This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
TFWA Asia Pacific returns to Marina Bay Sands
The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) hopes to repeat the success of this year’s Asia Pacific Exhibition and Conference at the Marina Bay Sands hotel.
The major duty free and travel retail event will now be held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention CentreMajor brands will join Asia’s foremost retailers and airports at the five-day event which brings together members of the duty free and travel retail industries.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this year’s conference venue changed from the usual Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre to the Marina Bay Expo and Convention Centre (MBS) in Singapore.
But organisers said the event proved to be a success and confirmed that the centre is again set to host the 2014 conference from 11 to 15 May 2014.
The week’s programme will blend business and networking for retailers, landlords and distributors, with a focus on the region’s latest political economic and social developments and their impact on the duty free and travel retail industries.
President of TFWA Erik Juul-Mortensen said of this year’s event: “The switch from our usual venue to the Marina Bay Sands was arranged at the last minute because of circumstances outside our control.
“Not only did the MBS management team rise to the challenge and meet our diverse needs very efficiently, but it is now clear that the new venue was liked by the majority of participants who expressed a preference.
“The management committee has decided, therefore, to entrust to MBS our exhibition and conference event in 2014 and we will now embark on the detailed planning process.”
TWFA, founded in 1984, is the world’s largest duty free and travel retail body which represents the interests of 440 members.
Gilbert Ghostine, president of Diageo Asia Pacific gave a speech at last year’s event on brand building in travel retail, using the group’s own experiences as an example.
Ahead of the event he spoke to The Spirits Business about the future for baijiu and Johnnie Walker in the region, and the future afforded by the aspiring middle classes.