Airports under threat, digital disruption and learnings from the newest retail areas are among the headline sessions at this year’s ACI Europe Airport Commercial & Retail Conference & Exhibition, held at the Harpa Conference Hall and Exhibition Centre, Reykjavik, Iceland 18-20 March.

As reported, Icelandic operator Isavia will host a busy two-day working programme (19-20) drawing more than 400 airports, operators, retailers and brands under one roof.

Centred around the theme, ‘Adapt or Die’, the 28^th edition of the event will feature a number of inspirational keynotes and absorbing panel sessions that seek to unpick the most pressing challenges facing senior airport commercial executives, operators, brands and their business partners.

SPEAKERS CONFIRMED

Last week, ACI Europe announced a diverse speaker lineup to the event, which opens on day one with a series of welcome addresses from Isavia CEO Björn Óli Hauksson; Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir; ACI Europe’s Director General Olivier Jankovec and Commercial Forum Chair Elias Liolios; and ETRC President Frank O’Connell.

Other key industry speakers to address delegates include Kian T. Gould, CEO, AOE; Peter Mohn, CEO and Owner, m1nd-set; Tanja Dik, Director of Consumer Products & Services, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Patrick Bohl, Head of Retail & Advertising, Budapest Airport; Kate Maslak, Head of Retail, Manchester Airports Group; Jukka Isomaki, Director Commercial Services, Finavia; Melvin Broekaart, Managing Director, Aircommerce; Per Rune Lunderby, Commercial Director, Avinor Group; and *many more.

In addition to a busy conference agenda, delegates can network during refreshment breaks and during the traditional Welcome Reception (Monday 18 March) and Gala Dinner (Tuesday 19 March). A tour of Keflavík International Airport (Wednesday 20 March) will also be available, subject to confirmation.

“Our goal is to deliver very high-quality speakers and learnings as well as providing participants the opportunity to get a sneak peak of the best Iceland has to offer,” Isavia Commercial Manager Gunnhildur Erla Vilbergsdóttir told TRBusiness in September. “We feel that the industry is very excited about visiting Iceland.”

KEFLAVÍK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Accompanying the conference agenda is the two-day exhibition, with the following exhibitors confirmed to attend: AeroParker, Airport Retail Group, APCOA Parking, Autogrill, Bag Wrap/Excess Baggage Company, Veovo – Concessionaire Analyzer+, Enterprise Holdings, Genome Cosmetics, Global Exchange, iCoupon Global Limited, Ideas, Lagardère Travel Retail, Luggage-Point, Safebag, Skyroam, Subway, Venia Cosmetic, World Duty Free and Yanu.

As revealed by TRBusiness, Isavia is tendering around 9,000sq m of non-core duty free retail & F&B space at Keflavík International Airport in line with a major extension to its terminal.

In response to rising capacity demand, the state-owned operator plans to nearly triple the size of its existing terminal, adding a 5,000sq m phase one extension to the main commercial hall, which is set to open in 2021/2022.

TRBusiness is supporting the 28^th ACI Airport Commercial & Retail Conference & Exhibition as an official media partner.

For the full conference agenda, click here.

To register, click here.