The curtains have fallen on the 2023 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, leaving us astounded by a record-breaking attendance. This year's event played host to a staggering 7,385 attendees, marking a remarkable 23% surge from the 2022 figure of 6,017. In comparison, the previous record for visitor attendance was set at 7,531 during the 2019 event.
Yet, it's in the pivotal category of buyers and landlords that the 2023 gathering achieved an all-new record with a turnout of 2,761 delegates, signifying a significant 15% uptick from the 2019 statistics.
The TFWA World Conference, held on Monday, October 2nd, drew an audience of 1,762 delegates. Meanwhile, the Airport Forum workshop on Tuesday, October 3rd, saw 177 delegates in attendance, and the Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure workshop on Wednesday, October 4th, garnered 125 participants.
This year's exhibition also witnessed an expansion in terms of space, occupying a record footprint of 25,212 square meters, compared to 20,751 square meters in 2022 and 23,443 square meters in 2019. A total of 450 companies exhibited their offerings, including 92 newcomers hailing from diverse sectors and regions as far-flung as Uruguay, Jordan, and Peru.
The TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service facilitated an impressive total of 2,066 on-site meetings throughout the week, reinforcing its importance as a valuable component of the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference.
Innovation took center stage at TFWA i.lab, situated in the Golden Village of the Palais des Festivals. This hub of ideas, proudly sponsored by Alipay, JCDecaux, and BW Confidential, featured the participation of 15 companies, all bringing fresh perspectives and creativity to the event.
Despite the prevalence of digital communication, the charm of face-to-face networking endured, evident in the well-attended social events. The 'Opening Cocktail' event on Carlton Beach welcomed 1,588 guests, while a remarkable 686 attendees relished the TFWA Lounge after-work sessions. The peak nighttime attendance at the TFWA Lounge occurred on Wednesday, with 2,238 guests enjoying the hospitality of main partner Qatar Duty Free and a diverse selection of refreshments courtesy of TFWA's esteemed sponsors.
TFWA extends its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors and attendees from across the globe and eagerly anticipates welcoming the travel retail industry to Singapore for the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference next May.
“We thought that the mood was great at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2022, but the atmosphere this year has reached another level. Beyond just the large number of attendees, it is the spirit that we have seen that has been remarkable - the quality of the exhibition and those attending it has been outstanding. It is particularly gratifying to be able to welcome delegates from all parts of the world once again, and there is no doubt that TFWA World Exhibition & Conference has fully returned to being a truly global event.”
Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA President