Summit of the Americas 2021 moves online
The International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) will hold its Summit of the Americas 2021 show in a digital format due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2020 Summit of the Americas was cancelled because of the pandemicThe Duty Free and Travel Retail Summit of the Americas was launched in 2018, the result of a merger of the flagship events hosted by the IAADFS and the Asociación Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres (Asutil).
Next year’s show, which was due to take place on 5 to 8 April 2021 in Palm Beach, Florida, will take in a virtual format over the four days.
“We are disappointed that the continued economic and social problems resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic make it apparent that the industry in the Americas and in some other locations is highly unlikely to be in a position to support an in-person event in early 2021,” said Rene Riedi, IAADFS chairman.
“The boards of IAADFS and Asutil have reacted decisively by switching to a virtual event, embracing an exciting new platform that will continue our support of the recovery and future prosperity of our regions.”
The 2021 Virtual Summit of the Americas will feature a knowledge hub, offering up-to-date learning sessions about the landscape, challenges and opportunities in the Americas. The event will also include an exhibition hub, providing virtual exhibition stand solutions, and a host of networking occasions.
Further details of the show will be revealed soon, along with a dedicated event website.
The IAADFS’s Summit of the Americas 2020 show was one of the first industry events to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic earlier this year. It was due to be held from 20 March to 2 April in Florida.
