ASIA PACIFIC. TFWA has shared new details ahead of its Asia Pacific in-person networking event, TFWA Asia Pacific Live. It will take place in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 9-11 May.
The trade body said the event will present a wide range of networking opportunities for delegates and participants to meet and connect with one another, both formally and informally, throughout its duration.
The TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service will provide a platform for formal meetings with onsite business meeting facilities available from 10.30am-2.30pm (SGT) and 2pm-6pm on Tuesday 10 May and from 9.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-5pm on Wednesday, 11 May.
There will also be a dedicated area of the venue’s foyer on Level 5 which will be specifically configured for more informal discussions.
Six workshops will run during the course of the event, including a session on digital transformation in Asia led by the authors of a recent report on the subject by Meta and Bain & Company.
The opening session will run from 9am-10.30am on Tuesday. It will feature addresses from TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen and keynote speaker Dr Ayesha Khanna, an expert on big data and the application of AI in retail and other sectors.
“We understand that there is a huge need to build and maintain relationships in-person and we want to make sure there are ample facilities in which essential business-building conversations can take place” – TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen
As reported, TFWA has also joined forces with the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) to bring APTRA Exchange to the event. That will take place on the same day from 4pm–6pm, with the session focusing on a range of key topics of interest to the industry in the region.
TFWA noted that Singapore has opened a number of new Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) over the past month alongside relaxing their restrictions on arrival tests for VTL travellers. Those arriving from locations with low infection rates are only required to take an unsupervised self-swab antigen rapid test within 24 hours of entering the country.
The trade body said the new measures will allow delegates to have “simple, efficient and uncomplicated journeys” both to and from Singapore, with restrictions also loosening across the Asia Pacific region, including most recently in South Korea.
TFWA added that it will work closely with local authorities in Singapore to ensure smooth passage for all attending delegates and participants.
Online registration for TFWA Asia Pacific Live will open shortly, via email to visitors@tfwa.com. The registration desk will be open on Level 5 of Marina Bay Sands from the afternoon of Monday 9 May for delegates to collect their badges.
The TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge will open to badge holders from 6pm until 9pm that evening, with the same hours being kept the following night.
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said: “The TFWA Asia Pacific Live networking event will provide the industry with the opportunity for in-person networking that it has been calling out for over the past two years.
“We understand that there is a huge need to build and maintain relationships in-person and we want to make sure there are ample facilities in which essential business-building conversations can take place. Our ONE2ONE service will ensure that people are able to physically meet with selected contacts in dedicated meeting rooms.”
He added: “We also recognise the importance of offering strong learning elements to attendees, providing a foundation for a strong understanding of the changing dynamics of the market and how these will benefit, as well as challenge, our industry going forward.
“We feel confident that the à la carte workshops held over the course of the event will allow us to achieve this. Our thanks to our friends and partners in Singapore for helping us to bring our industry together once more.”
