During the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes (30 September to 3 October), Blueprint Partners’ Karl Walter, Thomas Kaneko Henningsen and Sonja Soskic joined The Moodie Davitt Report Senior Reporter Ameesha Raizada for an exclusive interview.
The trio highlighted Blueprint’s collaborative approach to helping airports, operators and brands navigate market shifts, as well as the importance of understanding new consumer groups such as Gen Z and Alpha.
Walter emphasised the significant influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the travel retail industry: “AI is expected to be a US$200 billion market, and by 2030 it will be around US$800 billion. That’s massive and will be certainly seen and perceived in travel retail.”
He also pointed to the growing consumer power of Gen Z, set to become the largest consumer group at airports by 2028-2029, with 1.2 billion passengers globally.
Henningsen described Blueprint as a “commercial think tank” that customises support for airports, operators and brands, helping them develop strategies and skills tailored for different opportunities.
The boutique business’ core values – authenticity, trust and results-oriented practices – continue to shape its market strategies. Blueprint’s value proposition is built around an ecosystem nurturing ‘knowledge transfer’.
Soskic outlined the firm’s objectives for this year’s TFWA World Exhibition, highlighting a commitment to industry networking and celebrating the association’s 40th anniversary. She said: “We’re also here to meet industry trends and exchange experiences.”
Henningsen also touched on the transformative power of AI, comparing its impact to the historical innovations of fire and electricity.
“Digitalisation and AI will fundamentally reshape travel retail, particularly the customer journey,” he remarked, highlighting how the digital native Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers are ushering in the need for a new retail playbook. ✈
