Duty Free Philippines wins 2014 Frontier Award in France

MANILA, Philippines - Duty Free Philippines (DFP), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), bagged the Duty Free Frontier Award given last Oct. 28 at the Annual Duty and Tax Free Global Summit held in Cannes, France. This was also during the 30th Anniversary of the Frontier Awards, widely recognized as “The Oscars” of the Global Duty Free industry.

Frontier’s distinguished panel of judges, composed of six top executives from the industry who collectively boast a wealth of experience in the various product categories and geographical regions, selected from a large number of entries from all over the world. DFP was awarded a Frontier trophy for “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry,” the most prestigious among the awards given to “honor those outstanding travel retail professionals or groups whose achievements transcend individual businesses to bring enduring benefits to the industry as a whole.” This was the first time that the award was given to a corporation.

In the past 27 years, DFP has been cited for its consistent innovation in the travel retail industry for programs such as Pasalubong Shopping with the Family (shopping for homecoming gifts with loved ones), which has strengthened the profile of arrival shopping; the Travelite Program, which gave travelers the convenience of paying for purchases before they depart for abroad and picking these up once they arrive home; and the well-loved Pasalubong Packs, value for money bundled packages of chocolates and liquor.

In 2013, DFP’s Fiestamall was Highly Commended for the Downtown Retailer of the Year category. This year, DFP was a finalist in two categories, marking the fourth year running that DFP was cited as finalist in at least one category. “Celebrate and Donate” – a collaboration with Diageo wherein $1 was donated for every unit of Johnnie Walker product sold to victims of Typhoon Yolanda – was a finalist under the “Partnership Initiative of the Year” category.

This is the third Frontier award for DFP in its 27 year history. The first two were during the time of President Corazon Aquino: “Best Airport Retailer of the Year” for the NAIA Terminal I Departure Store (1989) and “Marketing Campaign of the Year” for the Travelite Program (1991). This year, under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, DFP has once again been given the highest accolade in the Global Travel Retail Industry.