Organisers say the show is the year’s “best opportunity” to:

Build and maintain business relationships over three full days in the Trademarket exhibit hall;

Get an update on industry trends during the education programme on Monday and Tuesday mornings;

Network during the sports day, opening reception, gala evening, and Club Americas nightclub.

The Monday education programme will begin with Growth Opportunities in the Americas, moderated by Martin Moodie of the Moodie Davitt Report and featuring Gustavo Fagundes, president of ASUTIL (the South American duty free association) and chief operating officer of Dufry Brasil; Abe Taqtaq, president of the Frontier Duty Free Association and vice president of Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Duty Free shop, and Erasmo Orillac, IAADFS chairman and chief executive of Motta Internacional. This session will feature a discussion of the present and future growth opportunities for duty free and travel retail in the Americas.

This is followed by Sales and Customer Insights – Maximising Your Potential, during which Peter Mohn, owner and chief executive of M1nd-set, and Christine Martin, managing director of Travel Retail Training, will share their insights into techniques to increase sales volume and customer penetration.

On Tuesday, Border Duty Free – Crossing the Frontier, will see Simon Falic, chairman of Duty Free Americas, Abe Taqtaq, and Enrique Urioste, chief executive of Neutral Duty Free, discuss the challenges and opportunities offered by duty free border stores.

PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED

Recently the IAADFS and the South American duty free association announced a collaborative partnership for their annual events. The associations intend to integrate their events in March 2018. During this year, they will finalise the elements and changes to introduce a Summit of the Americas, which they say will offer a revitalised business, educational and networking event for all attendees.

IAADFS chairman Erasmo Orillac said: “Everyone recognises that collaboration allows us to better adapt to changes within the industry.

“In addition to the benefits that will be seen for our trade show, we want to bring together and enhance the educational conference aspects of what we each do. From the top of Canada to the tip of South America, the Americas offer a powerful growth opportunity for the duty free and travel retail industry. We want to help maximise that future for everyone.”

President and chief operating officer of Dufry Brasil and Bolivia, Gustavo Fagundes, said: “We have all reflected on the shifting industry environment and recognise the need to make efficiencies for doing business in the Americas.”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

7:30-13:30 Sports Day activities

8:00-20:00 Trademarket setup

8:00-21:00 Registration open

19:00-21:00 Opening reception

MONDAY, MARCH 27

7:30-18:00 Registration open

8:00-9:30 Education programme

9:30-18:00 Trademarket open

22.00-2:00 Club Americas

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

8:00-18:00 Registration open

8:00-9:30 Education programme

9:30-18:00 Trademarket open

7:30-22:00 Gala evening

22:00-2:00 Club Americas

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

8:00-17:30 Registration open

8:30-17:30 Trademarket open