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Next horizon: Charting the future of travel retail Yesterday morning’s workshop – ‘Next horizon: Charting the future of travel retail’ – centred on an exclusive and collaborative TFWA Research project. It explored how landlords, brands, and retailers must rethink their roles to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. A s global travel trends shift and consumer expectations evolve, the core aspects of travel retail are undergoing a major transformation. In this fast-paced environment, understanding and anticipating possible future scenarios that will impact the traveller is more crucial than ever. Drawing from an exclusive and collaborative TFWA Research project – developed in conjunction with Le Comptoir Prospectiviste and a wide range of industry stakeholders – yesterday’s workshop explored how landlords, brands, and retailers must rethink their roles to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. TFWA Managing Director Franck Waechter opened the session and introduced the study – an essential piece of strategic intelligence commissioned by TFWA to help industry leaders navigate long-term transformation across the duty free and travel retail landscape. “We chose to collaborate with Le Comptoir Prospectiviste because of their unique approach to co-creating futures with our industry, looking beyond linear trends to envision bold, alternative pathways,” Waechter explained. “This partnership aims to provide our ecosystem with both inspiration and practical guidance, sparking meaningful dialogue among brands, retailers, and landlords as they shape the next chapter of our industry.” The report serves as a strategic compass, not a rigid roadmap. It presents a range of scenarios and actionable insights to help the industry navigate a future shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, technological advances, and evolving societal expectations. “Each stakeholder can draw inspiration to create their own vision and strategy for long-term success,” said Waechter. “We hope our members and partners will use these findings to spark conversations – both internally and across the industry. The report is designed to be a catalyst for innovation, inspiring new partnerships, pilot projects, and business models that foster sustainable and responsible growth.” Envisioning possible futures: strategic scenarios for travel retail To help chart the path forward, academic researchers, futurists, and co-authors of the report, Christian Gatard and Olivier Parent, presented the key findings of their study. “Our key message is that the future is not written,” Parent shared. “It is shaped by objective factors we can clearly identify alongside powerful current dynamics and megatrends. This is not just speculation. The essential point is that we must explore multiple possible futures.” Above all, the session raised awareness of the vital importance of cooperation among all players – landlords, operators, brands and airlines – and of the need to stay attuned to technological, psychological, and climatic developments. “We also emphasise what Moderator Nicole Daniells, TFWA Member Services Manager; Christian Gatard, Associate Research Director, Le Comptoir Prospectiviste; and Olivier Parent, Director of Prospective Studies, Le Comptoir Prospectiviste. Thursday 2 October 2025 6 T F W A D A I L Y