INTERNATIONAL. The stage is set for the annual forum of the duty free and travel retail industry, TFWA World Exhibition, which opens in the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France on Monday 22nd October.
TFWA World Exhibition will open at 11.00 to reveal 443 exhibiting companies. This year 26% are fragrances & cosmetics companies including newcomers Juicy Couture (Liz Claiborne), Annayake and Maurer & Wirtz perfumes.
Wine & spirits exhibitors (24%) include debutants The Patron Spirits Company, Champagne Taittinger and Soyuz Victan, and a new tobacco exhibitor Menendez Amerino joins the big groups (5%).
Fashion & accessories (17%) newcomers include Hello Kitty, Furla and Fabeks Silk & Cashmere. Le Jacquard Français joins Lladro in home decoration, while Majorica and Reflecta join the jewellery & watch suppliers (12%).
New confectionery & fine food exhibitors (10%) include Duc d’O, Caviar Petrossian and Café Tasse; Nici and History & Heraldry join the gift & toys category (4%).
Before the exhibition opens, the TFWA World Exhibition Conference on Monday (22 October) at 09.00 will take a tough line, the organisers said. TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen will summarise how the industry stands as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Wake-up call to the industry
ETRC President Frank O’Connell will follow with a wake-up call to the industry and an update on the campaign to find solutions to the situation regarding onboard carriage of liquids and gels.
Neil Armstrong, former astronaut and first man on the moon, will present his perceptions of the way forward for civil aviation. Retail guru Mary Portas, dubbed TV’s “Mary Queen of Shops”, will then apply her down-to-earth experience to the duty free and travel retail arena.
Two workshops during the week will focus on areas of special interest to certain delegates: the Airline Workshop on Tuesday morning and the TFWA Asia Pacific Breakfast Workshop on Wednesday.
A full social programme is also being staged. Before the show on Sunday morning, delegates can choose from a selection of sports. New this year is a mountain bike ride through the picturesque Forêt Domaniale de l’Estérel or delegates may opt for the 21st Boss/Gebr Heinemann Travel Value Golf Tournament played simultaneously at the Mandelieu Old Course and the Riviera Golf Club, or the Tennis Tournament at the prestigious Club Sportif de Montfleury. A Pétanque Tournament will take place at the Place de l’Etang. Finally, at 16.00 there will be a Rugby Sevens Tournament at Stade des Hespèrides.
On Sunday evening the Opening Cocktail at the Palm Beach will welcome delegates and hundreds of participants will enjoy Le Premium Evening on Thursday. The Scene private nightclub takes an “˜angels and demons’ theme this year with live bands on Monday through Thursday evenings.
Full details of the TFWA programme can be found at www.tfwa.com
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