 |
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA. Registration has opened for the 2015 Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) Conference, which takes place on 23-24 November in Jordan.
Managed by TFWA, the event is to be staged at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre beside the Dead Sea in Jordan against the stunning backdrop of the lowest place on earth (more than 400m below sea level).
MEADFA and TFWA have also revealed the detailed programme for the event.
 |
“We urge all those who wish to develop their duty free and travel retail business in the Middle East and Africa to join us at what will be a unique and compelling conference.“ |
Sean Staunton President MEADFA |
Following a welcome by MEADFA President Sean Staunton and a keynote address by His Excellency Akel Biltaji, Mayor of Amman (formerly Jordan’s Minister of Tourism & Antiquities with a distinguished career at Royal Jordanian Airlines), there will be a brief video review of the highlights of the regional business over the past year.
Terry Kane, Head of Auto, Finance, Telco & Travel MENA region at Facebook will discuss his vision of the future of travel and the connected traveller.
Delegates will then choose one of two focus workshops to attend.
“˜Inflight 2.0′ will assess new technology, promotional initiatives, crew incentives and product range in the context of onboard retail led by Tourvest Inflight Retail Services CEO Clive Jones, Dutyfly Solutions Marketing & Commercial Director Baptiste Duguit and Qatar Airways Inflight Operations Manager Eoin Martin Cox.
Alternatively, in the “˜Technology: the future of retail’ workshop, speakers SITA Product Manager Alan Glasby, Near Director Research & Marketing Smriti Kataria and M2Mobi General Manager Michiel Munneke will investigate the potential of new tools and techniques such as beacon technology, wifi passenger tracking and tailored advertising.
Following his detailed analysis of the “˜The waking giant: Saudi Arabia’, Pedro Castro World Duty Free Group International Operations Director will join Keith Hunter, Senior VP Qatar Duty Free & Qatar Airways Inflight Duty Free, Blacky Komani, Ground Duty Free CEO Tourvest, Gerry Crawford, COO Aer Rianta International and Sharon Beecham, Manager Purchasing & Vendor Support, Dubai Duty Free to discuss “˜Trading in a volatile world’ and the impact of political instability, exchange rate volatility, customer demographics and more.
Day two will open with an analysis of the geopolitical climate in the Middle East by Tim Sebastian, founder of the BBC’s Doha Debates and Chair of The Arab Debates on Deutsche Welle TV.
Young entrepreneurs Mark Essien, founder of Hotels.ng and SoleRebels creator Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, will address the evolving role of tourism and luxury retail in “˜Young Africa: driving the continent’s future’.
Following the opening of the new Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), Kjeld Binger, CEO of airport operator Airport International Group, will explain the significance of this development and reveal plans to drive growth.
QAIA Commercial Director Deema Anani will join ATÜ Duty Free General Manager Ersan Arcan for the closing discussion “˜Targeting tomorrow’s traveller’ to explore how the regional industry is adapting to the changing needs and expectations of a new generation of travellers.
Organised by TFWA on behalf of MEADFA, the event will be moderated by The Moodie Report President Dermot Davitt and TFWA Conference, Research and Corporate Affairs Director John Rimmer.
MEADFA President Sean Staunton said: “MEADFA is delighted to be hosting its annual conference in one of the most historic and beautiful destinations in the Middle East. We strongly urge all those who wish to develop their duty free and travel retail business in the Middle East and Africa to join us at what will undoubtedly be a unique and compelling conference.”
The MEADFA Conference will be preceded by an Opening Cocktail, sponsored by Dufry Sharjah, on 22 November on the terrace of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre. World Duty Free Group will host the conference and sponsor the Gala Dinner at the Marriott Hotel.
The platinum sponsors are Aer Rianta International, Bahrain Duty Free and Dubai Duty Free; gold sponsors Ferrero, Haribo and JTI; silver sponsors Jordan Tourism Board and Aphrodite Duty Free Shop; smoking lounge sponsor and exhibitor Philip Morris; coffee break sponsor International Duty Free Trading & Agencies; exhibition stand Mars ITR; Lagardère Travel Retail will provide the lanyards.
The official carrier of the MEADFA Conference is Royal Jordanian Airlines which is offering discounts on air fares at http://www.rj.com/. Preferential room rates are being offered by the official hotels Jordan Valley Marriott Dead Sea and Mövenpick Dead Sea. The Jordan Tourism Board (www.visitjordan.com) will provide a free shuttle service from the official hotels to the conference venue.
Also available are three-day excursions to visit some of the sites including Petra, Bethany, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jerash, Ajloun and Amman at specially negotiated rates.
The media partners of the MEADFA Conference are The Moodie Report, Travel Retail Business, Gulf-Africa Duty Free, Frontier & Frontier Brands, DFNI & Travel Retailer International.
Registration for the MEADFA Conference 2015 is open at www.tfwa.com
