Main Ballroom, Level 5, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
The first plenary session of the Conference updated delegates on the current state of the duty free & travel retail industry, explored the context for companies doing business in the Asia Pacific region, and looked at how new developments in retail will influence the duty free market in the years ahead.
Alain Maingreaud, President, Tax Free World Association
In his first address to the TFWA Asia Pacific Conference, Alain Maingreaud shared the latest available regional and global sales data, and also gave his personal perspective on the role TFWA can play in providing a platform for the duty free & travel retail industry to grow.
Andrew Ford, President, Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association
The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) defends the interests of the region’s thriving duty free industry. In a Q&A session, President Andrew Ford updated delegates on how APTRA is helping the region build on its leadership status.
Our keynote speakers this year offered insights on the context against which our industry operates, both with regard to the current instability in regional and global economies, and to the future of retail.
Robert Guest, Foreign Editor, The Economist
The Economist is renowned worldwide as the journal of choice for anyone with an interest in international business, politics and economics. Robert Guest is the magazine’s Foreign Editor, and has a rare insight into the dynamics underpinning business in Asia Pacific and worldwide. He addressed how the geopolitical climate is affecting trading relations between the major powers, offering his view on what delegates can expect during the uncertain years ahead.
Kate Ancketill, CEO, GDR Creative Intelligence
At a time when the pressures on the High Street have never been greater, Kate Ancketill examined what makes a successful retailer in today’s consumer market. Drawing from examples of “digital native” brands, she explored the new techniques that will influence how and what future shoppers buy, looking at the role of artificial intelligence and other developments in technology.