LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN. ASUTIL (Asociación Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres) will stage its 2027 conference in Panama next June, marking the association’s return to the country for the first time since 2015.
The Latin America and Caribbean travel retail industry trade body announced the location today (29 September) at a press conference, staged at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes (access our live coverage here).
The conference – with dates to be confirmed – will be held under the theme ‘Transformation’, focusing on the changing travel retail landscape and the opportunities emerging across the region.
The event follows the 25th ASUTIL Conference, held in Punta Cana from 2-5 June 2026, which attracted more than 370 delegates.
Attendance rose +14.2% compared with the 2025 conference in Lima and was the highest recorded across the past four editions. Participation was +32.5% higher than in 2023.
The Punta Cana event was supported by 20 sponsors and featured 16 exhibition stands.
Early registration also increased strongly. Some 130 delegates registered during the priority period for previous attendees, compared with 93 in 2025, an increase of almost +40% despite a shorter registration window.
According to ASUTIL’s post-event survey, 95.2% of respondents rated their overall Punta Cana experience four or five out of five. Some 98.4% gave the same ratings to networking opportunities.
ASUTIL said attendance at the 2027 conference will again be limited, with registration opening in phases.
An exclusive registration window will run from 1-31 January 2027 for ASUTIL members and delegates who attended the Punta Cana conference. Any remaining places will be opened for general registration from 1 February.
The Transformation theme is designed to address how Latin American and Caribbean travel retail businesses are adapting to evolving markets, consumer expectations and wider industry change.
ASUTIL said the region’s diversity of markets, experiences and business perspectives will play a central role in the programme, with Panama providing a platform for the industry to exchange ideas and consider how they can be translated into action.
The association added that the conference format itself will evolve while retaining its traditional emphasis on networking and personal connections, alongside opportunities to introduce new voices and perspectives.
Further details on the venue, programme and speakers are expected to be announced in the coming months. ✈
