April 17 2023  |  Industry News

LIVE: Day one Summit of the Americas 2023

By GTR Magazine Staff, in West Palm Beach, Florida

Last updated: Monday April 17, 5:06 p.m. Find updates below.

IAADFS Chairman Rene Riedi

Monday, April 17 - 8:00 a.m.: IAADFS Welcoming Comments from Rene Riedi, IAADFS Chair

This morning, IAADFS Chairman Rene Riedi welcomed attendees of this year's Summit of the Americas with Welcoming Remarks. Offering strong numbers to the audience during is comments, he noted that the record of global passenger traffic will reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024. The speed of recovery will be impacted by inflation, China reopening and higher demand of travel.

Scott Miller, Senior Advisor on Thought Leadership at FranklinCovey

Monday, April 17 - 8:15 a.m.: Keynote Address by Scott Miller, Senior Advisor on Thought Leadership, FranklinCovey

Following opening remarks, Scott Miller, Senior Advisor on Thought Leadership at FranklinCovey, took the floor. Miller leads the strategy, development and publication of the firm’s bestselling books and hosts the FranklinCovey-sponsored On Leadership With Scott Miller, the world’s largest and fastest-growing weekly leadership podcast and C-Suite Conversations, which features interviews with the world’s top executives.

An energetic and engaging speaker, the key takeaway from Miller's address: in order to lead a happy and fulfilling life it is necessary to be grateful and have the ability to build human relationships both professionally and personally.

In Miller's Master Mentors Volume 2, he highlights the stories of 30 thought leaders and their profound stories, offering examples of how to practice the phrase "I get to" within your life.

Event attendees and speakers at Scott Miller's, keynote address

Monday, April 17 - 2:00 p.m.: Airports Session – Critical Partners for the Duty Free and Travel Retail

Featuring speakers Kevin Burke, President, Airports Council International – North America, and Rafael Echevarne, Director General, Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean and moderated by IAADFS Chairman Rene Riedi, this session discussed airports as the essential component of a vibrant, profitable and user-friendly travel retail business sector.

The speakers shared insights on the powerful dynamics and ever-changing developments facing airports across North America, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

"We are case in point of an industry that went from rock bottom and there was nowhere else to go but up - and we went up pretty quickly," said Burke. He said business travel is not quite where it used to be but that recovery in North America is possible in 2024, "if numbers through summer are what they are supposed to be."

Left to right: IAADFS Chairman Rene Riedi, Kevin Burke, President, Airports Council International – North America, and Rafael Echevarne, Director General, Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean

Despite Latin American and Caribbean being the region that has recovered the most, Echevarne said there is still huge potential for growth in number of travelers and retail and duty free. He says the region also benefits due to its geographical location in that it is unaffected by the lack return of Asian travelers who are not a major traveling demographic.

Both speakers also discussed the significance of reducing dwell time to create a less stressful and more seamless airport experience for travelers, which can ultimately lead to more time shopping. One of the major developments factoring into reducing dwell time is updated security check technology such as machines that scan laptops without the need to remove from carry on baggage.

Monday, April 17 - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm: Exhibits and Meeting Rooms Open

See our day one coverage of some exhibitor booths below, with more to come in the next couple days.





Where to find the 2023 Summit of the Americas printed edition

Global Travel Retail Magazine's 2023 Summit of the Americas printed edition is located at the press stand, near Registration on the main floor. Pick up your copy today and tag #GTRMag when sharing on socials!


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