The final curtain has descended on the 2023 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, marking an extraordinary milestone with record-breaking attendance figures. This year's event welcomed a staggering 7,385 participants, reflecting a remarkable 23% surge compared to the 6,017 attendees in 2022. Notably, this figure came remarkably close to the previous record of 7,531 visitors, set during the 2019 edition of the event.
The standout achievement, however, was in the realm of buyers and landlords, with the 2023 gathering boasting a remarkable record attendance of 2,761 delegates, a substantial 15% increase from the 2019 figures.
The TFWA World Conference, held on October 2nd, drew an audience of 1,762 delegates, while the Airport Forum workshop on October 3rd garnered 177 participants. On October 4th, the Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure workshop saw a turnout of 125 attendees.
This year's exhibition occupied a record-breaking footprint of 25,212 square meters, a significant increase from 20,751 square meters in 2022 and 23,443 square meters in 2019. The event featured a total of 450 exhibiting companies, including 92 newcomers spanning eight sectors, representing regions as diverse as Uruguay, Jordan, and Peru.
The TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service proved to be a valuable component once again, facilitating a total of 2,066 on-site meetings throughout the week.
Innovation took center stage at TFWA i.lab, located in the Golden Village of the Palais des Festivals. Sponsored by Alipay, JCDecaux, and BW Confidential, this hub of ideas featured the active participation of 15 companies, each bringing their unique creative perspectives to the fore.
Despite the prevalence of digital communication, in-person networking remained a top priority for industry professionals. The 'Opening Cocktail' event on Carlton Beach attracted 1,588 guests, while the TFWA Lounge after-work sessions saw a peak attendance of 686 guests. On Wednesday night, the TFWA Lounge reached its zenith with 2,238 guests, thanks to the gracious hospitality of main partner Qatar Duty Free and a wide array of refreshments offered by TFWA's valued sponsors.
TFWA expresses its sincere appreciation to all sponsors and attendees from around the world and eagerly looks ahead to the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference scheduled for next May in Singapore.
“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