Winners of the consumer-voted 2023 Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards are sharing their views on what it means to earn the seal of approval from shoppers.

The Travel Retail Awards, organised by TRBusiness and m1nd-set, are the duty free and travel retail industry’s only awards programme that’s voted for entirely by consumers.

This year’s results, first revealed in a virtual ceremony broadcast online at TRBusiness.com in April, had us on the edge of our seat, with one airport securing a hat trick of winner accolades, the Best Overall Product emerging from the Best Spirits Product category and joint winners claiming the Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product honour.

A big congratulations goes to all those who are recognised. TRBusiness encourages stakeholders to actively promote and utilise their ‘Voted by Shoppers’ finalist, winner and highly recommended awards logos. According to research by m1nd-set, 22% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product with a ‘Voted by Shoppers’ finalist logo on display and nearly a third (31%) are more likely to purchase with the winner’s logo on display.

Psst! You have until 2 June 2023 to enter the 2023 Global Travel Retail Awards. The ceremony is taking place at the Hôtel Martinez on 3 October during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes.

Here’s what a selection of 2023 Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards winners have to say…

Ricola Assorted Sugarfree 75g Tins wins highly recommended in the Best Confectionery & Fine Foods Product category
“Being awarded the highly recommended status for our assortment of sugar-free tins is a great honour for us. We value this accolade even more as it has been voted by shoppers, who represent the ultimate target of all our efforts. It’s a recognition for all the hard work that was done over the years.” Andreas Reckart, Head of Travel Retail, Ricola

Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free, collected an impressive two winner accolades, as well as two highly recommended and two finalists nods in the airport categories this year
“Dubai Duty Free, along with Dubai Airports, is delighted to win in two categories, including ‘Best Airport for Retail Environment’ and ‘Best Airport Food & Beverage Offer’ in the Travel Retail Awards Asia Pacific. We were also happy to be highly recommended and finalists in other categories. Thanks to TRBusiness and to those consumers who voted for us.” Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Duty Free

 

Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, winner of Best Spirits Product and Best Overall Product for Ballantine’s 23 – (PR GTR was also awarded a highly recommended accolade for Ki No Bi and is a finalist for Royal Salute 25 in the Best Spirits Product category)
“I am delighted that three Pernod Ricard brands have been recommended so highly by thousands of travelling consumers. Travellers are at the heart of everything we do, and these accolades confirm that our strategy is proving successful. Ballantine’s is a globally recognised brand and well-loved by consumers in Asia, whilst Ki No Bi is fast attracting a loyal consumer base with its unique proposition, as gin gains traction in Asia Pacific. Royal Salute, with its rich heritage and dynamic innovation continues to generate huge excitement among whisky aficionados and HNWIs, across the world. Of course, none of these awards would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our Pernod Ricard GTR employees and partners whom I offer my heartfelt gratitude. Well done to all involved.” Liya Zhang, VP of Marketing, Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail

 

Mondelez World Travel Retail, winner of the Best Sustainable Supplier award for its Toblerone 360g Bar 
“At Mondelez WTR, we are committed to driving meaningful initiatives that benefit both people and the planet. Our ‘Travel Retail Made Right’ agenda aims to inspire more sustainable processes and promotions in the industry. The sales of Toblerone 360g played a crucial role in achieving our One Tree Planted initiative’s significant milestone of one million trees. Being recognised by the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards is a great honour. We are proud to be acknowledged by the duty-free and travel retail industry’s only consumer-voted awards.” Carlos Granados Moyano, Sales Director, Mondelez World Travel Retail

Lindt & Sprüngli, winner of Best Confectionery & Fine Foods Product for the Lindor Milk Bag 100g
“We are pleased that the Lindor Milk Bag has delighted travellers all over the world and we look forward to providing more options as found in our extensive research of traveller behaviour. We hope to continue this streak with TRBusiness as we continue to introduce the rest of our star products to the lineup.” Peter Zehnder, Lindt & Sprüngli, Head of Global Travel Retail

 

Istanbul Airport, winner of the Best Airport for Customer Service, Best Airport For ‘Sense of Place’ and Best Overall Airport
“Receiving the Asia Pacific Award 2023 fills us with pride and joy as iGA Istanbul Airport. We feel appreciated and see that our efforts have been recognised by the Asian Pacific region. We are constantly working on our priority of providing a smooth and enjoyable travel experience for passengers in all segments. We committed ourselves to maintaining operational excellence to reflect the quality of service our airport provides to staff, stakeholders and passengers. We would like to thank everyone whose efforts and hard work have made this possible.” iGA Istanbul Airport

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Baroque & Rose represented by GMAX Travel Retail, joint winner of the Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product category for B&R Pure Organic Face Milk
“Both Miriam Ciantar [Company Director at Baroque & Rose] and myself are delighted to have won the award in such a very tough and prestigious category. It is very difficult to break into APAC region with a new emerging luxury brand which we are very proud of. It is also great to know that the end consumer acknowledges and votes for a new innovative brand in a very competitive sector which makes the award feel even better.” Garry Maxwell, Director, GMAX Travel Retail

 

E. Gluck Corporation, winner of Best Watches & Jewellery Product for the Anne Klein Considered Solar Powered Ceramic Watch and a finalist in the same category for the Sutton by Armitron Silver-Tone Crystal Bracelet Watch with Earrings & Necklace Set in a Black Faux Croco Clutch Bag.
“Winning the Best Watches & Jewellery product category award is a great honour. Consumer-voted awards offer tremendous validation to our product direction and serve to re-enforce our strategy of offering the traveling consumer a well priced and on trend fashion watch.” Rob Robertaccio, Senior Vice President, Global & Travel Retail Sales, E. Gluck Corp.

Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel Enrich Lift EX by Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific is joint winner of Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product
“We thank TRBusiness and the consumers for their unwavering support in recognising our products and vision, and also the valuable insights delivered from m1nd-set every year without fail. We look forward to revealing more about what we have in store for 2023.” Michelle Tong, Regional Business Development Associate Director, Dr.Ci:Labo

 

See below for the full list of 2023 Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards winners – the winners and highly recommended nods also appear in the May issue of TRBusiness magazine, which was available to delegates in print form (the publication was printed locally) at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore (7-11 May 2023).

Best Children’s Product

Winner
Micro Mobility Systems – Micro Trike Deluxe Blue 

Highly Recommended
The LEGO Group – Fire Rescue & Police Chase

 Finalist
Nestlé International Travel Retail – Smarties Toppers

Best Confectionery & Fine Foods Product

Winner
Lindt & Sprüngli (Schweiz) AG – Lindor Milk Bag 100g 

Highly Recommended
Ricola AG – Ricola Assorted Sugarfree 75g Tins
Alfred – Ritter GmbH&Co.KG – Ritter Sport Choco Cubes Strawberry Yogurt Pouch 

Finalists
Butlers Chocolates – Butlers Protein + Chocolates – Salt Caramel
Chocdecor/Belfine BV – Unicorn & Dragon Lollipops
Cloetta Holland BV – The Jelly Bean Factory 36 Flavour Mix 175g Tube
Nestlé International Travel Retail – KitKat Senses Tablets
Ferrero – Ferrero Rocher Tablets white chocolate
Mondelez World Travel Retail – Toblerone Bundles
Perfetti van Melle – Mentos Jumboroll Fanta
Perfetti van Melle – Mentos Mini Pencil case

Best Electronics Product

Winner
Soft Magic Systems Computers LLC – Merlin Travel Mate Pro

Finalists
Polished London represented by GMAX – UVC Toothbrush Steriliser
Shenzhen Hali-Power Industrial Co., Ltd. represented by GMAX – MiLi Mag-SoundMate
WITHit – Apple Watch 3-Pack Band Bundle
WITHit – Apple Watch Table Charging Stand in Black
WITHit – Sleepy Owl Disc LED Reading Light by WITHit

Best Fashion & Accessories Product

Winner
Dolphin Innovations GmbH – Tru Virtu Click & Slide Wallet Vegan Bio Apple Black-Red 

Finalists
Fraas – The Scarf Company – C02 neutral Fraas Ruana
Storyteller – Storyteller FlagMate

Best Fragrance Product

Winner
Coty – Hugo Boss Boss Bottled Parfum 

Highly Recommended
Coty – Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum For Women 

Finalists
Coty – Burberry Hero Eau de Toilette for Men
Coty – Tiffany & Co. Rose Gold Eau de Parfum
Inter Parfums Inc – MCM EDP 

Best Make-up Product

Winner
Coty – Burberry Kisses Matte Russet 93 

Finalists
Coty – Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lip Kit 808 Kylie
Londontown represented by Brands of Style BV – Londontown Perfecting Nail Veils Set
L’Oréal Paris – Color Riche Intense Volume Matte

Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product

Joint Winners
Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific – Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel Enrich Lift EX
Baroque & Rose represented by GMAX – B&R Pure Organic Face Milk

Highly Recommended
Rituals Cosmetics – The Ritual of Jing Travel Exclusives 2022

Finalists
Coty – Lancaster 365 Skin Repair Youth Renewal Serum
Laboratoire Nuxe – Super Serum [10]
Moroccanoil – Moroccanoil Treatment
On the Mark Consultancy Ltd. – Egyptian Magic
YV Brands – Scientia – Sunshine & Sea
YV Brands – Transformulas – Marine Miracle Crème 

Best Spirits Product

Winner
Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Ballantine’s 23 

Highly Recommended
Schraml – Die Steinwald-Brennerei e.K. – Stonewood Drà Bavarian Single Malt Whisky
SomPriya Fine Spirits – Somrus
Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Ki No Bi
William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd – Grant’s Triple Wood 12 year old
Glen Moray Distillery – Glen Moray Signature 15yr 

Finalists
Anora – Skagerrak Nordic Dry Gin
Beam Suntory – Jim Beam Lineage
Distell International Ltd – Amarula Vegan
Equiano Limited represented by GMAX – Equiano Original
Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. – Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts Global Traveller’s Edition Miniature Pack
G & J Distillers (part of Quintessential Brands Group) – Opihr Aromatic Bitter European Edition
Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Royal Salute 25
SPI Spirits (Cyprus) Ltd. – Cenote Blanco Tequila 40% ABV
SPI Spirits (Cyprus) Ltd. – Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Bourbon Whiskey 45.4% ABV
SPI Spirits (Cyprus) Ltd. – Stoli Vodka 40% ABV
William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail – The Balvenie Cask Finishes – GTR Exclusive Range

Best Sunglasses & Eyewear Product

Winner
Maui Jim Sunglasses – Maui Jim Pua Polarized Fashion Sunglasses

Finalist
Maui Jim Sunglasses – Maui Jim Island Eyes Polarized Classic Sunglasses 

Best Travel Accessory

Winner
On the Mark Consultancy Ltd. – Beach Powder 

Finalists
Cabeau – Incredi-belt
Cabeau – Incredi-heat

Best Watches & Jewellery Product

Winner
E. Gluck Corporation – Anne Klein Considered Solar Powered Ceramic Watch 

Finalists
Coeur de Lion – GeoCUBE Precious Fusion Pearls earrings multicolour pastel
Coeur de Lion – GeoCUBE Precious Fusion Pearls necklace multicolour pastel
E. Gluck Corporation – Sutton by Armitron Silver-Tone Crystal Bracelet Watch with Earrings & Necklace Set in a Black Faux Croco Clutch Bag
WITHit – Anne Klein Premium Crystals Ceramic Bracelet Band for Apple Watch

Best Wine Product

Winner
Henkell & Co – Segura Viudas Organic Brut 

Highly Recommended
Treasury Wine Estates – Penfolds Champagne Brut Rosé NV 

Finalists
Bottega S.p.A. – Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC
Henkell & Co – Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Brut

Best Sustainable Supplier

Winner
Mondelez World Travel Retail – Toblerone 360g Bar 

Highly Recommended
Bitmore – e-Pro Power Qi 10K 

Finalists
Distell International Ltd – Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine GTR Exclusive
Le Lab Nature SARL – Solid Hydration Boosting Serum
VSPT Wine Group – Tarapaca Gran Reserva Organic Wine

Best Overall Product

Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Ballantine’s 23

Best Airport for Customer Service

Winner
Istanbul (IST)

Highly Recommended
Barcelona (BCN)

Finalists
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Copenhagen (CPH)
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free
Muscat (MCT)

Best Airport Digital & Social Media Offer

Winner
Sydney (SYD) 

Highly Recommended
Copenhagen (CPH) 

Finalists
Hamad International Airport (DOH) in partnership with Qatar Duty Free
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free
Istanbul (IST)
Shanghai Pudong (PVG)

Best Airport For ‘Sense of Place’

Winner
Istanbul (IST)

Highly Recommended
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free

Finalists
Madrid (MAD)
Singapore (SIN)
Sydney (SYD)
Vancouver (YVR)

Best Airport for Retail Environment

Winner
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free 

Highly Recommended
Singapore (SIN) 

Finalists
Hamad International Airport (DOH) in partnership with Qatar Duty Free
Istanbul (IST)
Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Melbourne (MEL)

Best Airport Food & Beverage Offer

Winner
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in partnership with Dubai Duty Free

Highly Recommended
Hamad International Airport (DOH) in partnership with Qatar Duty Free

Finalists
Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Melbourne (MEL)
Singapore (SIN)
Sydney (SYD)

Best Sustainable Initiative at an Airport, Airline, Cruise or Rail Company

Winner
Vancouver Airport Authority 

Highly Recommended
OLIO 

Finalists
Harding+
HS1 Ltd
KrisShop Pte Ltd
Starboard Cruise Services

Best Overall Airport

Winner
Istanbul Airport (IST) 

Highly Recommended
Dubai International Airport in partnership with Dubai Duty Free 

Finalists
Melbourne (MEL)
Montreal (YUL)
Singapore (SIN)
Toronto (YYZ)

CLICK HERE to read about the judging process.

Once again, congratulations to all those who are recognised. TRBusiness and m1nd-set are extremely proud to be helping the industry to grow through the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards, and the Global Travel Retail Awards.

Entries to this year’s Global Travel Retail Awards are open until 2 June 2023. The ceremony is taking place at the Hôtel Martinez on 3 October during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes. Simply click the button above to view the categories, read our top tips on how to enter and to submit your entires via the dedicated online portal.