The TFWA Lounge, in partnership with Qatar Duty Free, will this evening see Industry Associations and their staff honoured, with…
The TFWA Lounge, in partnership with Qatar Duty Free, will this evening see Industry Associations and their staff honoured, with a chance to thank them for their work in such difficult times.
Located at Carlton Beach, the TFWA Lounge, is open again this evening from 18:30 to 21:00, and is also supported by sponsors Interparfums, Quintessential Brands, Duty Free Global, Perfetti Van Melle, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Bonne Maman, Valrhona, and Mionetto.
Recognising the role of Industry Associations
Jaya Singh, TFWA President: “I believe industry associations have played a vital role in keeping the duty free and travel retail industry informed and connected while also driving it forward during one of the most challenging periods in its history. Some of the examples I can think of have been ETRC’s tireless work on product labelling and the push to introduce arrivals duty free in the EU, among other projects. MEADFA has also stepped up its advocacy work across the region and is making good progress in Africa, while APTRA has been a hub of vital information in an incredibly diverse and fragmented landscape.
“Elsewhere, we have seen IAADFS strengthen its relationships with other travel-related associations, ensuring their voices are being heard by North American governments. ASUTIL has also developed a strong response to regulatory challenges in Latin America along with defence of new sectors such as borders. And DFWC has conducted vital work to act as a hub of exchange between the various founder members, as well as piloting valuable global initiatives such as the DFWC Academy that will be relaunched shortly.
“As for TFWA, the close relationships we have established with our global partners has enabled us to accumulate a wealth of important information and data relating to the pandemic. We are constantly updating this information and sharing this with the wider industry, in order to support businesses and enable them to make more informed choices that will accelerate their recovery plans. Our return to Cannes for TFWA World Exhibition & Conference will also bring our industry together again under one roof to help us plan our route towards future growth. Providing a platform to facilitate this is, I believe, the most important thing that we will do over the coming months.”
Sunil Tuli, President, Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA): “The role of industry associations has always been an important one, offering a voice for our unique duty free industry. However, since the pandemic, APTRA is not only communicating directly with governments about our industry, but we are working alongside adjacent travel associations such as ACI, IATA, and PATA to amplify our collective concerns and raise awareness of what we all know is needed to successfully resume travel once more. APTRA has launched a few joint campaigns within the last year and we have seen increasing government feedback, acknowledging our input. We can only do this because we are an association, hence the role of associations is arguably even more critical during a crisis, especially within a complicated political geography such as Asia Pacific. APTRA is a valuable, cost-effective resource.”
Julie Lassaigne, Secretary General, European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC): “As we reflect on the past 18 months, we can certainly say that we have endeavoured to be at the forefront of the discussions with policymakers and industry partners. ETRC has been the voice of the duty free & travel retail channel in Europe, advocating for example for dedicated support, as well as restart of travel.
“Things have been incredibly busy and challenging at times, but industry associations have certainly proved their worth during these difficult times for the industry. We are very grateful to TFWA for recognising our role in supporting the industry getting back on its feet!”
For more information, visit the TFWA website.
With thanks to the TFWA Lounge sponsors:
With thanks to the TFWA i.lab and Innovation in Action sponsors:
