The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has announced the speakers for the conference sessions at the upcoming TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore.
In a break from previous years, which have seen delegates choose specific conference sessions for the afternoon, there will be three plenary sessions for all delegates. These will see a range of speakers address delegates before partaking in a panel discussion, with audience interaction encouraged by the TFWA app.
Dynamic market
The first plenary session will update delegates on the current state of the global travel retail industry and explore the context for the Asia Pacific market.
TFWA President Alain Maingreaud will open proceedings by giving the latest data on the regional and global duty free market before giving his personal perspective on the role of the Asian market. Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) President Andrew Ford will then offer his perspective on the Asian market.
Foreign Editor at The Economist, Robert Guest, will then provide insight into the dynamics underpinning business in Asia Pacific and how the wider geopolitical climate is affecting trading relations.
The first session will then conclude with GDR Creative Intelligence CEO Kate Ancketill looking at what makes a successful retailer in today’s consumer market.
Innovative developments
After a coffee break, the second plenary session will focus on new developments in travel retail. 3Sixty Duty Free Executive Vice President Roberto Graziani will, first of all, discuss the retailer’s omnichannel approach to travel retail.
Delegates will then hear from Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific CEO Przemek Lesniak before Incheon International Airport Director of Concession Planning Dong-ik Shin discusses the wave of retail tenders approaching at the South Korean airport.
Sustainability
The final plenary session, which will take place after lunch, will look at the changing world of travel retail – covering training, sustainability, branding and store design.
This session will hear from Duty Free World Council (DFWC) President Frank O’Connell, Pernod Ricard Group Vice President of Sustainability & Responsibility Vanessa Wright, JTI Worldwide Duty Free Corporate Affairs Director Gemma Bateson, Néstle International Travel Retail General Manager Stewart Dryburgh and scGTR Managing Director Alan Brennan.
“Fascinating market”
The plenary sessions will all take place on the Monday (13 May) of the Singapore event at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. As reported, registration for the event is now open.
TFWA President Maingreaud commented: “As the largest duty free and travel retail market, the importance of Asia Pacific to our industry cannot be understated. I am confident that the programme at this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, will enable delegates to gain a greater understanding of the latest trends driving growth in this fascinating market.”
This year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference will be supported by Changi Airport Group as Diamond Sponsor. Other confirmed sponsors include Incheon International Airport Corporation as Workbook & Afternoon Networking Session Sponsor, Neuhaus as Lunch Sponsor, Eu Yan Sang as Welcome Coffee Break Sponsor, Leonidas as Morning Coffee Break Sponsor, Nestlé as Afternoon Networking Session Sponsor, Pourchet as Hostess Outfit Sponsor and Skross as Charging Stations Sponsor.