ASUTIL conference remembers Clasen

John Rimmer

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On day two of the South American event delegates paid tribute to former UETA and IOSC executive Pablo Clasen, who died in tragic circumstances last year

The ninth ASUTIL conference ended on September 9 after a vibrant final morning of presentations. Delegates also remembered former UETA and IOSC executive Pablo Clasen, who was murdered in Venezuela last November.

Day two of the conference opened with a presentation from Carlos Plass, CEO of Santiago de Chile airport manager SCL, who described how the airport is working with duty-free incumbent Aldeasa to more than double retail space at the location, creating walk-through outlets in arrivals and departures.

Austral University professor Guillermo d'Andrea followed Plass with a fascinating insight into research recently carried out at airports in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, analysing the purchasing motivations of travelling consumers. D'Andrea focused his presentation on why travellers did not buy, and revealed the outlets in which they preferred to buy certain product categories.

In a panel discussion on the relationship between retailers and suppliers, delegates heard Brasif and InterBaires explain how closer cooperation with suppliers Diageo, Elizabeth Arden and Nestlé International Travel Retail had resulted in higher sales. Special promotions behind the launch of Diageo's Johnnie Walker Green Label Scotch whisky with Brasif had prompted a big increase in malt whisky sales at the retailer's airports in Brazil, while category management projects undertaken by InterBaires with Arden and Nestlé enjoyed similar success.

Following a "question time" session with the ASUTIL board, InterBaires CEO Enrique Urioste introduced a video message recorded by the widow of Pablo Clasen, who thanked ASUTIL members for their support and help following her husband's tragic death last year.

The conference was closed by Aldeasa CEO José Maria Palencia, who explained his conviction that Latin American can and will become a leader in the world travel-retail industry.

The event, which welcomed well over 200 delegates, finished with a well-attended trip to the Uruguayan town of Colonia del Sacramento, accessible by ferry from Buenos Aires.