US. The travel retail industry’s first trade exhibition of the year kicks off officially in Orlando, Florida today, following a sport’s day and opening luncheons and cocktail yesterday.
This is the final year that the Duty Free Show of the Americas will be held in Orlando. Next year it moves to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. The dates will also be switched with the event taking place on 17-21 April 2005.
Over 600,000sq ft of exhibition space will be offered.
The mood among visitors and delegates is generally upbeat as travel patterns continue to suggest a protracted though modest recovery in the business. The atmosphere is a striking contrast to that of last year’s event, which coincided with the beginning of the war in Iraq.
