Cannes_2026_THURSDAY_ISSUE_DIGITAL

Today: TFWA Start Up Day The TFWA Start Up Day is a key part of the agenda today, taking place from 09:00 to 11:30 in the Press Centre in the Palais des Festivals. In partnership with: TFWA Start Up Day participants Altavia Travel Retail Blynk CXG DHOW – NEW DWS Engraving Illuminete x Trinax – NEW IWD – NEW Levita Magic – NEW ORA – NEW Voiceback Analytics L evita Magic specialises in product levitation technology, creating innovative and eye-catching experiences for brands across luxury, beauty, retail, hospitality and travel retail. Its main objective during the TFWA Start Up Day is to connect with the travel retail ecosystem and explore how Levita Magic can help brands create more engaging physical experiences for travellers. “Travel retail is a very specific environment: brands have to capture attention quickly, in busy and highly competitive spaces, while still delivering a premium experience,” says Stéphanie Hourlay, Head of Sales, Levita Magic. “We believe Levita can bring something different to that environment. Our technology creates an immediate visual impact, but more importantly, it gives brands a new way to tell their story and create a memorable interaction with their products. So for us, TFWA is about meeting brands, retailers and partners, understanding their challenges and identifying opportunities to develop tailor- made experiences together.” In travel retail, attracting attention is Levita Magic creating memorable brand experiences becoming increasingly difficult, so brands need to create experiences that people remember in a split second. “With Levita, we can transform a product display into a moment of surprise,” Hourlay explains. “Our technology allows products to float and move in a controlled way, creating an immediate visual impact. But the real value is what happens afterwards: people stop, they look, they take pictures, they engage with the product and, ultimately, they remember the brand.” D WS develops connected laser engraving solutions designed specifically for the luxury industry. Operating globally across five continents, it enables seamless, on-demand personalisation in boutiques, travel retail environments, hospitality settings, and e-commerce operations. DWS delivers personalisation across a wide range of products and materials, from perfume bottles and beauty packaging to leather, metal, crystal, glass, and paper. Clients include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Ruinart, Hennessy, Martell, Nespresso, Baccarat, Amouage, Creed, Cheval Blanc, Starboard Cruise, Space NK, Douglas and La Grande Épicerie de Paris. “Beyond the technology itself, we provide a complete ecosystem of services, including project design, deployment, training, and international support,” says Baptiste Floc’h, Sales Manager EMEA, DWS. “Our ambition is to help luxury brands transform personalisation into a meaningful customer experience, creating memorable moments that strengthen emotional connection and brand loyalty.” TFWA World Exhibition & Conference is a unique opportunity to connect with key stakeholders across the travel retail ecosystem, including brands, distributors, DWS brings live personalisation to luxury travel retail Levita Magic combines technology, creativity and storytelling to create memorable brand experiences. DWS enables brands to deliver premium, on- demand personalisation experiences directly at the point of sale. retailers, and cruise/airlines operators. “Our objective is to showcase how live personalisation can enhance customer engagement, increase conversion, and create memorable retail experiences,” Floc’h explains. “We also look forward to exploring new partnerships and identifying opportunities to support the evolving expectations of travel retail consumers through innovative personalisation solutions.” During the TFWA Start Up Day, DWS’ key message will be simple: personalisation has become a powerful driver of customer engagement and brand differentiation in luxury retail. Thursday 1 October 2026 4 T F W A D A I L Y