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IAADFS and ASUTIL to ‘integrate’ events

Travel retail trade associations the International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) and the Association Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres (ASUTIL) will merge their flagship annual events from 2018.

IAADFS and ASUTIL are to merge their flagship events from 2018

The resulting Summit of the Americas aims to offer a “revitalised business, educational and networking event” for travel retail executives in the region.

In the current formats, the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas exhibition takes place in Orlando, Florida every year, while the annual ASUTIL Conference moves to a new host city across South and Central America and the Caribbean each June.

Representatives from the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), which represents the interests of travel retails on the Canada/US border, also joined the initial discussions. The flagship FDFA event takes place in November every year.

“We have all reflected on the shifting industry environment and recognise the need to make efficiencies for doing business in the Americas,” said Gustavo Fagundes, ASUTIL president and COO of Dufry Brasil and Bolivia, in a statement.

“From our viewpoints, there is an opportunity to achieve a more valuable and cost effective annual event for both suppliers and buyers on the exhibition side, and strengthen our educational offerings by combining our activities.”

Erasmo Orillac, IAADFS chairman and Motta Internacional CEO, added: “Everyone recognises that collaboration allows us to better adapt to changes within the industry. In addition to the benefits that will be seen for our trade show, we want to bring together and enhance the educational conference aspects of what we each do.

“From the top of Canada to the tip of South America, the Americas offer a powerful growth opportunity for the duty free and travel retail industry. We want to help maximise that future for everyone.”

In addition to working together to combine their events, IAADFS and ASUTIL have committed to partnering to address regulatory an advocacy issues impacting the industry.

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