O'Connell re-elected ETRC president

John Rimmer

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The Aer Rianta Retail director was unanimously voted in for a third term at the European trade body's annual general meeting late last month

Aer Rianta Retail director Frank O'Connell was unanimously re-elected as president of the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) at the trade body's annual general meeting held late last month. Welcoming the result of the vote, ETRC vice-president marketing Jacques Parson paid tribute to O'Connell's continued dedication to the industry and to the foundation of the Duty Free World Council, of which the ETRC is a member.

At the meeting, the ETRC board approved plans to hold a Business Forum in 2007, as the European industry looks to improve performance at a time when sales growth is not matching increases in passenger traffic. The Forum will be held in Amsterdam and the likely dates are March 27-28. O'Connell said: "This would be the first opportunity since intra-EU duty free abolition for the travel-retail business in Europe to meet together and address the challenges of an enlarged EU market and converting rapidly growing EU passenger numbers into customers."

The trade association also vowed to monitor moves by the European Commission to change allowances for travellers entering the EU from third countries.