TheMoodieReport.com

TheMoodieReport.com: "INTERNATIONAL. It was a big night for Hong Kong at the prestigious annual Frontier Awards in Cannes last night.

Nuance-Watson (HK) was a highly popular recipient of the Airport/Land-Based Retailer of the Year Awards, heading off strong competitiion from the world's leading travel retailers, including Highly Commended Bahrain Duty Free as well as short-listed candidates Dubai Duty Free, Hotel Lotte, Aelia Paris, Kyiv Duty Free and Lenrianta Duty Free. And Cathay Pacific Airways won the inaugural Travel Retail Website of the Year Awards organised by The Moodie Report. "

Other winners on the night were:

Best Partnership Initiative of the Year: Montblanc and Emirates; Highly commended: Korean Air and La Mer

Best Marketing Campaign of the Year by a Retailer: Unifree Duty Free (for 'Pirate Days'); Highly commended: Aer Rianta Retail

Speciality Concept of the Year: Jo Malone and World Duty Free; Highly commended: L’Oréal Produits de Luxe International and Kiehl's

Inflight/Marine Retailer of the Year: Tourvest Duty Free & Virgin Atlantic

Best Marketing Campaign of the Year by a Supplier: Altadis (for Gauloises Blondes campaign)

Star Product of the Year: Café Tasse (Travel Box); Highly commended: Ron Zacapa Centenairo by Complejo Industrias de Guatemala

Buyers' Forum Award: Gold: Jean Paul Gaultier for Gaultier Squared (BPI); Silver: Peller Ice Wine (3-pack); Bronze: Absolut Ruby Red

We'll bring you more pictures from the big night soon.

COMMENT: Congratulations to Frontier on a professionally run evening and for its initiative in revamping the selection process for the major Airport/Land-Based Retailer of the Year Award. Traditionally this award involved self nomination by retailers - this year the industry got to vote, with the short-list subsequently being assessed by the judges.

The results speak for themselves - few would argue with the accolade given to the Alessandra Piovesana-led, dynamic Hong Kong operation of Nuance-Watson which straddles categories ranging from fashion to fragrances to destination merchandise with panache and verve. The voting formula (partly conducted via The Moodie Report.com) means the award was much more hard-earned than in the past. Victory will taste very sweet indeed for Alessandra Piovesana and her team.

Similar sentiments will be felt by all the other winners. It was great to see the delight felt by Unifree Duty Free in Turkey, for example, after deservedly winning the Best Marketing Campaign Award by a Retailer. Here's a retailer which doesn't always get the headlines it deserves but which constantly innovates and drives footfall, penetration and spend. We'll bring you more comment, reaction and photos soon.