Programme 2026

Registration & Badge collection

Networking Lounge

Location: Atlasi B Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by

Opening cocktail

Location: Royal Ballroom Terrace, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by 

Registration & Badge collection

Welcome coffee

Sponsored by

Networking Lounge

Location: Atlasi B Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr 

Sponsored by

Welcome from the moderators

Dermot Davitt and Michele Miranda

Welcome address from the MEADFA President

Abdeslam Agzoul

Growth under pressure: Leading travel retail across MEA

Passenger growth across the Middle East and Africa continues to accelerate, yet the operating environment has rarely been more complex. Geopolitical tensions, evolving travel patterns and economic uncertainty are reshaping global aviation, exposing the fragility of established networks while creating new challenges for airports, airlines and travel retailers. 

Bringing together a powerhouse line-up of industry leaders, this CEO panel features Nuno Amaral, Aer Rianta International; Ramesh Cidambi, Dubai Duty Free; Luis Marin,  Avolta; Chichi Maponya, Africa Travel Retail; Vincent Romet, Lagardère Travel Retail; and Richard Hoyer, Gebr. Heinemann. Together, they will explore the forces redefining travel retail across MEA—from geopolitical disruption and shifting traveller behaviour to rising costs, investment priorities and long-term growth strategies. As resilience becomes a competitive advantage, where are the greatest opportunities emerging, and what will it take to lead successfully through a new era of uncertainty?

Morocco's moment

Morocco has long connected continents. Today, it is connecting opportunity with ambition, emerging as one of the region's most dynamic tourism and aviation markets. 

This session will hear from Alberto Díaz López, Commercial Director Morocco & Africa, Avolta and Anthony Courchet, General Manager, International Duty Free Shops Morocco who will share their perspectives on the country's evolving travel retail landscape. From changing traveller profiles and commercial opportunities to the role of destination branding and infrastructure investment, the discussion will explore why Morocco's growth story matters well beyond its borders. 
 

Networking coffee break

Sponsored by

Protecting the channel

As the regulatory landscape evolves, safeguarding the future of duty free and travel retail has become a shared industry responsibility. Around the world, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, while public health campaigns, fiscal pressures and shifting political priorities continue to challenge the industry. What are the most significant threats facing travel retail today? And how should the industry respond? 

Featuring Nuno Amaral, MEADFA Advocacy Lead, Sarah Branquinho, President of the Duty Free World Council (DFWC), Ali Tounsi, Director General at ACI Africa, and John Hume, Senior Advisor at Penta, this advocacy update will examine the latest regulatory developments and the collective action needed to protect the industry's future. The session will be moderated by John Rimmer.

MEA air traffic outlook

Recent disruptions across Middle Eastern airspace have highlighted the interconnected nature of global aviation and the importance of resilient travel networks.

Drawing on the latest Amadeus data and market intelligence, Marina Giuliano, Vice President, Brands, Retailers & Media, explores how passenger flows are evolving across the Middle East and Africa, where growth opportunities are emerging, and what the future of connectivity means for travel retail performance.

Game changers

Sport is no longer just entertainment—it is a powerful catalyst for tourism, investment and economic growth. From the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games to Formula 1 and global running events, major sporting spectacles are reshaping travel patterns, elevating destinations and creating new opportunities for businesses across the visitor economy.

As the Middle East and Africa continue to attract some of the world's biggest sporting events, the convergence of sport, tourism and retail is creating significant new opportunities for the travel retail industry. In this closing session, Tony Simpson, Partner and Sports Industry Lead, and Fayçal Baddou, Partner, Retail and Consumer Goods, at Oliver Wyman, will explore how airports, retailers and brands can harness the momentum of major sporting events to drive customer engagement, enhance the passenger experience and deliver sustainable commercial growth.

Networking lunch

Location: Royal Ballroom Terrace, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by

MEADFA Gala and Awards Night

Location: Royal Ballroom Terrace, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by

Registration & Badge collection

Morning coffee

Sponsored by

Networking Lounge

Location: Atlasi B Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by

Dispatches from Doha: Unlocking MEA’s travel retail potential

Drawing on Qatar Duty Free’s insights and experience, Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer at Qatar Airways Group, explores how MEA travel retail can build resilience and unlock growth in an increasingly uncertain operating environment. 

From the emergence of regional hubs and tourism hot spots to the impact of recent disruption, Musleh examines how deeper passenger understanding, leaning into local, and curated airport experiences can drive conversion and spending.

The session offers a practical perspective on sustaining investment, responding to changing traveller expectations, and shaping the region’s next chapter of growth. 
 

Africa in focus

Africa's travel and tourism sector is entering an exciting new chapter. Investments in infrastructure, expanding air connectivity and a growing appetite for intra-African travel are reshaping the continent's visitor economy, while evolving consumer markets are creating fresh opportunities for the travel retail industry.

The session will feature Sountou Bousso, CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail Africa; Isaias Diaz, General Manager Africa, Avolta; Naledi Khabo, CEO, Africa Tourism Association and Ali Tounsi, Director General, ACI Africa, who will explore the trends driving growth across the continent, the innovations transforming the traveller experience, and the partnerships that will shape the next phase of development. Where are the greatest opportunities emerging, and what will define success for Africa's travel ecosystem in the years ahead?

Networking coffee break

Sponsored by

From commitment to action

Sustainability is no longer a differentiator. It is becoming an expectation. Travellers, regulators and investors increasingly expect measurable action rather than ambitious promises. But what does meaningful progress actually look like in travel retail?

Dr Munif Mohammed, Head of the MEADFA Sustainability Committee and CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail Middle East, will provide an update on the progress of the MEADFA Sustainability Charter and share how Lagardère Travel Retail Middle East is advancing its own sustainability agenda. Joining him, Saskia Möller, Director Legal, Compliance & Sustainability, Gebr. Heinemann, will offer insights into Gebr. Heinemann's sustainability journey, highlighting the practical steps, challenges and lessons learned along the way. Bringing a brand perspective to the discussion, Andrea Testaverde, Head of Marketing – Global Travel Retail, EssilorLuxottica, will explore the role of brands in driving sustainability forward and the opportunities for collaboration across the travel retail ecosystem.

AI: buzzword to business tool

Everyone is talking about AI. Few truly understand what it means for their business.

In this closing keynote, Professor Hajar Mousannif, a leading expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning, separates reality from hype and explores how organisations are using AI to improve decision-making, efficiency and customer engagement. As AI increasingly influences how people search, shop and travel, what opportunities—and challenges—could lie ahead for travel retail?

Networking lunch

Location: Royal Ballroom Terrace, Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr

Sponsored by