Peter Ayling has been elected as Chairman of the UK association, the Travel Retail Consortium, for the next two years, following Richard Thorpe’s decision to step down.

Ayling has been a member of the TRC for the past six years representing Champagne Taittinger and has been actively involved in fund raising at the various events that have been organised over that period. TRC’s core objectives are to raise business standards in DF&TR; promote members’ products and services; discuss industry issues; and provide social and networking opportunities.

Ayling’s experience in duty free and travel retail includes 22 years with Allied Domecq in various sales and marketing roles. From 2000 he worked in the Global Duty Free team managing the Wine & Champagne portfolios.

Since 2006 Ayling has run his own DF&TR consultancy, working with Hatch Mansfield Agencies whose portfolio includes Taittinger, and also with Canadian ice wine company, Peller Estates.

Current TRC members include Accolade Wines; Aurora; Coty Prestige Travel Retail & Export; Guinness; Heineken; Imperial Tobacco International; JA Associates (JCI Jewellery, Morgan & Oates); Mars; Remy Cointreau;  Sekonda; Champagne Taittinger; and Twining.