The Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in Dubai at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. The meeting, led by MEADFA President and Vice President Operations at Dubai Duty Free, Mr. Sean Staunton, focused on reviewing the activity of MEADFA over the last year. The MEADFA financials were also reviewed and budget approved for the coming year.

The secret to future success for duty free and travel retail in the Middle East and Africa will depend on redefining the duty free promise, according to Aer Rianta International CEO Jack MacGowan. Speaking on day two of the MEADFA conference, managed by TFWA, he suggested that the industry needed to foster positive perceptions of the duty free offer through imaginative and engaging marketing initiatives. ‘Customers are not as engaged or excited as they used to be,’ he stated. ‘The easiest thing to do is to cut prices, but that’s not what all customers want. On average, only one in four customers benchmark for prices, yet we still focus on discounting as a key response to drive passenger average spend.’

As day one of the MEADFA Conference 2016, managed by TFWA, kicked off, it was clear that there are reasons for confidence in the future of the Middle East and African duty free and travel retail sector. Welcoming delegates to this year’s event, MEADFA president Sean Staunton said that it had been a tough 12 months for the region, with sales in the Middle East falling 2.6%. However, the travel and tourism industry continues to grow, and investment is speeding up across the region.

With pre-registration figures already looking healthy, next month’s MEADFA conference in Dubai is shaping up to be a highly successful event. Attracting leading players from duty free and travel retail in the Middle East and beyond, the conference will offer invaluable insight into a region undergoing significant change, addressing tourism and travel trends, along with the latest retail developments. On Monday, following a welcoming address by MEADFA president Sean Staunton, UNTWO regional director Middle East Amr Abdel Ghaffar will speak about travel trends and how the tourism business is vital for prosperity and peace. Colm McLoughlin, Dubai Duty Free executive vice chairman and CEO, will then discuss the opportunities ahead at a time of change. Lagardère Travel Retail CEO Dag Rasmussen will talk about how the Middle East plays a vital role in the retailer’s development plans.

The leading players in duty free and travel retail from across the Middle East and Africa will once again be heading to Dubai in November for the 2016 MEADFA Conference, managed by TFWA.