TFWA postpones Moscow conference

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The association indefinitely postpones its Moscow conference, originally scheduled for June, but is finalising plans for the Trinity Forum

Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has postponed its scheduled Russia and Eastern Europe Duty Free Conference, due to take place in June 2005. The association announced the change of plan following discussions with conference partners Russian Duty Free Trade Association, Maxima and Aerofirst. A decision on whether to stage the event in 2006 will be taken later this year after TFWA has reviewed the development of travel-retail activities in Eastern Europe.
      
Meanwhile TFWA is pressing ahead with plans for the Trinity Forum, jointly organised with The Moodie Report. The conference, subtitled Thought Leadership, is to take place on September 21-23, with an opening cocktail sponsored by King Power Hong Kong. Among speakers at the event are BAA global airport retail managing director Mark Riches, The Nuance Group president and CEO Roberto Graziani, InterBaires CEO Enrique Urioste, King Power group director of merchandising and operations Sunil Tuli, Aer Rianta International-Middle East managing director John Sutcliffe and King Power International Group (Thailand) deputy managing director Susan Whelan. 
      
For the first time the event will extend its focus beyond airports to ferries, as Silja Line senior vice-president passenger services Pekka J Helin addresses the future for onboard revenues. In another first, two teams will present their commercial business proposals for a hypothetical new Asia/Pacific airport. The airport, business and external conditions for the model are being set by Nordic Travel Retail Group chairman Alan Bork.
      
The conference also features a film by Marshall Lightfoot about innovative practice in travel-retail.