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SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS


Summit called off due to Covid-19; all eyes on Palm Beach for 2021


As TRBusiness went to press, it was announced that this year’s Duty Free & Travel Retail Summit of the Americas – the last at the Hyatt Regency Orlando – had been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Luke Barras-Hill reports.


S


hortly before this publication went to press, IAADFS and ASUTIL released a joint


statement confirming, with regret, the cancellation of the Duty Free & Travel Retail Summit of the Americas as a result of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). The event was due to be held at


the Hyatt Regency, Orlando 30 March – 2 April. The decision, taken after


discussion with the Board, followed the monitoring of information from the World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, on the unfolding events. At the time of writing, Covid-19 is


showing no signs of abating. It has already infected more than 94,000 people and claimed the lives of more than 3,000 as governments and health bodies grapple to contain the outbreak. “The ongoing spread of Covid-19


has resulted in mounting concern over health safety, along with increased travel advisories and government health warnings – including the State of Florida’s 1 March declaration of a public health emergency,” read the statement. “It has become clear that the most


responsible path forward is to cancel the 2020 Summit of the Americas.” While many will be disappointed,


the decision is sure to be welcomed given the current circumstances. Focus now turns to a new venue for


the Summit of the Americas in 2021: the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in West Palm Peach, Florida. Feedback from members,


exhibitors and suppliers has guided the path towards Palm Beach after several years of contemplation on behalf of both associations.


MARCH 2020


IAADFS President & CEO Michael Payne has previously hailed the convention centre and adjoining hotel’s proximity to Miami and Miami International Airport, a high-speed rail link and local shops and restaurants, together with the flexibility of the venue. “The layout itself will be conducive


to a more intimate business environment for our industry,” he tells TRBusiness. “Because it is a convention hall


versus a public hall, we will be able to control access to it a lot better. I think we have the chance to have a different sort of networking approach in addition to the tradeshow.”


Educational programme In addition to the exhibition and organised social networking activities, next year’s Summit is likely to place a heightened focus on the educational programme. “I am looking at ways to expand


educational opportunities with maybe one-hour workshops that people can attend,” indicates Payne. “All that needs to be looked at.” Adopting more flexible


arrangements into the programme is certainly something Payne sees as necessary. While the 2020 fixture was


expected to feature a strong contingent of drinks suppliers – Diageo, Brown-Forman and Bacardi to name a few – Pernod Ricard was not on the exhibitors list issued in the build-up to the show, neither were the likes of Philip Morris and L’Oréal [beauty exhibitor numbers have suffered for a number of years – Ed]. Payne says this is likely due


to a combination of the current economic turbulence, not helped by Covid-19, together with the changing requirements of those attending. Coupled with challenged buyer


numbers – Payne told TRBusiness before news of the event’s cancellation that there was likely to be a drop on the 400 who attended last year – and the case for change is unsurprising and necessary. «


“The Palm Beach layout will be conducive to a more intimate business environment for our industry. Because it is a convention hall versus a public hall, we will be able to control access to it a lot better.”


Michael Payne, President & CEO, IAADFS


TRBUSINESS 23


Above: The 2021 Duty Free & Travel Retail Summit of the Americas will take place at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Source: Palm Beach County Convention Center.


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