The DFNI Asia Pacific Awards have been reinvented for 2021 as part of a special edition of the DFNI travel retail awards programme, focusing on the positives to emerge from the past tumultuous year. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the travel retail world with international borders closing, retailers shutting their doors and businesses scaling down. But many in the industry have taken swift action to pivot the way they operate.

Airports, retailers and suppliers are thinking outside of the box and as such we are pleased to announce special categories for 2021 to recognise and celebrate how travel retail stakeholders have transformed through the crisis and their initiatives to support the community and do good. Perhaps your business has stepped up its commitments to sustainability, provided the community with PPE or medical supplies or maybe you have adapted in a way that prevented job losses or even win new business. We feel these initiatives should be applauded in light of the special circumstances.

Moreover, Asia has been touted as the first location set to recover as travel sanctions and lockdown restrictions ease up at a faster pace than the rest of the world – allowing for more opportunities for travel retailers and brands to reenergise their businesses. In fact, Hainan, China is one bright spot and currently a huge centre of activity for the travel retail industry with numerous exciting retailer and brand developments taking place in spite of the crisis.

The DFNI Asia Pacific Awards 2021 will take place as a virtual award ceremony 16 June 2021 (11.00 BST, 18:00 CST)