Duty Free Philippines (DFP), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), proudly reported to Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. that it won a Duty Free FRONTIER AWARD given last October 28, 2014 at the Annual Duty and Tax Free Global Summit in Cannes, France. This was also during the 30th Anniversary of the Frontier Awards widely recognized in the Global Duty Free Industry as the “Oscar’s” of the 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, chose 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 “..honour 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 the award was given to a corporation.
In the past 27 years, DFP has already 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.  It has also been recognized for the services and support its programs provide to returning overseas Filipinos and Balikbayans (returning Filipino residents) such as the DFP OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) Business Center, the Balikbayan Plus Card and the Kabuhayan (Livelihood) Shopping Program. The above trailblazing concepts, strategies and projects were highlighted by DFPC’s latest contribution to the industry – DFP CARES or DFP Coordinated Action in Response to Emergency Situations. This program was launched to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and galvanized the global duty free industry to help the Philippines in its time of need.
It is also worthy to note that DFP was a finalist this year in two other categories. This marks the fourth year running that DFP was cited as finalist in at least one category. Last 2013, DFP’s Fiestamall was Highly Commended for the Downtown Retailer of the Year category. This year, “Celebrate and Donate” — a collaboration with Diageo wherein U$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. “Media Noche Pack”, also a finalist this year in the “Specialty Concept of the Year”, was an in-store project of DFP’s flagship store DFP Fiestamall wherein customers bought and donated baskets of food and drinks to be given to Typhoon Yolanda victims for their traditional New Year’s Eve family get-together.
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.
