FRANCE. The 2023 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference drew 7,385 visitors, up +23% year-on-year, according to TFWA. The figure compares to 7,531 visitors at the 2019 event, which remains the visitor attendance record.
In the key sector of buyers and landlords, the 2023 event set a new record attendance of 2,761 delegates, up by +15% on the 2019 figure.
1,762 delegates were in the audience for the TFWA World Conference, which took place on Monday 2 October. 177 delegates attended the Airport Forum workshop on 3 October, while 125 attended the Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure workshop on 4 October.
The exhibition occupied a new record footprint of 25,212sq m, up from 20,751sq m in 2022 and 23,443sq m in 2019. Some 450 companies exhibited, 92 of which were new.
Among the social events, 1,588 guests attended TFWA’s Opening Cocktail on Carlton Beach, while a peak of 686 guests enjoyed the TFWA Lounge after-work sessions.
The night-time attendance at the TFWA Lounge reached a peak on Wednesday night, with 2,238 guests enjoying the hospitality of main partner Qatar Duty Free and refreshments courtesy of TFWA’s sponsors.
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said: “We thought that the mood was great at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2022, but the atmosphere this year has reached another level. Beyond just the large number of attendees, it is the spirit that we have seen that has been remarkable – the quality of the exhibition and those attending it has been outstanding.
“It is particularly gratifying to be able to welcome delegates from all parts of the world once again, and there is no doubt that TFWA World Exhibition & Conference has fully returned to being a truly global event.”
Click here for our day-by-day coverage from Cannes last week. ✈
