UAE. In the current climate of regeneration – with regional services resuming and fresh challenges emerging – Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) have said that the keynote speaker at this year’s Middle East Duty Free Conference will be a man who is noted for strategic achievements in the international transport and tourism sectors.
James Hogan, president and ceo of Gulf Air, the national carrier of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman, will present a unique insight to “The Lessons of Crisis” before an audience of retailers, suppliers and operators. Hogan gained extensive management experience in the airline, car rental and hotel industries in diverse markets throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East prior to his arrival at Gulf Air in May 2002.
The Middle East Duty Free Conference, managed by TFWA with the participation of Moodie International, will take place in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December 2003. It will be followed by the Dubai Duty Free Golf Tournament on 5 and 6 December.
MEDFA president Mohamed Mounib will open the conference and set the scene by assessing the “State of the Regional Industry” following the recent conflict and the impact of external factors on the local economies. The microcosm of the Middle East duty free zone will then be set within the context of the worldwide travel retail trade by TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen in his address “MEDFA Within the Global Industry”.
In an interactive moderated audience discussion, delegates will be encouraged to contribute their experience of “Trading under Crisis” and share their strategies for recovery. Exclusive year-to-date performance figures will also be examined.
“Around the Region” will be a filmed documentary of the growing Middle East duty free market with exclusive footage of some of the region’s latest retail developments.
In market focus sessions, the spotlight will play over the rapidly developing markets of Tunisia and Morocco, two countries in North Africa with well established tourism infrastructures. It will then shift to “Understanding the Indian Traveller” in an effort to analyse a consumer group which is key to the fortunes of many Middle East retailers.
In “Four Retailers, Four Categories” retail experts will address the performance and future of key market segments in the region: liquor & tobacco; fragrances & cosmetics; gifts & luxury goods; food & confectionery.
“Promoting the Arab World Instore” will look at the efforts of Middle Eastern duty free retailers to promote their own region and their own unique products.
The importance of staff training and effective management will be featured in a session “Excellence in Human Resources” in which a human resources professional will suggest techniques for getting the most out of staff.
Throughout the busy programme of the two-day conference there will be opportunities for delegates to network and socialise at coffee breaks, lunches, the Welcoming Cocktail (sponsored by Weitnauer) and the Gala Dinner (sponsored by Dubai Duty Free).
The organisers wish to acknowledge the generous sponsors and media partners including Aer Rianta, Abu Dhabi Duty Free, The Moodie Report, Gulf Africa Duty Free, Nestlé International Travel Retail, DFNI, Frontier, The Travel Retail Business, Travel Retailer International and Travel Retail Markets Middle East.
