,982 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 24 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 9.5 million
–open for concession process

Guarulhos (São Paulo)

Total Airport Investment US$740 million includes:
• Construction of Remote Terminal for Arrival/Check-in (Phase 1 and 2) and Third Terminal for Arrival/Check-in (in progress)
• Estimated completion: January 2012, December 2012 November 2013 respectively
• Terminal size from 175,700 m2 to 288,866 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 52.7 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 38.9 million
–open for concession process

Confins

Total Airport Investment US$289.52 million includes:
• Renovation and expansion of passenger terminal
• Estimated completion: December 2013
• Terminal size from 60,305 m2 to 67,675 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 13 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 13 million

Cuiaba

Total Airport Investment US$51.98 million includes:
• Renovation and expansion of passenger terminal (in progress)
• Estimated completion: July 2013
• Terminal size from 5,460 m2 to 13,200 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 5.7 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 3.1 million

Fortaleza

Total Airport Investment US$199.1 million includes:
• Renovation and expansion of passenger terminal (in progress)
• Estimated completion: December 2013
• Terminal size from 38,500 m2 to 117,620 m2
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 8.6 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 7 million

Galeao (Rio de Janeiro)

Total Airport Investment US$462.91 million includes:
• Renovation of passenger Terminals 1 and 2 (in progress)
• Estimated completion: July and October 2013 respectively
• Terminal Capacity for 2014: 44 million
• Passenger demand per year in 2014: 18.7 million

Duty free sales in the region remain strong with double-digit growth in the past few months.
According to Asutil (South American duty free association) Secretary General José Luis Donagaray, sales remain strong as the region enters into its busy summer season.
Donagaray also confirms the hotels for the 2012 Asutil conference, June 6-9 in Iguazú Falls, Argentina. Attendees will be housed in three hotels; Iguazú Grand Hotel Resort & Casino, Panoramic Iguazú Hotel and Loi Suites. Attendance at the South American conference continues to grow each year, with this year’s event drawing more than 300 delegates from around the world.

Work on a new airport terminal in São Paulo has been stopped, after a judge deemed there was no bidding process involved.

Local media in Brazil report a judge stopped construction at Guarulhos airport because it set a dangerous precedent of bypassing regulations for the sake of urgency.

Brazilian airport authority Infraero awarded the $US700 million contract, which will double the airport’s annual capacity, to Delta Constructions. In an effort to have airports ready for the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, which Brazil will host, the government is allowing private companies to build and operate five passenger terminals throughout the country.

Infraero says it will appeal the decision, according to Brazilian media.

A survey conducted for NCR Corporation, a global technology company, finds that consumers have ample time once they clear security to take advantage of a growing number of airport amenities.

“Airports, once a transition point, are now becoming more of a destination, seeking to drive additional revenues by catering to travelers’ needs,” said Tyler Craig, general manager and vice president, NCR Travel.  “As more airlines implement kiosk, web and mobile technologies to speed the check-in process, airports are finding they can cash in on the time people spend waiting for their flights with more numerous and targeted offers.”

Airports Council International (ACI) reports that non-aeronautical revenues – those generated by retail, parking and concessions – now account for nearly half of all airport income.  NCR survey results show that consumers have the time and inclination to take advantage of these offers, with more than 1 in 3 travelers (38 percent) reporting they have at least one hour between clearing security and boarding their flight.

According to survey results, after clearing security, travelers are ready to relax and shift into vacation mode:

• 57 percent would visit a restaurant/bar
• 39 percent would surf the Internet
• 32 percent would shop

Beyond the typical airport concessions, results indicate travelers would like additional entertainment options to pass the time, if offered, including:

• 44 percent would take in a history, science or cultural exhibit
• 16 percent would get a massage or spa treatment
• 12 percent would visit a playground with their kids

Moreover, the survey shows that targeted offer delivery may significantly impact incremental airport revenue, with 60 percent of respondents likely to redeem coupons for a meal, coffee, spa treatment, or other in-airport services if delivered to their mobile device while at the airport.

While many travelers seem interested in exploring airport shopping, dining and other entertainment options, nearly a quarter of respondents (23 percent) say they’re reluctant because they’re afraid they’ll get lost or miss their flight.

“This hesitation could result in lost revenue for airports, many of which are undergoing expansion and renovation projects that could make it even more difficult for travelers to find their way around,” said Craig.  “With air traffic expected to double over the next decade, airports that invest in common use technology to expedite passenger processing as well as things like interactive wayfinding, digital signage and personalized mobile offer delivery can further drive incremental revenue while improving the passenger experience.”

The online survey of 1,010 U.S. consumers was conducted in July of 2011 by ORC International, a global market research firm.

It came as no surprise to me when I read tonight that Halifax’s international airport is again being recognized for its customer service. What happened to me there last week was what every traveller should have the pleasure of experiencing.

Airports Council International (ACI) will induct the small airport in Canada’s province of Nova Scotia into its Roll of Excellence in a November ceremony. Serving 3.5 million passengers last year, it is being honoured alongside much larger airports including those in Johannesburg and Singapore.

For those who know me well and perhaps think I have a slight bias, I will be up front and state that Nova Scotia is the province I was born and raised in. After a glorious week on the ocean with family and friends, my family drove me to Stanfield International Airport in Halifax to get an early flight home ahead of Hurricane Irene.

The second I stepped out of the car, a senior citizen dressed in Nova Scotia tartan, stood in the slight drizzle and asked if I needed a cart for my luggage. Known as the Tartan Team, the mainly retired group of volunteers walks the airport assisting travellers. I thanked the Tartan lady for her offer, but politely declined (family vacations on the beach call for one-quarter of the luggage lugged to trade shows).

The next test of airport friendliness came at security. If you’re like me, you prepare for what I call The Great Tray Scramble. I’ve gotten the time down to about 30 seconds of pulling out my laptop, re-zipping my bag, placing purse and empty water bottle on appropriate trays, all the while watching for obnoxious travellers trying to take my yet-to-be-filled tray. Add another 10 seconds if I have to remove shoes. If you’re wondering why I carry an empty water bottle, it’s due to too many bad experiences of long line-ups at stores that sell water post-security. I won’t wait five minutes to buy a bottle of water (a good bottle of wine or perfume are another story….I can always wait for that!). The four-ounce cup of water served on four-hour flights doesn’t quite quench my thirst. I take my empty bottle to the closest water fountain, fill it up, and continue on my way.

As I began to ‘unpack’ for security, the friendly guard saw my empty water bottle and immediately grabbed a clean plastic bag and covered it. “You don’t want to put that in the tray and then drink from it,” he smiled.

He then checked my ticket. He pointed out to me that the departure time was not the boarding time, to ensure I was at the gate on time. “It’s confusing for a lot of people,” he said. “I just want to make sure you don’t miss your plane.”

Next came a most chivalrous gesture. When flying in Canada, shoe removal is not necessary. However, my Birkenstock sandals contain metal and always set off the alarm, so I took them off and placed them in the tray. “It’s okay ma’am, put your shoes back on,” the friendly guard offered. After explaining they would set off the alarm he took them from my hand and placed them at the front of the trays. “There, they will go through the screener first so you don’t have to wait in your bare feet too long at the other end.” If it weren’t for my fear of being charged with accosting a security guard, I would have jumped over the tray roller and given him a hug.

Three very small gestures made me feel like I was a welcome guest in the Halifax airport. I’ve been in many airports, I’ve never been treated so well. I’m sure that visitors from abroad also experience the same courteous service and that is their last memory from Canada. A nice way to end a holiday. This security guard’s actions did not add on huge amounts of time or cost extra money. It was politeness and respect at its finest.

Airports of the world listen up. With security fiascos making headlines every week, perhaps it’s time to send your guards to charm school. You’ll find happier travellers who might just open up their wallets a bit more in airport stores after feeling they were respected and welcomed. Kindness goes a long way. Congratulations Halifax. You made my day.

A 28-year concession to build an airport in the northern Brazil city of Natal has been won by Inframérica.

The consortium, comprised of Brazil’s Grupo Engevix and Argentina’s Corporación America, had a successful bid of US$106 million to build the facility, Brazil’s first privately run international airport, in time for the 2014 World Cup which will be held throughout cities in Brazil.

Brazil’s Aviation Agency ANAC said the consortium will spend approximately $404 million on construction.

Once completed, the São Gonçalo do Amarante International Airport will be the largest airport terminal in Latin America and the seventh largest in the world. It will handle 3 million passengers initially with the ability to handle 11 million passengers by the end of the concession. The contract calls for the construction of the runways, terminals as well as operation and maintenance of the airport.

Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes recorded demand growth of 16.2 percent on its total route network in July, accompanied by an increase in the load factor to 75.8 percent.

GOL’s domestic market demand grew by 19.6 percent over July 2010, in turn due to airline industry capacity growth, says the company.

Demand on GOL’s international route network fell by 12 percent year-on-year, due to the return of three B767 aircraft that had been chartered out for international flights and the discontinuation of flights to Bogotá, partially offset by the 12 percent appreciation of the Real against the dollar, which favored the expansion of tourism in the Southern Cone and the Caribbean, says GOL.

Bacardi Global Travel Retail announces the launch of Bacardi Oakheart, which it describes as “the most noteworthy product introduction from Bacardi since the launch of Bacardi Limón more than a decade ago.”

On the verge of its 150th anniversary, the introduction of Bacardi Oakheart reaffirms the brand’s leadership position in rum with expressions now across all rum segments – traditional, flavoured and spiced, says Bacardi spokesperson Andrew Carney.

“Bacardi Oakheart is a tribute to the modern day adventurer. The spirit honours their core essence: a fierce loyalty, stout-heart and unwavering resolve. These timeless qualities are reflected in the bold taste of Oakheart; a smooth, spiced rum with a hint of smokiness and a unique velvet like smoothness,” he says.

Bacardi Oakheart will be available in global Travel Retail from October 2011.

Only a few days remain before the deadline for pre-registration for the annual TFWA World Exhibition in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes.

The exhibition runs from September 18-23. The pre-registration deadline is August 18, after which anyone wishing to attend will have to register on arrival.

TFWA is pleased that pre-registrations for the exhibition and conference event have been very satisfactory both in quantity and quality of visitors compared to the same period last year.

Key buyers from every category have already confirmed their attendance and there is a marked increase in the number of visitors who qualify for ‘full delegate status’, which provides access to the online exhibition guide and diary and also tickets to the official networking events, the Opening Cocktail and Le Premium Evening private dinner concert.

TFWA reports 436 international exhibitors now confirmed including 35 new and returning companies such as Tommy Hilfiger (fashion), Desigual (fashion), Fratelli Rossetti (fashion), Safilo (fashion), Hédiard (fine food & confectionery), Bourjois (fragrances & cosmetics), Nuxe (fragrances & cosmetics), The Sharper Image (electronics), José Cuervo (wine & spirits) and Gérard Bertrand (wine & spirits).

On-site registration and badge collection opens in Cannes on the eve of the show on Saturday 17^th September.

For further details visit www.tfwa.com.