AUSTRALIA. The leading duty free retailers across Australia and New Zealand have signed up to support the 2024 Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail & Commercial Forum, which will be held at the Pullman on the Park Hotel in Melbourne from 22-24 July.
Organised by a partnership between the Australian Airports Association (AAA), The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, the Forum brings together all the key players in the airport non-aeronautical revenue sector. These include airports from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, duty free and specialty retailers, food & beverage operators, foreign exchange operators, advertising concessionaires, ground transport providers and various advisers and suppliers.
The Industry Support Panel for the Retail & Commercial Forum was introduced by organisers in 2022, repeated in 2023 and has again been adopted this year. It is based on a unique-to-this-event shared model where all the main players contribute equally to the sponsorship and enjoy equal top billing.
In duty free, this brings together the top retailers including Avolta, Heinemann Australia, LagardèreAWPL and Lotte Duty Free, each of which supported the Forum and the Duty Free Industry Support Panel in previous years. This year they are joined by Ospree (rebranded from Mumbai Travel Retail Private Limited, as reported), the joint venture between Adani Airports Group and Flemingo Travel Retail, which is a prospective new entrant into the regional market.
Each of the main duty free companies sponsoring this event have committed to bringing senior personal from their Merchandise/Buying departments so that the event is even more attractive to brands in the liquor, perfumes & cosmetics, confectionery, technology and other duty free categories.
AAA Chief Executive James Goodwin said: “We are extremely pleased to have the support of all the top duty free operators in this region. These partnerships are fundamental to making this event a success, allowing us to bring together the entire airport commercial community each year.
“We are also delighted to welcome Mumbai Travel Retail Pte Ltd (Ospree) to the duty free industry support panel, which also features top operators who have supported this event in previous years.”
Avolta Managing Director – SE Asia and Oceania David Mackay said: “Our partnership with this Forum has helped us strengthen our business in Australia in recent years, evidenced by the successful addition of outlets at Gold Coast Airport over the past 12 months. We are eagerly looking forward to the event and the opportunity to explore new projects with new and existing partners.
“With an expanded scope in F&B and travel retail, we are committed to realising our strategy to make travellers happier here in Australia and New Zealand.”
Heinemann Australia Managing Director George Tsoukalas said: “Heinemann Australia has invested heavily in expanding and driving the duty free business in Australia via our platforms at Sydney and Gold Coast airports. This Forum plays a critical role in bringing airports and concessionaires together to explore new opportunities.”
Lotte Travel Retail Oceania CEO Stephen Timms said: “Lotte is highly committed to the region’s success. Given the event is in Melbourne where we have recently commenced operating in a long term partnership with Melbourne Airport, we are excited to be supporting the event.”
LagardèreAWPL Chief Executive Costa Kouros said: “LagardèreAWPL has been a supporter of the AAA Retail & Commercial Forum since its inception in 2022 and we are delighted to be able to continue to support this important event that brings together our whole industry.”
Avishek Bambii Das, CEO of Mumbai Travel Retail Private Limited (now Ospree), expressed excitement about the company’s inaugural participation in the event. He said: “Australia’s tourism is thriving with increasing holiday trips, bolstered by a stable economy and emerging luxury trends, presenting opportunities for duty free stores. Being part of this event is a clear indication of our eagerness to join the duty free landscape in Australia and New Zealand sooner rather than later.”
Ivo Favotto, Managing Director at The Mercurius Group said: “The commitment of the duty free operators to bringing senior buyers to this event is a significant step forward in the Forum being the place to be in this part of the world for networking, business development and deal making.”
The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt said: “Duty free remains at the heart of the travel retail sector and our aim is to give these important sponsors value for money from this event.”
For more details about the Forum, visit the AAA website.
For further comment or details on the event and for Australasian sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Ivo Favotto
The Mercurius Group
ifavotto@themercuriusgroup.com
+61 423564057
For international sponsorship opportunities please contact:
Irene Revilla: Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
Sarah Genest: Sarah@MoodieDavittReport.com
Aran Turner: Aran@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈
