Page 8 - ASUTIL 2024 Edition

INSIDER

Sold-out ASUTIL Conference reflects optimism for LATAM future

There is an air of excitement around
the 2024 ASUTIL Conference taking place
in Bogotá. This year’s event is the first
ASUTIL in Colombia, and is also the first
Conference with Carlos Loaiza-Keel as
head of the South American Duty Free
Association, after he took over for Jose
Luis Donagaray as Secretary General late
last year. The ASUTIL Conference, which
will once again be managed by TFWA,
continuing the successful partnership
established in 2023, sold out all 300 spots
available weeks before the event.
All of these factors have Loaiza-
Keel optimistic about the 2024 ASUTIL
Conference as well as the recovering travel
retail industry in Latin America.
“It has been a year full of excitement,
challenges, and hard work with the Diego de Freitas, ASUTIL Conference and Business Director, and Carlos Loaiza-
excellent team that José Luis has put Keel, Secretary General (right), give details about this year’s ASUTIL Conference
together,” Loaiza-Keel tells TMI. in Bogota at the 2024 IAADFS Summit of the Americas.
“This conference will not only
celebrate ASUTIL’s past but also pave horizons, and underscored the significant from the pre-pandemic, with more young
the way for an exciting evolution in the business opportunities in the region. people,” he says.
travel retail industry,” he said, announcing Bogotá, a pivotal hub for the duty “As well as airport retail, we have also
Bogotá as the location at last year’s TFWA free and travel retail industry in South seen a major expansion of retail on cruise
World Exhibition. America and the Caribbean, is a vibrant ships and, of course, at the borders.”
TFWA honored and recognized and culturally rich city that can offer
Donagaray’s contributions at the press attendees an engaging atmosphere in which Challenges
conference in Cannes, and Loaiza-Keel has to discuss the latest developments within While the passenger numbers
informed TMI that the former Secretary the industry. are improving, Loaiza-Keel says the
General will attend ASUTIL as a special Loaiza-Keel tells TMI that it is an association is working with its sister
guest. opportune time for the Latin America travel organizations to take on the critical
“José Luis is a key figure for the retail industry. challenges facing the entire industry.
duty free industry in Latin America and “The industry has been developing “We are working directly with the
one of the main reasons why ASUTIL is in a very good way and is expanding at a Duty Free World Council (DFWC) on tasks
in such great shape after so many years. good pace,” he says. related to the control of the illicit tobacco
But above all, he is a generous friend, 2024 will be the year passenger traffic trade (MOP4). We are also working
a dedicated and rigorous worker and in the region will surpass 2019 numbers. closely with consultants, organizations
a man of principles. This explains the According to m1nd-set, passenger and authorities from various Latin
extraordinary development of ASUTIL traffic in Latin American airports will American countries. We are also involved
over the years, and the depth and quality of reach 108% in 2024 compared to the in improving various regulatory aspects
the relationships he built with so many in traffic in 2019, approximately 127 million related to the Brazilian and Uruguayan
the industry,” he says. passengers compared to 118 million borders,” he says.
“There is no doubt that all of this will passengers in 2019 (and 121 million The industry is also stepping up and
be missed, but he has built an extraordinary passengers in 2023). working to help those who have been
team, together with Ms. Silvia Gestal and The top 10 LATAM airports, in order, impacted by the devastating floods in
Mr. Diego de Freitas, to whom I would like are: Cancun, Panama, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
to pay tribute. This is also a credit to José Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Punta Cana, “It goes without saying that the Free
Luis. And we are sure that he will always Ezeiza, Dominican Republic and Costa Shops companies operating in Brazil, and
be close to us, helping us every step of the Rica. especially on the border of Rio Grande do
way.” “This trend is global, as reported in the Sul, which has been so badly affected by
Loaiza-Keel emphasized the latest DFWC Quarterly Global Shopping the floods, have taken the issue seriously.
organization’s commitment to fostering Monitor, and there is also evidence of the They are actively involved in making
regional integration and exploring new Chinese tourist returning, a different tourist donations to those most in need.”

ASUTIL Special Issue June 2024 8