TFWA ROUND-UP


TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference reflects ‘thirst for business’ in the region


The 1,481 delegates who attended the TFWA Asia Pacific Conference in Singapore heard that duty and tax free sales in the region rose by 14.2% to $35.2bn in 2018, with global revenues breaking the $70bn barrier for the first time. Andrew Pentol reports on the main talking points from a busy week at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.


T


he 24th TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, which took place at the


Sands Expo and Convention Centre (12-16 May) attracted a record 3,367 delegates (+5%). This


figure representatives included from 1,426


companies, a rise of +10.5% from the 1,290 in 2018. The association registered 2,567 delegates from DF&TR operators, landlords and agents, up from 2,534 last year. In 2018, preliminary duty free and


travel retail sales across Asia Pacific rose by 14.2% to $35.2bn (Source: Generation) so the increased number of delegates reflects the business potential of the region. Exhibition floor space rose by


5.5% to reach over 11,000sq m, with a total of 314 companies exhibiting. This represents a marginal increase of +1.6% from the 309 the previous year. Sixty six of these companies were


new exhibitors, which included a mix of well-known international brands and regional favourites. The TFWA One2One meeting service was also a success, with 436 meetings arranged.


High-quality stands Speaking at the TFWA Closing Press Conference on Thursday 16 May, Alain Maingreaud, President, TFWA said: “I think there is a general satisfaction that the show floor has been busy with plenty of visitors. “Many exhibitors told me they


were able to see the customers that matter and from my point of view I have been very impressed by the quality of the stands which improves year after year.” With everything seemingly going well on the show floor, the same can


JUNE 2019


be said of the conference, which took place on Monday 13 May. For more than a decade, the TFWA


Asia Pacific Conference has offered the regional duty free and travel retail industry the opportunity to explore issues shaping the market and this year’s event did not disappoint, attracting 1,481 delegates. However, this was a slight decline (-5.3%) on the 1,564 which attended in 2018. Maingreaud remarked: “The


conference touched on some key industry issues and gave delegates food for thought which was well received.” For the first time, the TFWA Asia


Pacific Conference featured a new plenary-only format, allowing topics to be addressed and discussed by all delegates. Audience interaction was encouraged via the TFWA App. John Rimmer, Managing Director,


TFWA said he was content with the new format when asked by TRBusiness at the closing press conference. “Personally, I think the new format


worked quite well. In the past, some people have expressed frustration at being unable to attend all the break-out sessions as they were running simultaneously. “This year, we decided to do


something different and the new plenary-only format meant delegates could attend the whole event.”


First Singapore address The conference will be particularly memorable for Maingreaud, who gave his first address. In addition to


“Many exhibitors told me they were able to see the customers that matter and from my point of view I have been very impressed by the quality of the stands which improves year after year.”


Alain Maingreaud, President, TFWA


TRBUSINESS 25


Above: The 2019 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition attracted a record 3,367 delegates. Source: TFWA.


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