January 14 2021  |  Associations

IAADFS x ASUTIL announce speakers for SOTA – A Virtual Experience

By Laura Shirk

Scheduled to take place on April 5 – 9, as the seminal regional event comes into focus, themes to be explored include the transforming of the airport conference, changing consumer demand, digitalization and sustainability

International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) and Asociación Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres (ASUTIL) announce leading airport, cruise and border travel retailers from North and South America to be amongst a champion speaker line-up confirmed for the Summit of the Americas – A Virtual Experience, which will take place on April 5 – 9, 2021.

Throughout the conference, the Knowledge Hub will host a selection of keynote addresses and panel sessions on the shape and rhythm of recovery in the Americas market. Other themes on the agenda include the transforming of the airport experience, changing consumer demand, digitalization, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, alongside sessions that analyze travel prospects for the region and the economic outlook.

René Riedi, IAADFS Chairman & Dufry Central and Latin America Executive Advisor, and Gustavo Fagundes, ASUTIL President & Dufry Chief Operating Officer South America, will introduce and welcome visitors to the Knowledge Hub on Day 1.

Other senior figures from the Americas region confirmed to speak:

Gregg Paradies, President & CEO, Paradies Lagardère

Enrique Urioste, Dufry General Manager, Sub-Cluster South America

Marcelo Montico, CEO, Neutral by Luryx Duty Free Shop

Abe Taqtaq, President, Windsor-Detroit Tunney Duty Free

Lisa Bauer, President & CEO, Starboard Cruise Services

Mark Birnie, Deputy Managing Director, Harding Retail

Nadine Heubel, CEO, Heinemann Americas

Padraig Drennan, CEO, Stellar Partners

Matthew Greenbaum, Director, International Shoppes

A representative of Duty Free Americas

“This is a crucial year for travel retail in the Americas. As we look to drive recovery in the region, it is vital that we share insights and best practises to help accelerate these efforts. The compelling Knowledge Hub program will feature a wide variety of conference sessions with educational content from top-class speakers. Keynote speakers and panels representing suppliers, airports, airlines and cruise lines will discuss leading topics such as innovation, digitalization and consumer adaptation,” explains José Luis Donagaray, Secretary General, ASUTIL.

“Industry executives from all around the world will be able to take advantage of relevant, engaging and informative Knowledge Hub sessions from the comfort of their office or home. Another added benefit is that each and every element of the program will also be available via the On Demand feature,” adds Michael Payne, President & CEO, IAADFS.

The Summit of the Americas – A Virtual Experience is being organized by IAADFS and ASUTIL, in partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report. Integrated retail design & marketing agency, FILTR, has been appointed as the event’s Virtual Stand & Experience partner.

Visitor registration, which is free to all travel retailers, airport companies and exhibitors, is open at the official event website: virtualamericassummit.com.

The event has already attracted the commitment of many leading travel retailers to attend such as 3Sixty Duty Free, Aer Rianta International, Carisam/Samuel Meisel, Lagardère Travel Retail, Dufry, Duty Free Americas, Motta Internacional, Paradies Lagardère, Neutral by Luryx Duty Free Shop, Windsor-Detroit Tunney Duty Free, Starboard Cruise Services, Harding Retail, Heinemann Americas, Stellar Partners, International Shoppes, Island Companies, Provimex, Sineriz Free Shop, Top Brands International, Zeinal Hermanos, with more to be announced soon.

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