Full line-up confirmed for TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference

An impressive speaker list at this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference will feature some of the most influential figures from the world of Asian duty free and travel retail. Delegates will also hear the views of leaders from across the wider worlds of business, politics and economics with much to add to the debate on the Asian and Pacific markets.

Author and diplomat Kishore Mahbubani is one of the most respected voices in Asia. A former ambassador to the UN and now dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, he will be sharing his unique understanding of the political and economic challenges facing the region and how they will impact business. ‘Futurist’ and author Mike Walsh is an authority on how businesses can survive in volatile times. An expert on what tomorrow will look like, he will be reviewing how the duty free and travel retail industry should respond in the current climate of disruptive change that forces companies to continually reassess their strategies. Developing the conference theme of ‘Navigating through change’, Jaya Singh, president of APTRA, will also be taking to the stage, alongside TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen.

In a change to the format of previous years, there will be a second plenary session in the morning in place of the closing session at the end of the day. This will feature the leaders of three of the largest retailers in the sector.

Philippe Schaus, CEO of DFS Group, will be outlining how the retailer is adapting to change, while Jack MacGowan, CEO of Aer Rianta International will share his thoughts on how our industry can ensure it remains relevant to new customers. Ever Rich Duty Free general manager Kevin Chiang will outline how
his company is investing for the future, both in and away from the airport.

A choice of workshop programmes means delegates will be able to select from  three thought-provoking sessions, which will run simultaneously during the afternoon. Many of the most exciting developments in duty free and travel retail are taking place away from the roar of the jet engine, and there’s an opportunity to learn more about downtown duty free in the first workshop. The future of our business will undoubtedly be profoundly influenced by the increasing prevalence of the Millennial traveller, and a second workshop will analyse the choices and behaviours of this pivotal generation. The third workshop will explore the threats to growth faced by the industry in today’s fast-changing world.

The conference and workshops will be held in a more spacious new venue on Level 5 of the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. A dedicated conference app is being developed, and this will allow delegates to take part in real-time polls and put questions direct to the speakers. More details will follow on this closer to the event.

304 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest innovations at the exhibition. Over 70 of these, including LVMH (fragrances and cosmetics), Steiff (gifts and toys) Nemiroff (wines and spirits) and Chow Tai Fook (jewellery and watches) are making their first appearance at the show or returning after a break.

“The new format of the conference means it offers more breadth and more depth, and even more opportunity to gain first-hand insight from some of the most high-profile figures in the business. A record number of exhibitors and a healthy number of delegates have already registered to join us in Singapore. This year’s exhibition and conference is definitely shaping up to be an essential diary date for anyone who has an interest in the duty free and travel retail sector within this dynamic and exciting region,” says Thom Rankin, TFWA vice president, conferences and research.

The exhibition will run from 8th to 12th May 2016. 

Download the press release: