In a context of healthy growth for the duty free and travel retail industry, the 2018 edition of the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, which took place from September 30 to October 5 in Cannes, France, broke new records:
– 7,015 visitors attended the event, an increase of 3% from 2017. They represented 3,088 companies, up 2% from last year. The number of visiting landlords also grew by 15%.
– The exhibition show floor space increased to 22,759m2, up from 22,607m2 last year, thanks to an extension of the Beach Village.
– The number of exhibitors also grew slightly from 514 in 2017 to 516, across 496 stands compared with 490 last year. Of these, 50 exhibitors were new or returning to the event, while 14 official boats were moored in Harbour Village.
The return of the TFWA Digital Village was a highlight for many visiting Cannes this year, and 32 exhibitors attended. A total of 1,349 visitors passed through the doors, and while this was a similar number to last year (1,361). Meanwhile, the TFWA Digital Village Pitch Corner - a new addition to the show - allowed delegates to hear more about the latest technological advances directly from exhibitors who took to the podium during four sessions.
Commenting on the figures for the last time in his role as TFWA President, Erik Juul-Mortensen said; “These figures demonstrate the strength of our industry, and are definitely indicative of the sentiment here in Cannes this week. It’s very gratifying to have seen so many people over the past few days, and I look forward to seeing many of them again next month at the MEADFA Conference in Beirut.”
