The Duty Free World Council (DFWC) was formally relaunched on Tuesday 11 March, at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas in Orlando, Florida.

 

The DFWC Board has been structured to be all inclusive, comprising members from the key global and regional duty free associations of IAADFS, ASUTIL, ETRC, TFWA, MEADFA, APTRA and FDFA.

 

Frank O’Connell has been elected President in addition to his role as ETRC Vice President and Special Advisor to the Board and he will be supported on the DFWC Executive Committee by Vice-Presidents Alberto Motta, President of IAADFS, and Erik Juul-Mortensen, the President of TFWA.

 

 

Alberto Motta, President of IAADFS.

“We are delighted that after months of discussions, the DFWC is now up and running with a Board that reflects the widespread support we’ve received for the project,” said Alberto Motta. “The DFWC will play an important role in supporting and strengthening the work that is being done by the regional associations and we are confident it will help our industry speak with one voice.

 

SEVERAL KEY OBJECTIVES

“We are very grateful to the founder members of the DFWC for their support and look forward to working together to meet the various challenges we face.”

 

The DFWC lists a number of key objectives for the immediate future and these include representing, protecting and promoting the global duty free and travel retail industry, by providing appropriate support to all regional industry associations when and where relevant.

 

‘Where relevant and required’ it also aims to be responsible for the  development and coordination of industry policy and to provide a voice for the global industry. It will act as a facilitator and coordinator by providing appropriate support for engagement at a global level and help to enhance the awareness, image and importance of the industry.

 

 

It will also provide an industry information centre and other services and activities as support functions to the aforementioned.

 

Right: Erik Juul-Mortensen.

 

TFWA WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES

On a personal note, Erik Juul-Mortensen said he was delighted that the industry has reached this point with the DFWC now firmly established with its own byelaws and rules. He said the DFWC was actually established some years ago, but he added that the time is now right for a more formalised body with people directly responsible for it.

 

Juul-Mortensen added that he was pleased that Frank O’Connell received the full 100% backing in his new role: “I think Frank is going to be an excellent president putting this on the track and moving us forward, because there will be quite a lot of work that needs to be done until we are up and running.”

 

He said it has also been agreed that TFWA will provide the office and administrative facilities for the board to move forward and he thanked his fellow board members and the Management Committee of TFWA for their support on this.