2004 Orlando pre-registration strong

US. The International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) has said 2004 pre-registration numbers for the Orlando show are running ahead of the same time last year.

The Association will host the 2004 IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas on 21-25 March at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. This will be the show’s 13th and final year in Orlando before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, starting in April 2005.

During the 2003 show IAADFS welcomed 2,400 attendees to Orlando, including nearly 800 buyers from various duty free stores in the Americas, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world. To date this year, the member and non-member buyer pre-registration total represents an increase of nearly +16% over last year’s figure. The strong pre-registration figures suggest it will be a productive final year in Orlando.

Meanwhile, excitement about the upcoming move to Fort Lauderdale is building, and IAADFS has initial commitments from a number of key suppliers regarding their participation as exhibitors for the 2005 show in the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center.

The decision to move the show has been well-received in both the supplier and buyer communities, IAADFS said, with many companies looking forward to the added convenience of having all suppliers located within one central area.

The show’s new location will also be convenient for the many participating supplier and buyer companies who have offices located in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area. International travellers will be able to take advantage of easier flight connections through Miami International Airport. Fort Lauderdale also offers a wide variety of restaurants and other venues which should prove useful for client meetings, dinners, and after-hours entertainment.

The Duty Free Show of the Americas provides an opportunity for supplier members of IAADFS to meet with IAADFS concessionaire members and buyers from duty free stores throughout the world. The 2004 show will feature more than 140 companies in the Trademarket exhibit area as well as over 100 companies meeting with customers in hospitality suites in the hotel.

In addition to a wide variety of products on display in the exhibit hall, the 2004 Duty Free Show of the Americas offers an active social programme that includes three sports tournaments (golf, fishing, and tennis), a poolside picnic, cocktail receptions, breakfasts, a buffet luncheon, and the fantastic gala evening dinner with entertainment.

This year’s show will also feature the Club Americas where attendees may relax and socialize at the end of the business day. IAADFS will continue to offer complimentary Internet and email access in the Internet Pavilion located in the Trademarket, and this service will be available during the same hours that the Trademarket exhibit hall is open. This year’s show will include numerous private events sponsored by various suppliers. The IAADFS Board of Directors and the Duty Free World Council will also conduct meetings in Orlando.

Registration for the Duty Free Show of the Americas is open to all members of IAADFS, buyers from duty free stores and trade press. The final pre-registration deadline is Friday 20 February and onsite registration begins in Orlando starting on Saturday 20 March in the Atlanta Room of the Orlando World Center Marriott.

IAADFS offers secure online registration at www.iaadfs.org (select online registration from within the Duty Free Show of the Americas area). We feature the full schedule of the week below.

Schedule of events

Saturday, 20 March
8:00am – 5:00pm Registration
8:00pm – 5:00pm Trademarket Set-up

Sunday, 21 March
6:30am – 1:00pm Sports Day Activities (Golf, Tennis and Fishing)
8:00am – 7:00pm Registration
8:00am – 8:00pm Trademarket Set-up
12:00pm – 2:30pm Poolside Picnic – Sponsored by Philip Morris
7:00pm – 9:00pm Opening Reception

Monday, 22 March
7:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
7:30am – 7:00pm Registration
9:00am – 5:00pm Internet Pavilion Open
9:00am – 5:00pm Trademarket Open
12:00pm – 1:30pm Exhibit Hall Buffet Luncheon
6:30pm – 8:00pm Cocktail Reception
10:00pm – 3:00am Club Americas

Tuesday, 23 March
7:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
7:30am – 5:00pm Registration
8:00am – 9:00am Business Meeting (Concessionaire Members)
9:00am – 5:00pm Internet Pavilion Open
9:00am – 5:00pm Trademarket Open
10:00pm – 3:00am Club Americas

Wednesday, 24 March
7:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
8:00am – 5:00pm Registration
9:00am – 5:00pm Internet Pavilion Open
9:00am – 5:00pm Trademarket Open
7:00pm – 11:00pm Gala Dinner
11:00pm – 3:00am Club Americas

Thursday, 25 March
7:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
8:00am – 12:00pm Registration
9:00am – 12:00pm Internet Pavilion Open
9:00am – 12:00pm Trademarket Open
1:00pm – 8:00pm Trademarket Breakdown

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