Dubai Duty Free retained the title as “Airport Travel Retailer of the Year” at the annual Duty Free News International (DFNI) Global Travel Awards for Travel Retail Excellence, held on April 7 at the Lancaster Hotel in London, UK.

As a result of an industry-wide DFNI online survey conducted by the trade publication, Dubai Duty Free overcame tough competition from many global retailers to win the “Airport Travel Retailer of the Year”.

Commenting on the latest award, Dubai Duty Free’s executive vice chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin said: "We are delighted to retain the prestigious title and I would like to thank all of those in the industry and media who voted for Dubai Duty Free."

“I join our Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in thanking our customers and our suppliers and I dedicate this DFNI award to each and every member of the Dubai Duty Free staff who do a great job in keeping such a large operation running seamlessly.”

The DFNI Global Awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the DFNI Fairytale Charity Ball which attracted around 200 guests from the travel industry. Dubai Duty Free’s senior vice president – Marketing, Sinead El Sibai accepted the award from DFNI Editor, Kapila Gohel, along with the award sponsor, Keith Bowen, Export Sales manager from Travel Ready.

With the DFNI Global awards presented, the Fairytale Charity Ball got into gear with a live auction that invited guests to bid on a range of items, including an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai for the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup in November. The funds raised will go to this year’s chosen charity, the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, which was nominated by Dubai Duty Free.

The Jack & Jill Foundation, which was founded in Ireland by husband and wife team Jonathan Irwin and Mary Ann O’ Brien provides direct home nursing care funding to families of children with neurological damage up to the age of 4. Founded as a result of their own experience with their son Jack, who passed away at 18 months following severe neurological problems, the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation has been the charity recipient of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball for the past three years, raising over €200,000 ($211,722) for this worthy cause. - TradeArabia News Service