TFWA World Conference

The covid-19 pandemic is over at last, and the world of travel is returning to normality. But the geopolitical and economic context remains unstable and unpredictable. Armed conflict continues in the heart of Europe, and there are fears of a new Cold War between the world’s superpowers. Inflation and the cost of living in major economies remain high, putting pressure on disposable income for citizens across the world. The forces of globalisation and protectionism are doing battle as never before. And the seemingly unstoppable march of artificial intelligence is changing the way we live, work, and even think.

The 2023 edition of the TFWA World Conference looked at the forces shaping our world and our market today, courtesy of a diverse line-up of expert speakers. The conference was moderated by Stephen Sackur, broadcaster, journalist and the presenter of long-running BBC World current affairs programme HARDTalk.

MONDAY OCTOBER 2
09:00 – 11:45
GRAND AUDITORIUM, PALAIS DES FESTIVALS

The Conference was opened by TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen, who drew on his more than more than 40 years of involvement in the duty free & travel retail industry to give his perspective on its immediate and long-term future, at a time of considerable change.

The 2023 Conference welcomed two-times Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward, Associate Editor of the Washington Post, and acclaimed as one of the best and most influential journalists of all time. From his role in exposing the Watergate scandal to his recent books covering the Trump presidency, Woodward has a unique perspective on US and world politics, and shared his insights at a time of heightened tension in global relations.

Over the course of a diverse career, Dr Pippa Malmgren has worked in the White House as a political and trade advisor, and more recently has founded a number of start-ups in a range of fields including robotics and AI. Her most recent book The Infinite Leader won the International Press Award for the Best Book on Leadership for 2021, and she is a global authority on the impact and uses of technology for business.

Completing the speaker line-up was Erin Meyer, professor and author at INSEAD. Erin’s book The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business saw her nominated as one of the most influential business thinkers in the world, thanks to its groundbreaking work on decoding how cultural differences impact international business. In an industry as international as travel retail, Erin’s insights certainly resonated and provided delegates in Cannes with fresh ways of looking at how global businesses are managed.

Delegates at the TFWA World Conference put questions to speakers via the TFWA App, available for download via the Apple Store and Google Play.