At their recent meeting the Tax Free World Association Board and the elected members of the TFWA Management Committee reviewed their trade events in 2006 and agreed plans for 2007. Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA President said, “On the whole we are satisfied that the events which we organised for the duty free and travel retail industry in 2006 were of a consistently high standard. Our key indicators – key buyer visitor figures, exhibitor quality and breadth, visitor and exhibitor satisfaction surveys – indicate that although there are always areas for improvement, and last year was no exception, in general the trade is content with the service we provide. We lined up interesting speakers and stimulating workshops specific to the industry, and provided efficient and enjoyable events for brands and their customers to do business.”

He added “This is a dynamic and resilient global business and one which, I believe, will withstand and embrace the latest aviation security measures just as it has countered and adjusted to serious challenges in the past.”

• TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore in May recorded just under 2,000 visitors, 31% of whom were key buyers from travel retail and duty free outlets, 3% more than the previous year. The audience at the Gate One conference included over 50 airport authority representatives.



• TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October attracted 5,370 visitors in total, an increase of 2% on 2005, of which 1,158 were key buyers, up 6%.



• The Middle East Duty Free Association Conference in November, which was organised by TFWA, presented facts, figures and case studies to 360 delegates.
  

The Board and Management Committee of TFWA have noted that 2007 will be a very busy year in terms of industry conferences. Several conferences are due to take place in the first half of the year - in Macau, Dubai, Monte Carlo, Fort Lauderdale, Amsterdam – in addition to TFWA’s long standing events, TFWA Asia Pacific and Gate One. It has been agreed therefore that the ‘Gateway to China’ industry conference which had originally been proposed for May 2007 will be postponed until 2008.

TFWA feels it needs to re-assess the positioning of Gateway to China within this conference market in order to guarantee that it obtains the best content, the most relevant speakers, and the most appropriate audience in the target group. This includes defining the best possible timeframe and also the location.

Olivier Charriaud, CEO has just returned from a trip to Asia during which he discussed with potential partners plans for a high level conference in 2008 focusing on the burgeoning travel retail and duty free industry in China.

Outline plans have been agreed by the Management Committee for TFWA events in 2007:

• TFWA Asia Pacific, the annual conference and exhibition targeted at the travel retail and duty free trade in the region returns to Singapore Suntec from Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th May 2007 with around 200 Asia-focused exhibiting companies.



• Gate One, the annual airport commercial revenues conference aimed at all types of business which wish to develop in the airport arena, will be on Monday 14th May also in Singapore Suntec with a line-up of experts discussing pertinent issues.



• TFWA World Exhibition and conference will open in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th October 2007 with an estimated 500 exhibiting companies representing some 3,000 brands.



• The MEDFA Conference 2007 will take place on 30th November and 1st December.