Travel Retail Sustainability Week, the very first virtual event for travel retail dedicated solely to sustainability, will take place during the first half of 2021.
Launched by TRBusiness, the virtual event aims to bring together all stakeholders from global Duty-Free & Travel Retail to discuss and showcase the flurry of sustainable initiatives and services being implemented and proposed by industry sector companies, plus providers of external solutions and services.
Travel Retail Sustainability Week will feature a series of compelling, insight-driven webinars, workshops and a series of one-on-one interviews geared towards the rich tapestry of stakeholders operating across the ecosystem of travel, retail, leisure, tourism and other associated industries.
From airports, cruise and ferry operators, to airlines, retailers, brands, design companies, F&B firms and others with sustainable solutions…all are invited to share best practices, new ideas, sustainability goals and achievements.
Importantly, Travel Retail Sustainability Week will spotlight consumer insights on attitudes and behaviours on sustainable consumption.
The Knowledge and Insights programme will also enable companies to take part in one of a series of ‘pitching sessions’ where companies will be able to showcase their sustainable solutions, products or services to the global audience. The pitching sessions will be organised by sector to ensure relevance among all audiences.
Moreover, Travel Retail Sustainability Week will allow visitors to view best-in-class sustainable practices from industry leaders and pioneers. The event will feature showcases by airports, airlines, retailers, cruise/ferry companies, brands and other stakeholders through their own exhibition hubs.
Nigel Hardy and Janice Hook, Co-owners and Managing Directors of TRBusiness commented on the inaugural Travel Retail Sustainability Week: “We have been delighted with the feedback we have received from all corners of the industry on the recent TRMarketplace digital conference and networking forum, and in particular on the Travel Retail Sustainability Forum discussions.”
The event builds on TRBusiness’ own sustainability commitments as the company enters its next phase of development.
Travel Retail Sustainability Week Goals
The panellists unanimously called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to work together on a level playing field.
On several occasions during the 90-minute session, speakers voiced their desires for increased data-sharing and best practices between partners – even competitors – to take the travel retail sector to the next level.
This centred on achieving the TRSF goals of reducing, even eliminating single-use plastic pollution from all aspects and areas of the business, while remaining commercially effective.
All panellists were very frank and open about the fact that the industry still has a long way to go to achieve such goals, but acknowledged that solutions are available and with greater transparency and a collaborative vision, those goals are attainable.
