TFWA CANNES PREVIEW: JOHN RIMMER INTERVIEW
clearly in a good position to benefit from that. The global view is very positive, but we need to make sure we are working genuinely together, with the passenger experience at the heart of our common objectives.” The potential of the industry
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the latest available data. “As this is his final event as President, it will be little poignant for him and indeed for us all.” The TFWA World Conference
is there for all to see, but it is not without its challenges. The Illicit Trade Protocol (ITP), for example, which comes into force on 25 September is a significant obstacle requiring a united front. “Regarding the ITP, we strongly
feel tobacco is a key sector of our industry and is a driver of footfall,” Rimmer explains. “It is a legal product category and
as such we will always support the tobacco industry’s right to sell in duty free. “The ITP is a big challenge and
we are supporting the different trade associations around the world that are mobilising to dispel the dangerous and false allegation implicit in the wording of the ITP which is that duty free somehow contributes to illicit trade. “We completely reject that and
have a very strong case to back up our position. We are working hard with the industry associations to ensure our industry speaks with one voice on this.” Excessive regulation is a recurrent
issue for our industry, according to Rimmer. “We at TFWA will continue to support the work being done by our partner associations to ensure we have a coherent response to the challenges we face. “We urge all brands and retailers
to engage with the relevant trade bodies to help defend our industry.”
will take place on 1 October in the Grand Auditorium at the Palais des Festivals. “What we try and do with the
TFWA World conference in particular is give delegates an opportunity to hear from people they would not normally be able to listen to at an industry event.” This year, delegates will hear from
Dr Bertrand Picard, who conceived the Solar Impulse project to pilot an entirely solar-powered plane around the world. “He is a very interesting person,
not just because of that, but because of the things he has done in terms of science and adventure. “He also has some very interesting
views on the future of business and future of aviation and the environment.” Former NATO Secretary General,
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will also speak at the conference, which will be moderated by Stephen Sackur, journalist and presenter of current affairs programme HARDTalk on BBC World. “It is important we look at the
context in which our industry operates,” Rimmer asserts, “and try to understand the forces shaping the landscape that influences our business. “Fogh Rasmussen will certainly
Juul-Mortensen’s last show Looking ahead to the exhibition and conference, Rimmer is responsible for ensuring it delivers on all fronts. With current TFWA President
Erik Juul-Mortensen standing down at the end of the year, this year’s Cannes event will be his final appearance in the role he has held for around 19 years. This in itself brings extra pressure. Rimmer says: “Obviously we will
be hearing from Erik who will give his own perspective on the current trajectory of the industry along with
SEPTEMBER 2018
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make sense of some of the geopolitical and economic fragility that exists at the moment and give his views on the future.” In terms of the conference, TFWA
is also trying to combine a kind of broad contextual perspective with a closer look at our own industry and the direction in which it is heading. A panel of senior retail executives
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including Dufry Group CEO Julián Díaz, Lagardère Travel Retail CEO Dag Rasmussen and King Power International Senior Executive Vice President Susan Whelan will debate the issues the industry must address in order to prosper. Panellists will explore how the
industry must adapt to a rapidly changing retail environment,
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen will give his final state of the nation address before standing down at the end of the year.
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“There needs to be a genuine collaboration between the different stakeholders in our industry for everyone to get a return on the considerable investments being made.”
John Rimmer, TFWA
addressing issues such as digitalisation, product offer and business model. On the digitalisation front, the
return of the TFWA Digital Village in Cannes (see pages 33-35) will enable the organisation to build on the success of its inaugural appearance last year. Conveniently located next to the
Palais de Festivals, the Gare Maritime venue offers 840sq m of exhibition space and is capable of hosting up to 30 exhibitors. “The TFWA Digital Village was one
of the major new things we brought in last year and we aim to build on its success this year.
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Above: Last year's 70th anniversary TFWA marketing campaign was a personal highlight for Tax Free World Association Managing Director, John Rimmer.
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