Industry support for this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference continues to grow, with more than 200 brands and many major buying companies now confirming their intention to attend the event, which will take place in Cannes from 24th to 28th October, health situation permitting.
Lagardère Travel Retail, Stock Spirits Group, and Starboard Cruise Services are the latest names joining the list of leading travel retail companies at the Palais des Festivals, where delegates will be able to view the latest brand launches and innovations.
This year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference will offer a long-awaited opportunity for brands and buyers to meet face-to-face and feature a number of changes that will ensure the safety of attendees and allow them to take full advantage of their visit to Cannes. The event will comprise of a shorter, more compact week with an extended working day (08:30 to 18:30) to give delegates more time to network and visit the exhibition halls.
TFWA continues to work closely with authorities in Cannes to ensure the city is safe and business-ready for delegates upon their arrival. Local hotels, restaurants, and transport links will all be adhering to the most stringent hygiene measures. In addition, the Palais des Festivals will offer a 24-hour medical concierge service, including online consultations with general and specialist doctors.
TFWA acknowledges that given the exceptional circumstances, many companies require flexibility with regard to the format and terms of their participation. We continue to work closely with our exhibitors to address their needs and concerns, and encourage them to contact us directly should they have any specific questions or requirements.
“The TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes represents the first flagship event for the industry to regroup in a physical setting. It really is a pivotal moment for us all as nothing can ever match the connections you can make face to face. We very much look forward to being part of the event, catching up with partners and peers, and most importantly to discuss the ways we can collectively prepare for the recovery and better serve our customers”, says Lucio Rossetto, Chief Business Officer, Lagardère Travel Retail.
“We at Stock Spirits Group see this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes as the place to be, and the new starting point in travelling and meeting with our customers and colleagues following the pandemic. We never stopped, but we greatly missed the warmth of the human touch. I cannot wait to be back and, in some ways, it feels a little bit like the first time”, said Mauro Piliu, Global Travel Retail Director, Stock Spirits Group.
“The past year and a half have been a journey of adapting and finding innovative ways to prosper as a business and as a community. At Starboard, we took time to expand our all-encompassing vision of the world we live in and to redefine how we can Curate a Vibrant World for our guests through new experiential retail offerings. We look forward to coming together with our brand and vendor partners, as well as the broader Travel Retail community, at the TFWA Cannes event. As an LVMH company and the premier retailer at sea, luxury and travel retail are essential to our continued strength and success in the cruise industry, and we have always considered the TFWA a critical collaboration gathering ̶ even more so this year!”, says Lisa Baldzicki, Chief Merchandising Officer at Starboard Cruise Services, Inc. An LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Company.
“As we get closer to TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, I’m once again amazed and humbled at the response from the entire duty-free and travel retail industry in coming together to support this important event. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who are supporting the event; your attendance will further strengthen an already stellar line-up of brands, buyers, and retailers joining us in Cannes” says Jaya Singh, TFWA President.