Aelia received an early Christmas present with the publication of the Duty-Free News International Product Awards 2007 on December 15. The company?s stores in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport?s new S3 satellite?operated by SDA, Aelia?s joint venture with Aéroports de Paris?were nominated in three categories: Best New Liquor Store for its Pure & Rare concept, Best New Beauty Store for Beauty Unlimited, and Best New Tobacco Store for the Cave à Cigares. Aelia/SDA was victorious in all three categories, a record haul and a ringing endorsement of the work accomplished in S3 by the retailer and its Paris-based architect IMLC.

The retail offer in S3 marks a new direction for travel-retail in Paris CDG. The 600sq m Beauty Unlimited store is the largest perfumes & cosmetics outlet at the airport and features a number of firsts, including a stylish make-up corner by Mac and a Tokyo Lash Bar concept from Shu Uemura. The large space has been used to great effect, allowing each brand to express itself with greater authority than previously at CDG.

The main Pure & Rare liquor outlet includes a stunning wine corner, the Oenothèque, featuring a selection of rare vintages alongside the very best French wines. The store, commended by DFNI for its ?luxurious presentation, expansive product selection and clever educational touches?, also offers a showcase for the most prestigious brands in the cognac and whisky sectors.

The 90sq m Cave à Cigares, meanwhile, offers S3?s discerning travellers an unrivalled range of cigars centred on a wide Cuban selection. The upmarket ambience of the store is designed both to reassure and to relax customers, while the product range includes such high-value items as the Cohiba Behike humidor at 15,000 euros.

The DFNI Product Awards are decided by the magazine?s dedicated team of product experts, and are designed to reward excellence and innovation in travel-retail.