News

The 2024 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference ended on a high, with the Association confirming that 3,126 visitors attended. The number of representatives from duty free and travel retail operators and landlords stood at 1,208. The TFWA Asia Pacific Conference on Monday 13th May drew a substantial audience, with the number of delegates attending similar to last year. 222 delegates attended the China Watch workshop on Tuesday 14th May, while 151 were at the Decoding Today’s Dwell Time workshop on Wednesday 15th May.

With 234 exhibitors and a floor space of 9,750m2, the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition was also a quantifiable success. 75 of these exhibitors, comprised of both emerging and established names in duty free and travel retail, were new additions to the show floor or those returning after an absence.

Innovation has always been a focus for TFWA, and the success of the returning TFWA i.lab Asia proved to be a testament to this. The ideas hub located on Level 1 gave visitors the chance to hear directly from some of the most inspiring thinkers in the industry and find out more about the new initiatives shaping the future of duty free and travel retail.

The TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service was yet another successful aspect of TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, and this year facilitated a record 1,312 on-site meetings throughout the week.

Once again, well-attended networking events reaffirmed that in-person gatherings remain a priority for industry colleagues across all sectors. 1,181 guests attended the opening ‘Welcome Cocktail’ event at the Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, up from 1,016 last year and a record for Singapore. On Wednesday night, 650 guests were at the Full Moon party at the Singapore Social Club in Sentosa, also a record for TFWA’s mid-week social events in Singapore. The TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge welcomed over 600 guests each evening.

“As we mark our 40th anniversary, the 2024 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference has been a resounding success. The week got off to a great start with the Welcome Cocktail at Gardens by the Bay, and throughout the event there has been an electric atmosphere – all of those here have been in remarkable spirits. We are very pleased with what we have seen and the buzz we have all felt. The large number of attendees from all corners of the world coming together to do business has been very gratifying.”

The conference speakers were an inspiration and the new format to the conference layout proved to be highly engaging, while the quality of the exhibition was outstanding. As always, our team worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable event for all delegates, and we are grateful for the support from our partners and sponsors. This event will be a tough act to follow later this year in Cannes, but we are delighted to have set the bar so high, and we look forward to seeing you all again at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in October.”

Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA President