Conference & workshops take shape for Cannes

Content-rich, business-relevant format will focus on key themes for the post-pandemic era at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference (2-6 October in Cannes).

Delegates at this year’s global duty free & travel retail summit in Cannes can tap into the latest thinking on the questions redefining our industry as we learn to live with Covid-19. The TFWA World Conference, scheduled for the Monday morning, examines the emerging business landscape from three salient perspectives, while two workshops will address recent developments at airports and in customer engagement.

After an opening address from the TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen, the first Conference session considers the broader context surrounding duty free & travel retail. David McWilliams, Adjunct Professor of Global Economics at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Business, ranks among the world’s most influential – and entertaining – economists. His mission to make economics accessible to all means delegates can expect some enlightening, engaging analysis. The focus then switches to brands, with Rituals founder and CEO Raymond Cloosterman talking about leadership, brand-building, retail and sustainability. His Unilever background and creation of a luxury lifestyle chain make him ideally qualified to discuss all matters branding. The Conference closes with a look at life in the Metaverse with Swan Sit, former Global Head of Digital Marketing for Nike, Revlon, and Estée Lauder, Operating Partner, AF Ventures, Leading Voice on Clubhouse, as our industry increasingly harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

Popular demand sees the return of TFWA’s Cannes workshops. The Airport Forum on Tuesday will explore the evolving passenger experience as well as the future of travel retail’s trinity model in post-Covid times. Heathrow Airport Retail & Property Director Fraser Brown, Incheon International Airport Corporation Director Duty Free Management Team Sung-Bin Im and Ersin Inankul, Chief Digital & Commercial Officer at Istanbul Airport are among the senior airport executives taking part. On Wednesday, the role of technology and digital transformation in travel retail form the focus of the Innovation in Action workshop featuring speakers from companies active in that space. Already confirmed are Intelligent Track System Founder & CEO Morten Pankoke and Wassim Saadé, CEO of digital customer-engagement specialist Inflyter.