Orlando show moves to Fort Lauderdale in 2005

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The IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas will move from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, Florida effective 2005

The show will be held in the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center.

The association said the move was prompted after consultation among its members. The show has been in Orlando for 14 years.

IAADFS president Alberto "Pancho" Motta said: "Our goal was to find a location that was first-class, cost-effective and convenient for our members and attendees. Ft. Lauderdale offers all of that and much more. We were also focused on the need to maintain the well-established identity of the IAADFS show as a real working show. This convention facility will allow us to accommodate the exhibit and meeting needs of everyone in a single locale and provide the intimacy and sense of community that we have historically experienced in and prior to Orlando.

"The award-winning convention centre is one of the premier waterfront convention facilities in the United States and offers a unique bright and open ambience. The center contains over 600,000 square feet of flexible private meeting space and exhibit display opportunities."

Motta further stated that the need to accommodate private meetings and provide for expanded exhibit area makes this convention centre an ideal location. It is also the first convention facility to be inducted into the Confreries de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, which ensures five star food service. Other major features include:

Built-in Cybercafe and high speed internet;

Video conferencing;

Convenient transportation options, including water taxis and ample attached parking facilities;

Eighteen separate loading dock bays to facilitate quick move in and out.

There are over 2,000 hotel rooms of varying price points located close to the convention center, and IAADFS will offer shuttle service between the contracted hotels and the convention center. In addition to these convenient nearby hotels, there is an abundant array of hotels throughout the city. Ft. Lauderdale International airport has numerous domestic flights and direct access from many international airports. In addition, the proximity of Miami International airport offers direct accessibility from numerous international locations, especially Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. IAADFS said this should also result in savings for the shipment of displays and product for many exhibitors.

IAADFS executive director Michael Payne said: "The Board has carefully evaluated the merits of this change, particularly one of this magnitude, but is very excited about the additional opportunities and benefits that this move will provide to both suppliers and buyers. The initial feedback from the suppliers about the move has been very positive. This is going to be a very exciting change."