TFWA Cannes closes with upsurge in numbers

The 35th TFWA World Exhibtion & Conference closed with TFWA President Alain Maingreaud announcing the 7,531 delegates had joined the exhibition, up seven per cent on 2018.

The conference on Monday also attracted record numbers, with over 2,000 people filling the auditorium. The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, former prime minister of The United Kingdom, shared a number of candid anecdotes from his years at the centre of world politics, leaving his audience with the advice to ‘start each day with purpose, and go to bed counting your blessings’.

With 504 exhibitors and an increase in floor space to 23,443m², up from 22,759m² last year, the exhibition was a quantifiable success. 

The TFWA Innovation Lab proved to be a popular addition to the exhibition, and provided an insight into what the duty free and travel retail industry might look like in the future.

Another subject was sustainability. In the Innovation Lab, as well as in the conference and workshops, there was much talk about how the industry can continue to prosper, while acknowledging its responsibilities towards the environment. From recycling of retail fixtures to new ways to reduce plastic packaging, there were ideas delegates could take away to help improve the sustainability of their businesses.

During the conference, TFWA President Alain Maingreaud announced that the Association has reached an agreement with the Palais des Festivals to enable TFWA World Exhibition & Conference to stay in Cannes, with show dates secured for the future.

8 October 2019 - Sam Coyne