SINGAPORE. The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has announced a preliminary line-up of leading speakers from the travel retail sector and beyond for its 2018 Asia Pacific Conference.
The theme of this year’s event, which will be held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on Monday 7 May, is #TRevolution.
Delegates will hear how technological advances are changing the rules of retail, and have the opportunity to discuss how the industry needs to evolve in line with consumers.
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen will open the conference with a look at the latest data on the Asia Pacific and the wider global market. His speech will be followed by a welcome address by APTRA President Andrew Ford.
Two keynote speakers in the opening plenary session will explore how new technology will shape the industry’s future. Siri and Viv Labs Co-founder Adam Cheyer, one of the world’s leading authorities on artificial intelligence (AI), will explain how AI and other advances will revolutionise customer behaviour and experiences, as well as challenge existing business models.
Leading British digital influencer Shivvy Jervis, who was voted one of Europe’s 30 leading women in the tech business, will look at the next wave of digital pioneers, focusing on travel and tourism.
The second plenary session will analyse how business practices in duty free and travel retail have evolved over time. The session will benchmark the concession model against that of other comparable retail markets and explore how improvements could be made.
Key findings of a TFWA-commissioned Boston Consulting Group study on the evolution of the business model in duty free and travel retail will be presented. This will be followed by a discussion featuring leading industry executives among brands, retailers and airports.
Trio of workshops
Three workshop sessions will take place in the afternoon. Workshop A, called ‘Seamless shopping: travel retail’s frictionless future’, will explore how advances in payment and other technology will transform the travel retail experience just as they are transforming the shopping experience elsewhere. Among the speakers in this session will be WeChat expert and China Channel Co-Founder Matthew Brennan.
Workshop B, entitled ‘Call of Duty Free: gamifying travel retail’, will analyse the implications of gamification for the industry. Speakers will look discuss customer communication, marketing and brand engagement. The session will also explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality can offer a memorable experience for customers.
Workshop C, ‘Safeguarding our industry’, will update delegates on current challenges facing the industry, including the World Health Organization’s Illicit Trade Protocol for tobacco products and packaging regulations affecting all categories. It will also look at current and future travel trends in Asia Pacific, and analyse changes to passenger profiles.
“The aim of this year’s conference is to help provide members of our industry with the insights they need to keep moving forward in our digital age,” said Juul-Mortensen.
“As an industry, we still have much to do if we are to thrive in the technology-centric world in which we live, and our industry needs to look at how to evolve to ensure its continued success in the digital age.
“The dynamic Asia Pacific region remains a priority for all with an interest in developing their business in duty free and travel retail, and growth of over +8.1% in the first half of 2017 (according to preliminary figures from Generation Research) can only be described as impressive.
“We are delighted to be returning to Singapore for what I’m sure will be another inspiring event.”
Changi Airport is the diamond sponsor of the conference, and China Duty Free Group is a platinum sponsor. The business networking coffee break in the morning will be sponsored by Leonidas, the business networking lunch will be sponsored by Neuhaus and the afternoon networking session with refreshments and workbook will be sponsored by Incheon International Airport Corp. Mondelēz International will sponsor the conference web app, Pourchet will provide the conference hostess outfits and the charging station will be sponsored by SKROSS.
More information on the event, including full details on how to register, can be found here.
