News

The 2023 ASUTIL Conference, which is managed by TFWA, will feature a series of compelling sessions on the region’s duty free and travel retail business. The event will take place at the Hotel Hilton in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires on Wednesday 7th June and Thursday 8th June.

ASUTIL President, Gustavo Fagundes and ASUTIL General Secretary, José Luis Donagaray will open the conference, while the opening keynote address from Xavier Rossinyol will outline the Dufry CEO’s vision for the future of travel retail and duty free in Latin America. This session will be moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman, Martin Moodie.

The morning will continue with m1nd-set Founder & CEO, Dr Peter Mohn, detailing the findings of a new study conducted exclusively for ASUTIL on the behaviour of the Latin American shopper. A panel session on the importance of border stores and their growing share of the Latin American duty free market as foreign travel becomes more frequent will feature speakers including Neutral CEO, Marcelo Montico, BAH Free Shop CEO, Paulo Pavin, Director of Trade Policy at the Uruguayan Ministry of Economy and Finance, Juan Alfonso Labraga Brea, Federal Revenue of Brazil Regional Superintendent, Altemir Linhares de Melo and moderated by CEFSU General Secretary, Carlos Loaiza.

Day two of the Conference will explore economic challenges facing the industry, current traffic patterns in the region, the role of travel retail in Latin America’s travel ecosystem, utilising technology effectively in duty free, and emerging digital trends. Attendees will hear from one of the region’s leading economists and Vice President of Macroview S.A, Carlos Melconian, Corporacion America CEO, Martin Eurnekian, Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Executive Director & CEO, José Ricardo Botelho, Meta’s PanLatam Regional Director, Daniella Valeriano, and Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Americas General Manager, Gregory Ford.

Dufry Latin America CEO and ASUTIL Vice President, Enrique Urioste, will close the event.

Alongside the extensive learning opportunities, visitors to the conference will also benefit from a packed social programme, which will include a Gala Dinner on Wednesday and closing cocktail on Thursday, networking coffee and lunch breaks, and social activities and excursions on Friday.

ASUTIL would like to thank all of the sponsors of the ASUTIL Conference, Colonia Express for hosting the Cocktail & social activities, Duty Free Shop Argentina for sponsoring the Gala Dinner and Cocktail, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Rio de la Plata for lunch, and Mondelēz International for their sponsorship of the coffee breaks. Further support and product distribution will be provided by B+D, The Hershey Company, Essence Corp, and Travel Blue. To learn more about the sponsors, please follow this link: https://www.tfwa.com/asutil-conference/sponsors-100014534.

To see the full event programme, see this link: https://www.tfwa.com/programme/asutil-conference/2023.

“This year’s ASUTIL Conference will explore the factors that will define business in the post-pandemic world, from changing consumer behaviours to traffic patterns in the region. Our programme of speakers features experts in their fields who will provide the latest information on the opportunities and challenges ahead. We are looking forward to the thought-provoking debates and discussions that will take place during the conference and welcoming you all to Buenos Aires.” Gustavo Fagundes, ASUTIL President & CEO Dufry Brazil

“The ASUTIL Conference was and is a highlight of the duty free and travel retail industry calendar, and we at TFWA are proud to be lending our support this year. Visitors to the June event will have opportunities to both network and learn in the bustling Buenos Aires. The impressive line-up of speakers will explore economic forces shaping the business landscape in the region, the role of travel retail in Latin America’s travel ecosystem and travel trends. We look forward to seeing our members and business partners at this vital industry event.” Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA President