ICELAND/EUROPE. “It is not the strongest species that survive, but the ones most responsive to change”. So said Charles Darwin, and ACI Europe has taken the concept of ‘adapt or die’ as the title of its upcoming Airport Commercial & Retail Conference & Exhibition.
The organisation has announced the conference agenda for the event, which will be held at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, Iceland between 18 and 20 March, hosted by Icelandic airport operator Isavia.
On the first day of the conference, Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir will present a welcome address. ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec will follow that with a state of the industry address.
Blue Lagoon CEO Grimur Sæmundsen is set to offer a keynote address exploring how Iceland has adapted in order not to die, referencing the event concept title. The country avoided bankruptcy and reinvented itself, and is now thriving again.
Lagardère Travel Retail Regional COO Frédéric Chevalier will moderate a session titled ‘What is the evidence that airport retail is under threat?’ The data-based session will also feature presentations from m1nd-set CEO & Owner Peter Mohn and Moodie Insights General Manager Craig Mackie.
The Moodie Davitt Report’s Dermot Davitt will moderate the second working session, which will examine the topic of ‘Harnessing digital disruption in the cause of maintaining the physical airport store’. Speakers will include Budapest Airport Head of Retail and Advertising Patrick Bohl, Aircommerce Managing Director Global Melvin Broekaart, AOE CEO and Founder Kian Gould, Isavia Commercial Manager Gunnhildur Erla Vilbergsdóttir and Blynk Managing Director Neil Muir.
The third working session, and the last of day one, will be moderated by Avinor Group Commercial Director Per Rune Lunderby and assess the impact of new technologies on car parking. Fraport Senior Vice President of Parking Management and Landside Traffic Operations Gerald Krebs and Finavia Director Commercial Services Jukka Isomaki will be among the speakers.
Day two will open with the fourth working session, which focuses on food & beverage and is titled ‘Eating is the new shopping’. It will be moderated by Autogrill Chief Marketing Officer Ezio Balarini, and feature SSP Group CEO Nordics & Spain, Group Director Strategic Client Partnership Nick Inkster and Veovo – Concessionaire Analyzer+ Director John de Giorgio.
The final working session will assess what can be learned from the world’s newest retail areas and shopping concepts. JCDecaux Marketing & Business Development Director – International Transport Jérôme Lepage will moderate. He will be joined by Isavia Commercial Director Keflavik Airport Hlynur Sigurðsson, former General Manager Retail, Sydney Airport Glyn Williams, and Manchester Airports Group Head of Retail Kate Maslak.
The social programme has also been announced. The welcome reception will take place in Reykjavík’s old harbour at the Whales of Iceland on 18 March. The gala dinner will be held at the Harpa venue on 19 March, which will feature Icelandic cuisine and local entertainment. Subject to confirmation, host Isavia is offering delegates a tour of Keflavík International Airport on 20 March.
Click here for more information on the event.
