FRANCE/INTERNATIONAL. Several new exhibitors and travel retailers have confirmed plans to attend the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes (24-28 October), health situation permitting. 8,000sq m of exhibition place has been secured for the event, according to TFWA.
The event will feature a Hosted Buyer Programme which provides financial assistance and additional support for industry partners. Companies which have registered under the scheme include: DFS Group, Inflight Sales Group, Lagardère Travel Retail, The Shilla Duty Free, NAA Retailing, Qatar Duty Free and 3Sixty Duty Free. According to TFWA, 50 travel retailers have confirmed plans to attend.
Noteworthy new exhibitors include Bacardi Global Travel Retail (which is also exhibiting at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo), Quintessential Brands and Rituals.
“Exhibitor and travel retailer numbers for TFWA World Exhibition & Conference continue to grow at a rapid pace, and we welcome the support from Dubai Duty Free, Bacardi Global Travel Retail, Quintessential Brands, Rituals Cosmetics and the many other companies intending to join us at the event,” said TFWA President Jaya Singh.
“We are conscious of the constraints still in place for our industry partners in Asia wishing to travel to Cannes. We are also fully aware that restrictions will mean some companies may be attending TFWA World Exhibition & Conference with smaller teams than usual this year. Nevertheless, we have a mandate to do everything in our power to make this event happen, and our teams are working around the clock to ensure we offer our industry partners every opportunity to attend.”
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “It’s been a long time since our industry was able to gather together, and we at Dubai Duty Free are looking forward to this year’s TFWA World Exhibition even more than usual. The event is an opportunity for all of us to plan the recovery together, and our company is determined to play our role in that recovery. We look forward to sharing our plans with our suppliers in Cannes.”
“Bacardi is in the business of bringing people together and celebrating moments that matter,” added Bacardi Global Travel Retail Managing Director Vinay Golikeri. “Nothing beats meeting our retail partners at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes and we believe the TFWA is taking all the right steps in 2021 to ensure the health and safety of visitors to the event in October.
“The Bacardi GTR leadership team looks forward to being there at this pivotal moment for travel retail and to discuss growth strategies, especially the omnichannel opportunity for travel retail to reinvent itself, welcoming travellers back as they return, with new levels of engagement and exciting experiences.”
Rituals Cosmetics Global Travel Retail Director Neil Ebbutt commented, “Rituals has been participating at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference for eight years now. We’re looking forward to meeting new and existing partners face to face at this year’s exhibition, and the opportunity to network with other stakeholders to exchange ideas and rebuild the industry together.
“Online meetings have changed the way people do business and travel – however, some things cannot be replaced by meeting in front of a computer screen. That’s particularly true for Rituals; our customers need to try our products and experience our philosophy first-hand. Recovery may take time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Meeting face to face and engaging with our clients is the most important thing for us this year, and TFWA World Exhibition & Conference is the perfect way to network and discuss business with the whole travel industry under one roof,” added Quintessential Brands Global Travel Retail Manager Oliver Storrie. “We feel it is not only imperative to support TFWA, but also to embrace this opportunity to speak to our buyers and plan for the new travel landscape that will emerge once the pandemic passes.”
For more on the TFWA World Exhibition see www.TFWA.com
